Society

The search for Syria's missing

Where is Ahmed?

Since the fall of Assad, thousands of Syrians who have been searching for disappeared relatives have been left feeling abandoned by the new rulers. Meanwhile, the process of collecting evidence of the regime's crimes remains unsystematic.
By Andrea Backhaus
Arab footballers in Germany

Is Marmoush following in Salah's footsteps?

The young Egyptian player Omar Marmoush has made headlines in the German Bundesliga and across Europe, drawing comparisons to his compatriot, the Liverpool legend Mohamed Salah.
By Mostafa Algritly
Post-Assad Syria

"Let freedom of the press be enshrined as sacrosanct"

The collapse of the Assad regime must not only mark the end of an era steeped in fear and oppression, but it must also serve as the dawn of a new chapter in the country’s history. Syrian independent media outlets publish their demands to the new government.
Podcast with Qantara author Emran Feroz

"The question is: which human rights do the Taliban not violate?"

In August 2021, the USA and its allies withdrew from Afghanistan. Emran Feroz joins the "Deep Dive" podcast to shed light on the human rights situation in the country after three years of Taliban rule.
ICC arrest warrants

What the Netanyahu warrant tells us about international law

Arrest warrants issued against Israeli leaders are putting international law to the test. Do Western states only support UN courts when it serves their interests? Can the "principle of universal jurisdiction" save international criminal justice?
By Hannah El-Hitami
Syrians in Germany

"We have suffered at the hands of this regime, its fall unites us"

Stunned by the sudden collapse of the Assad regime, Syrians take their joy to the streets of Berlin. Some have already started planning their return home.
By Mohammed Magdy
Impressions from Syria

The uncertainty of freedom

An abandoned Assad-regime torture chamber, Kalashnikov-wielding rebels and a fearful archbishop. Karim El-Gawhary reports from the "new Syria"—a snapshot of history.
By Karim El-Gawhary
Video discussion with Eva Illouz and Michael Brenner

Complex thinking in conflictual times

Simplistic, decontextualized narratives must be challenged to truly understand the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and identify potential paths toward resolution.
Iranian civil society

Silenced under the pretext of war

Iran and Israel are engaged in an unprecedented open military conflict. The regime is using the threat of war as a weapon against its own population. Activists from the "Women, Life, Freedom" movement are branded "soldiers of Israel".
By Omid Rezaee
Palestinian critique of Hamas

Reclaiming the narrative of resistance

Palestinians have the right to defend themselves against Israel's occupation. But that doesn't have to mean following Hamas—a group whose political vision has resulted in Gaza's systematic destruction. It's time to envision a different future.
By Rajaa Natour
Sudanese refugees in Chad

An uncertain future

More than half a million people have fled war in Sudan into neighbouring Chad. Humanitarian workers are scrambling to provide support amid overcrowding, limited funding and widespread trauma.
By Martin Bertrand
Northern Gaza under siege

"Either we survive together or we all die together"

As the Israeli encirclement of North Gaza continues, the humanitarian situation is becoming increasingly dire. Trapped residents share their stories of daily life under siege.
By Karim El-Gawhary