Society

Religious Tension in Indonesia

Tolerance No More

Indonesia has the biggest Muslim population in the world and is often described as a country where people live peacefully side by side, tolerating difference. In reality, however, the targeting of religious minorities has been on the increase for years. By Andy Budiman
By Andy Budiman
State Surveillance in Iran

''There's No Such Thing as Your Own Four Walls''

People in Iran – and women in particular – have long known that not much is private in the Islamic Republic of Iran: the state is all too fond of monitoring and trying to control what its citizens do in private. But when a cult TV figure starts telling the nation that there should be no distinction between the public and the private in the Islamic Republic, it does not bode well for the future. By Ali Sadrzadeh
By Ali Sadrzadeh
Book Review: Miltiades Oulios on deportation in Germany

The Dark Side of a Cosmopolitan and Liberal Society

According to the Cologne-based journalist Miltiades Oulios, deportation only works in an environment of intransparency. With his recently published book, he seeks to shed some light on the obscurity of this subject. Claudia Kramatschek read the book
By Claudia Kramatschek
The ''Tahrir Lounge'' in Cairo

Grassroots Democracy

In a project funded by Germany, a team of young Egyptians in Cairo is trying to boost civil participation and create political awareness without subscribing to any particular ideology. By Matthias Sailer
By Matthias Sailer
Escaping the Civil War in Syria

Humanity amid the Horror

Mansour Al Rajab devoted six years of his life to establishing and building up a clinic in Syria. The war turned it into a field hospital, the grenades into a heap of rubble. Although the doctor was able to flee to the Czech Republic, his heart remained in Homs with the revolution. By Martin Nejezchleba
By Martin Nejezchleba
Woman and Social Networks in Pakistan

Hostility on the Internet

Women in Pakistan are being harassed and are encountering hostility via social networks on the Internet. At the same time, many women's rights activists see the web as a new way to further their work. By Marcus Michaelsen
By Marcus Michaelsen
The Turkish Publisher Ragıp Zarakolu

The Power of the Word

For almost 40 years now the Turkish publisher, author and human rights activist Ragıp Zarakolu has been a thorn in the side of the Turkish state. He has been jailed several times and there are numerous indictments against him going through the courts. But Zarakolu has never lost his faith in the power of the word. Profile by Ceyda Nurtsch
By Ceyda Nurtsch
Mouhanad Khorchide's Reformist Theology

De-politicizing the Koran

Mouhanad Khorchide aims to reconcile Islam with the modern world. His aim is to liberate the Koran from all outward trappings and return to the religion's spiritual core Claudia Mende introduces the man and his work
By Claudia Mende
Living out of Wedlock in Iran

A Quiet Social Revolution

More and more couples in Iran are living together despite the fact that they are not married - in the face of law and tradition. Conservative Islamic groups are trying to push the government to reverse this trend. By Yalda Zarbakhch
By Yalda Zarbakhch
Israelis and Palestinians

Making Acquaintances in Germany

Back home, they only know about each other from checkpoints and through the media. At the University of Düsseldorf in Germany, students from the Middle East can talk to each other in person about culture, politics, and peace. Antje Hollunder reports
Women in Afghanistan

In Prison for Being Raped

The NATO mandate in Afghanistan is drawing to a close. But the western forces will leave unfinished business behind when they pull out in 2014. Many promises were made to Afghan people a decade ago, and many remain unfulfilled – for instance, in regard to women's rights. By Sheila Mysorekar
Islamic Religion Classes in German schools

Who Decides?

After years of discussion and debate, the first German states are now introducing Islamic religion classes in public schools. However, because there are many different branches of Islam and no central authority to offer guidance, the question as to who should be allowed to decide on teachers and lesson content is leading to serious conflict. By Claudia Mende
By Claudia Mende