Society

Interview with Tarek Mitri

The Fruits of Pent-Up Fear

The Lebanese Christian politician and university lecturer Tarek Mitri is critical of the withdrawal of many Arab Christians from the societies in which they live. In this interview with Mona Naggar he calls for a revival of "Arab Renaissance" ideals
By Mona Naggar
Radical Critics of Islam and Islamophobia

Denying the Individuality of Minority Members

At a recent conference in Germany looking at radical critics of Islam, there was consensus that it was about time that politicians and society looked more seriously at the growing defamation of Muslims. By Claudia Mende
By Claudia Mende
Soccer Ultras and National Protest in Egypt

Demands for Civilian Rule

The Port Said tragedy, in which 74 people died, has given new impetus to the protests against the military council. To capitalise on this, football ultras and youth groups need to combine their street tactics with engagement in traditional politics.
By James M. Dorsey
Fifth Integration Summit

Paternalism Instead of Equality

Chancellor Merkel has hosted five integration summits over the past six years. Daniel Bax feels that the time has now come for the German state to stop behaving towards migrants as a father does towards a child and to work instead on breaking down structures and prejudices that hamper the genuine equality and participation of immigrants
By Daniel Bax
Repression of Journalists in Turkey

Fighting Press Freedom with Anti-Terrorism Laws

The detention of Ragıp Zarakolu, a past winner of the International Freedom to Publish Award, shows how Turkish anti-terrorism laws are being misused to curtail freedom of expression. By Semiran Kaya
By Semiran Kaya
Iranian Journalists under Pressure

Arrest or Exile

In the run-up to the Iranian parliamentary elections, the regime in Tehran is showing signs of nervousness. More journalists are being arrested as the repression of civil society continues. Marcus Michaelsen reports
By Marcus Michaelsen
Germany's Fifth Integration Summit

Step-By-Step Policy

The German federal government has organized regular summit meetings to discuss integration since 2006. Migration experts, however, say that the decisions taken are often only half-heartedly implemented. By Bettina Louise Haase
By Bettina Louise Haase
Stefan Weidner's Book on Islam and the West

The End of Imperialism

With his new book, Stefan Weidner would like to straighten out our simplified, cliché-ridden perception of Islam by looking at phenomena such as Sharia from an unusual perspective. Albrecht Metzger read the book
By Albrecht Metzger
Mansoura Ez Eldin on Women's Rights in Egypt

Between Hammer and Anvil

In her essay, the well-known Egyptian writer Mansoura Ez Eldin sketches a gloomy picture of post-revolutionary social conditions in her homeland, where she says women are facing increasing political marginalisation and being robbed of their basic rights
By Mansoura Ez-Eldin
The University of Tripoli

The Desolate Wasteland of Gaddafi's Education System

During the Gaddafi era, university courses in Libya were ideologically tainted, and students could pass exams by showing themselves to be particularly patriotic or simply by having good connections. But a new day has dawned, and all of this is set to change. Alfred Hackensberger reports from Tripoli
By Alfred Hackensberger
Journalism in Afghanistan

Warlord TV

Journalism in Afghanistan has been reborn, rising from the ashes of the Taliban regime. The country currently boasts 150 radio stations and 30 television channels. But how free is its journalism? And how much independence do the journalists have? By Marian Brehmer
By Marian Brehmer
The Islamic "Culture of Ambiguity"

Plurality as a Matter of Course

How does a wine goblet find its way into an Islamic art collection? In "The Culture of Ambiguity", Thomas Bauer describes the wide boundaries of Muslim culture and asserts that in the West cultural goods are often considered to be "Islamic" when they're actually not
By Katajun Amirpur