Society

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
Jerusalem's 'Tolerance Museum'

The Middle East Conflict Fought Out on an Ancient Muslim Cemetery

Arab, Israeli, and Western archaeologists demand the cancelation of plans to build a Tolerance Museum in Jerusalem – a project that has already been hotly debated for years. Joseph Croitoru reports
By Joseph Croitoru
Interview with the Saudi Arabian Blogger Ahmed al Omran

''You Cannot Copy and Paste a Revolution''

Ahmed al Omran is one of Saudi Arabia's most popular bloggers. In this interview with Benno Müchler, he explains why people in Saudi Arabia do not have an inclination to revolt, and assesses the prospects for political reform in the country
By Benno Müchler
Kurdish Language Studies in Turkey

A Radical Change in Quiet Stages

The walls may be ancient, but the students are young: the Zinciriye Madrasa in Mardin already offers a Masters in Kurdish Language and Culture and is now to start offering a Bachelors programme. It's a quiet but remarkable change in the Turkish university system. Sonja Galler reports
By Sonja Galler
Dialogue between Religions in Indonesia

On the Interdenominational Construction Site of Humanity

For the past 20 years, the Indonesian NGO DIAN/Interfidei has been engaged in interdenominational dialogue. The organization has also tried to include atheists, Confucians, and even fundamentalists in its activities – with various degrees of success. Anett Keller reports from Yogyakarta
By Anett Keller
The Islamization of Indonesian Media

Hostage to the Tyranny of the Majority

Indonesia enjoys a democratically elected government, yet social pressure on the country's media to adopt conservative Islamic positions is steadily growing. Observations and an assessment by Andy Budiman
By Andy Budiman
Arson Attack on the Satirical Magazine ''Charlie Hebdo''

Heated Debate over Sharia Law

The attack on the French satirical magazine 'Charlie Hebdo' represents an attack on the freedom of expression – even if the special edition's chosen title – 'Charia Hebdo' – in reference to election results in Tunisia appears quite ill-judged.
By Bernhard Schmid
Islam 2.0

Hajj Pilgrimage Enters Digital Age

Performing a religious ritual like hajj and using a smartphone is no contrast. Modern Muslim pilgrims can stay connected via platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
By Ali Almakhlafi
The Media in Iraq

Fostering Democracy through Commercial Advertising

In order to be able to produce unbiased reporting, media outlets need to be independent. But in Iraq, most of the media outlets are funded interest groups who exert a massive influence on the way they report. Friederike Ott reports
The Speed Sisters of Ramallah

Emancipation in Racing Suits

Palestinian women on the West Bank are increasingly able to determine their own lives. The "Speed Sisters", a group of women racing drivers, are ample proof of this. They have created quite a sensation in the process. Andreas Baum reports from Ramallah
By Andreas Baum
Mathias Rohe on Islamic Theology in Germany

Triggering Global Debates

In Germany, Islamic theology is being introduced as a university course – a much debated issue in academic terms, but also politically. In this interview, Mathias Rohe, Germany's most renowned academic expert on Sharia law, talks about what this means for the development of Islam in Germany and, potentially, on a global level
By Lewis Gropp
Interview with Nilüfer Göle

Shifting Identities and the Stakes of Turkish Democracy

Turkey faces tough decisions at home and abroad, from how to handle heterogeneous identities as they become visible in the public sphere to the role it will play as a model for emerging Middle Eastern democracies. Juliana DeVries interviews the prominent Turkish sociologist Nilüfer Göle
By Juliana DeVries