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Commentary by Aryeh Neier

Turkey's Imprisoned Press

According human rights organisations, there were never as many journalists in prison in Turkey since the end of the military regime in 1983 as during the past year. Aryeh Neier, founding member of "Human Rights Watch", criticizes the state of media freedom of Turkey, which in his view conflicts with the nation's general human rights situation
Turkey's new president

Where to now, President Erdogan?

Following his recent victory in Turkey's presidential election, Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced plans to pursue the process of democratisation in Turkey and the nation's efforts to join the EU. But his political opponents say all he's really interested in is the consolidation of his own power and the conservative-Islamic restoration of Turkey. An essay by Cemal Karakas
Turkey's Foreign Policy

Return to Pragmatism

In the past month Ankara opened a membership chapter with the European Union after a 30-month hiatus, while intense diplomatic traffic is underway to end tensions with its Iranian and Iraqi neighbours. All of which is fuelling rising speculation that a major reset in Turkish foreign policy is underway. Dorian Jones looks at what lies behind the latest events
Egypt in Turmoil

Democrats Targeted in Pogrom Atmosphere

In the run-up to the deposition of President Mohammed Morsi, the Egyptian military portrayed the Muslim Brotherhood as a sinister, overpowering threat. In doing so, they whipped many Egyptians into a frenzy of agitation, spite and a hunger for revenge. In this highly charged atmosphere, very few have noticed the breathtaking re-interpretation of everything the revolution stood for. A commentary by Jürgen Stryjak
Egypt – a Nation Divided

Trapped between the Religious and Secular Fronts

While Egypt's elites see themselves in a culture struggle between a liberal and a more strongly Islamic direction, the poor are growing increasingly disappointed in a revolution that has brought them no improvements whatsoever to date. Claudia Mende reports from Cairo
Egypt Expert Björn Bentlage

''The Draft Constitution Is a Success''

Angry demonstrators are protesting Egypt's draft constitution. But scholar Björn Bentlage thinks the constitution is in fact democratic, and criticizes the opposition for failing to bring more specific concerns. Interview by Kersten Knipp
Interview with the Egyptian Muslim activist Asmaa Mahfouz

''There is no war between Islam and America''

Asmaa Mahfouz is one of the founders of the April 6 Youth Movement. She has been credited with helping to spark mass uprising through her video blog posted one week before the start of the 2011 Egyptian revolution. In this interview with Nina zu Fürstenberg, she shares her concerns and hopes for the Arab Spring
Protests against Mohammed film in the Arab World

Adding Grist to the Salafists' Mill

This is the latest episode of an ongoing saga that sees both western Islamophobes and Arab Salafists upping the ante. It began with a film produced in the US and viewed as a provocation by Muslims, and ended provisionally with four dead at the US consulate in Benghazi. Details from Karim El-Gawhary in Cairo
Anti-Islamic Film Riots

A Culture of Religious Fanaticism

Responses to the inflammatory anti-Islamic film currently seen in Arab and Muslim nations are much worse than the film itself. These expressions of extremism are destroying all decency and civilised behaviour. A commentary by Khaled Hroub
Iran and the Syria Conflict

Pragmatism instead of Confrontation

Iran has welcomed the Russian imitative for international control of Syria's chemical weapon arsenal. The fact that President Obama is now pushing for a diplomatic solution to the conflict is also good news for the moderate forces in Tehran, who do not wish to support Assad at any price. By Marcus Michaelsen