Society

Christmas in Pakistan

In harmony with the Muslim community

Just like all Christians in Islamabad, 45-year-old Akram and his family celebrate "the night of the new moon" also known as "chand raat", every year on 24 December. Nusrat Sheikh joined him
By Nusrat Sheikh
Interview with Irshad Manji

''I Consider it Wrong to Say that Muslims are Incapable of Reform''

The liberal feminist Muslim and bestselling author Irshad Manji calls for a reconciliation between faith and freedom. Christoph Dreyer spoke with her about civil courage, the dangers of moderation and her new book Allah, Liberty and Love
By Christoph Dreyer
2011 in the Arab World

''Change We Can Believe In''

At the end of a year of epochal and largely unforeseen change in the Arab World, Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan gives his personal view of what the region now needs to ensure that this change is both sustainable and meaningful
By Prince El Hassan bin Talal
The Jordan River Peace Park Project

Peace through Environmental Protection

The environmental organization Friends of the Earth Middle East is planning to set up a peace park on the banks of the River Jordan in the hope of fostering environmental protection and economic development in the region. Claudia Mende reports
By Claudia Mende
The EU and Migration

Migration as an Opportunity, Not a Threat

Migration researcher Klaus Bade believes that EU economic policy is fostering migration flows. Jan-Philipp Scholz spoke to him about migration and its causes
Interview with Alaa Al Aswany

''We're Still at the Beginning''

Alaa Al Aswany qualified as a dentist, but is better known to the world as the best-selling author of The Yacoubian Building and one of the spokespersons of the "Kifaya" protest movement. In this interview, he tells Thomas Kohlmann that the revolution on Tahrir Square, of which he was a part, will continue and that it is really only at the beginning
By Thomas Kohlmann
Review of Michael Lüders' book on the Arab Spring

How the Arab Revolution Is Changing the World

In his book about the Arab Spring, the well-known Middle East expert and journalist Michael Lüders criticises the West's one-dimensional view of the historic events that have shaken the Arab world over the past year. Sebastian Sons read the book
By Sebastian Sons
Journalists with Headscarves in Morocco

Kept under Cover

In Morocco, too, more and more women are entering the labour market. Many of them wear a headscarf. However, there seems to be an unwritten law in Moroccan radio and television that women wearing headscarves are not allowed to be employed there.
By Siham Ouchtou
Standing up to Discrimination against Muslims

Know Your Rights!

Since 2010, a Berlin-based network has dedicated itself to opposing discrimination against Muslims by providing information and legal advice to the Muslim community. As Sabine Ripperger has been finding out, Muslims are often unaware that discrimination is illegal in Germany
By Sabine Ripperger
Debate about Sharia and Democracy

A Western Misconception

Sharia is a collection of norms that can be interpreted in many ways – either for or against democracy. Islamist parties are not per se opposed to democracy, writes the renowned scholar of Islam, Mathias Rohe in his commentary
By Mathias Rohe
''Euro-Islam''

Too Diverse to Domesticate

Since 9/11, Europe has been debating whether the principles of Islam are compatible with European culture and values. Could ‘Bosnian Islam’ be the model? Or should Europe avoid trying to domesticate Islam altogether?
By Zoran Arbutina
Post-graduate Programme on Islamic Theology

''Muslim Theologians are Instigators of Change''

Islamic theology is still a very new academic discipline at German universities. It is hoped that a new nationwide post-graduate programme will boost its development, lead to increased representation of Muslims in Germany, and lay the groundwork for the training of state schoolteachers of Islam. As Christoph Dreyer reports, expectations are high all round
By Christoph Dreyer