Society

How Pakistan's Media Is Defending Democracy

Fauzia Shaheen is a media expert, women's activist and president of the Women Media Centre in Pakistan. She would like to promote equal opportunities for women in Pakistan's media by training female journalists. Julie Schwannecke spoke to her about the current role of the media, press freedom and democracy in Pakistan

Mutual Understanding

More exchange in academia, the arts and sports would contribute to improving Germany's relations with Iran, experts say. Such exchange would strengthen civil society in Iran and boost mutual understanding. By Mareike Forchheim

Taking a Stand for Society

The first network made up of engaged, young, well-educated Muslims has been active in Germany now for more than three years. The network, called “Zahnräder” (Gear Wheels), has brought together Muslims from various disciplines and interests, regardless of ethnic background or internal Islamic differences. By Claudia Mende

Online Radio Station Gives Syrians Hope

Baladna FM has one major goal: to give users hope in the midst of Syria's bloody civil war. Reporters recount stories of everyday life in Syrian cities and face invisible enemies on the Internet. Jan Bruck talked to the producers of Baladna FM

Time for Majority Society to Change Its Attitude

In Germany, many Muslim women feel pressurised into re-defining and justifying their identities and their belongingness on a daily basis. Melahat Kişi feels strongly that instead of focusing on differences, the time has come to accept that all citizens of migrant origin in Germany belong to German society. No ifs, no buts

State-tolerated Xenophobia

Egypt has been flooded by a wave of xenophobia. Not only Americans, but above all Palestinians and Syrians are suffering from regime-tolerated media agitation against foreigners. Matthias Sailer reports from Cairo

The Challenges of Ramadan

Observing Ramadan in Uniform

There are around 1,000 Muslims among Germany's 250,000 soldiers. During Ramadan, they have the extra pressure of finding a compromise between their job and their daily religious fast. Ulrike Hummel reports

Virtual (Counter-)Revolution

Online activists in Syria have been involved in the anti-Assad rebellion from the outset. And although the regime is now playing them at their own game, their online presence shows one thing above all else: That in this nation at war, civil resistance continues to exist. By Jannis Hagmann

Inter-religious Dialogue on Matters of Health

Ilhan Ilkilic, a doctor, medical ethicist and scholar of Islam of Turkish descent, is the first Muslim to sit on Germany's National Ethics Council and regards this institution as an experiment that can boost inter-religious dialogue within German society. He spoke to Julie Schwannecke

A Test of Willpower

In her reflective article, Kristiane Backer describes Ramadan as not only a period of renunciation and self-discipline, but also as a process of physical and spiritual cleansing. The Islamic fasting month of gives her a sense of closer proximity to God, writes the former MTV and NBC presenter, who converted to Islam

Bangladeshi Islamists Demand Blasphemy Law

Earlier this month, hundreds of extremely religious Muslims in Bangladesh took to the streets, calling for a new law that would include the death penalty for blasphemy. By Roma Rajpal und Rachel Yasmin Baig