Society

Iraq's Anfal campaign

The survivor who brought her torturer to justice

After decades in hiding, the head of a notorious prison during the 1988 campaign against Iraq's Kurds has been sentenced to death. For survivor Fazila Mohammad, who helped identify him, the verdict is a milestone, but not the end.
By Karzan Maaroof
Libyan commander at the ICC

The "angel of death" on trial

The ICC has confirmed charges against Khaled El Hishri, accused of crimes against humanity at Tripoli's Mitiga prison. The first Libyan suspect to appear before the court, his trial could expose a wider system of abuse affecting Libyans, migrants and refugees.
By Margherita Capacci
Israel's high-tech warfare

A new era of automated violence

In Gaza, mobile phones are both a lifeline and a threat, feeding algorithmic targeting systems while remaining essential for survival. Researcher Gihan AbouZeid examines how AI-driven surveillance technologies are reshaping the experience of war.
By Gihan AbouZeid
Iran's Gulf region

More than a strait

The Strait of Hormuz is at the centre of geopolitical tensions. But a closer look at the cultural landscape reveals a different picture: on Iran's southern coast, African, Indian and Arab influences converge, creating a cultural tapestry far removed from the image of a homogeneous theocratic state.
By Amin Farzanefar
Reconstruction in Syria

Whose land will major investors build on?

Syria is relying on competition and foreign investment to fund its reconstruction efforts. In Damascus, citizens are being asked to sell their land for a multi-billion property project. Yet many long to rebuild their own homes.
By Justus Könneker
250 years of the USA

How enslaved African Muslims resisted bondage

The history of Islam in the U.S. does not begin with voluntary immigration. It can be traced back to the country's formative years, and to the millions of enslaved Africans, up to a third of whom are believed to have been Muslim.
By Nareman Amin, Leila Tarakji
Femicide in Turkey

Where is Gülistan Doku?

Years after a young Kurdish woman's femicide, new probes have led to arrests. The suspects are sons of civil servants. The case ignited a Turkish debate on state failure and alleged cover-up. Yet the wider issue of anti-Kurdish violence remains sidelined.
By Jana Treffler
Morocco’s 2030 World Cup

The cost of redevelopment

As Morocco’s Atlas Lions take the field in the 2026 World Cup, bulldozers in Casablanca and Rabat are already clearing the way for 2030, when Morocco will co-host the tournament. Local residents are paying the price.
By Younes Saoury
Q&A

Who are the Imazighen?

Still widely known as "Berbers", millions of people identify as Amazigh. Brahim El Guabli of Johns Hopkins University discusses the identity, language, and history of a people striving for recognition within predominantly Arab societies.
By Brahim El Guabli
Tourism in Tunisia

Preservation or erosion?

For Amazigh communities in southern Tunisia, tourism is a mixed blessing. Though it has become a vital lifeline for the struggling local economy, many villages remain on the verge of abandonment. Some locals fear their culture is being reduced to a commodity.
By Nadia Addezio
Israel and Palestine

How to talk about Zionism

Criticism of the ideology underpinning Israel's foundation remains contentious in Germany. In the US, however, a significant shift is taking place. The Zionist consensus within the Jewish community is fracturing and debate is opening up.
By Charlotte Wiedemann
Alcohol ban in Syria

Will Damascus soon sober up?

In June, a ban on serving alcohol is due to come into force in Damascus. Bar owners are worried, while the population remains divided. Some consider the ban necessary, others see it as a serious infringement on personal freedoms.
By Sham al-Sabsabi