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A strange and wonderful journey

In their latest release, Amsterdam-based Anatolian rock band Altin Gun reinterprets ten folk songs from Turkey for the 21st century, with spectacular results. Richard Marcus had a listen

Feeding on people's grievances

In this essay, Ian Buruma explores what it is that American Tea Party enthusiasts, Russian chauvinists, right-wing populist Dutch and Danes, and Singaporean leftists have in common and why this common ground is driving anti-immigrant sentiment around the world

German foreign minister pushes for stability

Annalena Baerbock used her recent trip to Iraq to call for greater international support for Baghdad and the region. Without it, she said, the country risks becoming a pawn in geopolitical tensions. Giulia Saudelli reports from Iraq

Culture boom in Baghdad

Frustrated with their politicians, young Iraqis are turning their backs on politics and throwing themselves into cultural life. Birgit Svensson reports from Baghdad

We need to talk about abortion

Abortions are illegal in Egypt unless they are necessary to save a married woman's life. But that doesn't stop local women from having one. Egyptian society needs to acknowledge this, activists say. By Diana Hodali

Fear lingers in an ancient community

In the predominantly Christian town of Maaloula, residents hold differing views on al-Sharaa and the safety of their community in the new Syria. For many, memories of the 2013 Nusra Front attack remain—and mistrust runs deep.

"Address problems, but acknowledge progress"

Lamya Kaddor, MP for Germany’s Green Party, visited Qatar with a group of parliamentarians. In interview with Claudia Mende, she advocates a differentiated picture and urges that progress in human rights also be recognised

Censorship by any other name

According to Turkey’s revised media legislation, spreading "fake news" now carries a prison sentence. The definition of what this entails has been kept intentionally vague. Opposition leaders, journalists and human rights observers call foul. Leyla Egeli reports

Tunisia's undemocratic drift

Tunisians go to the polls to elect a new parliament on Saturday, 17 December. The election is likely to result in a dummy parliament, sealing its undemocratic credentials. This is the latest episode in a turbulent chapter for the north African country where the Arab Spring began. Can the autocratic drift be reversed? By Amine Ghali

Assad Shows His True Colours

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was long popular with his people. Now, however, he is using brutal force to fight them. Can he maintain his grip on power? A commentary by Michael Thumann