Society

Interview with the Algerian Women's Rights Activist Nadia Ait Zai

''We need to completely change the system of government''

The recent parliamentary election in Algerian has made little difference to the balance of political power. One thing, however, is new: there are now suddenly five times as many female members of parliament. Martina Sabra asked the Algerian lawyer and women's rights activist Nadia Ait Zai about what was behind this change, and about prospects for the future
By Martina Sabra
Women in Turkey

Victims of Domestic Violence

More than a third of women in Turkey have experienced sexual and physical violence at some point. An anti-violence law introduced in March was watered down by Prime Minister Erdogan. Activists fear an erosion of rights. Naomi Conrad reports
By Naomi Conrad
Interview with the Tunisian Philosopher Mohamed Turki

''The Arab Spring Could Turn out to Be a Twilight of the Gods''

Mohamed Turki is a philosopher of history, a lecturer in philosophy at the University of Tunis and a member of the Society for Intercultural Philosophy. In this interview with Ceyda Nurtsch, he speaks about the risks and opportunities of the Arab Spring and explains why an intercultural approach is unavoidable when creating new democracies
By Ceyda Nurtsch
Charges against Turkish Star Pianist Fazil Say

Facing Trial for Joking on Twitter

Pianist Fazil Say is an internationally acclaimed Turkish artist. He could face a sentence of 18 months in prison on charges of insulting Muslim religious values on Twitter. Critics call him a "traitor to the nation". Arne Lichtenberg reports
By Arne Lichtenberg
Anja Hilscher's Book "Image Problem"

Addressing the Problem of Islam's Image

In her book "Image Problem: the image of evil Islam and my colourful Muslim World", Anja Hilscher has attempted to tackle head on some of the stereotypical perceptions of Islam. In the end, however, she falls into the trap of merely reinforcing some of these prejudices. Annett Hellwig has been reading the book
By Annett Hellwig
The Documentary ''Generation Kunduz''

The War of the Others

"Generation Kunduz" is a documentary film that portrays the stark reality of life for people in the province of Kunduz. "I did the most banal thing there is," says director Martin Gerner on the subject of his film. "I went to the people." A review by Marian Brehmer
By Marian Brehmer
The Parallel World of the Egyptian Military

An End to the Oasis for the Privileged

Maher Galal is convinced that the military government will never give up its power freely. As the son of a general, he knows the corrupt parallel system created by the Egyptian military. For years, he profited from the system himself. Now, his wish is for a just society. By Marlene Schröder
By Marlene Schröder
Christian-Muslim Dialogue in Germany

Together in the Search for God

The Christian-Muslim dialogue has been a firm part of the biennial German Catholic Assembly, the Katholikentag, for the last 20 years. This year, in Mannheim, catholic bishops from Egypt and Iraq and priests from Palestine and India took part in the debates. Christoph Strack reports
By Christoph Strack
Social Media in Turkey

Circumventing Censorship

A growing number of young Turks are turning to social media, complaining that mainstream media are being increasingly controlled by the government. Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul
By Dorian Jones
Press Freedom in Turkey

Against the Criminalization of Journalism

Despite some reforms and ongoing negotiations for EU membership, Turkey's ranking in the Reporters without Borders Press Freedom Index remains strikingly low. Qantara's Fatma Kayabal spoke to, Erol Önderoğlu, the organization's correspondent in Istanbul
By Fatma Kayabal
The Palestinian Nakba of 1948

An Objective Delineation of Events

The Swiss journalist Marlène Schnieper describes how Palestinian society is still affected by the experience of flight and expulsion it went through in 1948. In her book on the Nakba she links the broader history with the life stories of individual Palestinians – both prominent and unknown. By Moritz Behrendt
By Moritz Behrendt
Young Muslims in Germany

''Berlin Needs You!''

While the debate about Muslim integration in Europe sometimes seems dominated by fears and division, Berlin-based writer Julia Hoffmann highlights one German effort to help promote diversity in the public sector
By Julia Hoffmann