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"The Koran – A Book in Many Languages"

Angelika Neuwirth is one of Germany's most renowned Koran experts. In this interview with Kurt Scharf, she talks about the aesthetic dimension of the Koran, the trouble with translating sacred texts, and the notion of "inlibration"

Loosing the chains

Scarcely any other country treats native and foreign workers as unequally as Saudi Arabia. With its pronounced disparities between men and women, the labour market also reflects the contradictions within Saudi society. Implementing the initiated reforms will be no small feat. By Nassir Djafari

Reviving the Rich Translation Culture of the Arab World

Under the auspices of the Abu Dhabi Institution for Culture and Tradition the "Kalima" project aims to revive the rich culture of translation in the Arab World. Muhammad Massad met up with Karim Naji, the executive president to the project

Religion′s potential for peace

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel recently invited around a hundred representatives of religious communities in North and West Africa, the Middle East and Europe to attend a confrence in Berlin. In future the Foreign Office is aiming to co-operate more closely with religious communities. By Christoph Strack

A Christmas Meditation

Scholars are only now beginning to realise the extent to which the Mughal emperors adopted what most would assume to be outrightly Christian devotions. An essay by William Dalrymple

When love comes down

The unwelcome glare of publicity

According to a report in the Austrian weekly ′Falter′, Professor Ednan Aslan is said to have allowed civil servants working for the Austrian Foreign and Integration Minister Sebastian Kurz to manipulate his findings for political ends. Allegations he vehemently denies. A commission has now been set up to investigate. By Canan Topcu

The Mellow Voice of the Muezzin

Seven years ago, the Great Mosque of Granada was opened, more than 500 years after the Muslim Moors were expelled by the Catholic 'Reconquista'. Many people feel uncomfortable hearing the Muslim call to prayer. By Troy Nahumko

The Minaret Man

Ahmet Akbaba had a good idea at exactly the right moment. Originally a carpenter, he began specializing in building minarets and is now the top man in Germany for the field. Abdul-Ahmad Rashid introduces him

A poor second

Germany is a secular country, but the German legal framework approves of institutionalised religions in a biased way. The religions must organise themselves according to state standards and those standards are tailored toward the structures of the Christian religion. A commentary by Alexander Goerlach