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The Niqab in GermanyAn Unusual Perspective
What is it like to live as a woman who covers her face with a veil in Germany? How do people on the street react? Chamselassil Ayari wore a Muslim full-body covering garment for one day.
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Debate about Integration in Germany
The Nation State and Its Immigrants
The immigration debate is emotionally charged. Nevertheless, there is no place for sensitivities of this kind during discussions and debates. If the Germans want to embrace those who have immigrated to their country, they have to get more involved in the debate – and in an open and self-critical manner. An essay by Zafer Senocak
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Interview with Aatish Taseer
A Personal Quest for an Understanding of Modern Islam
Aatish Taseer is a British writer and journalist of British-Indian origin. In this interview with Richard Marcus, he talks about Islamic identity, the ailments of the Islamic world, and his most recent book, the highly acclaimed 'Stranger to History: A Son's Journey through Islamic Lands'
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Mohammed Abed al-Jabri
Pioneering Figure in a New Arab Enlightenment
The Moroccan philosopher Mohammed Abed Al-Jabri has died at the age of 76. His death robs the Arab world of one of its most influential critical voices in the debate over identity, history and politics. An obituary by Sonja Hegasy
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Muhammad Iqbal
A Spiritual Bridge between East and West
To this day, activists of various political hues still draw on the thinking of Muhammad Iqbal, Pakistan's spiritual father and influential 20th-century philosopher, to such an extent that he also looks set to play a significant role in the future of the country. Stephan Popp introduces the man known as the "Scholar"
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Germany's Islam Conference
State Islam Would Be Unconstitutional
The Muslims will have to organise if they want to ensure themselves of a place within the system of constitutional law on religion. In order to conduct negotiations on religious matters the neutral state requires someone to talk to. A commentary by canon lawyer Hans Michael Heinig
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Tamim Ansary: "Destiny Disrupted"
World History from an Islamic Perspective
Afghan-born Tamim Ansary has written a history of the world that takes Islam as its central focus. Events are related from a Muslim point of view, beginning with the life of the Prophet through to September 11th, 2001. Review by Klaus Heymach
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Interview with Nadeem Aslam
"Within Three or Four Years the Texture of Pakistani Life Changed"
In this interview with Claudia Kramatschek, Nadeem Aslam talks about his native Pakistan, the military rule of Zia ul-Haque, and his most recent novel, about Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion
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Interview with Olivier Roy
"Full Equality before the Law for All Religions"
French political scientist Olivier Roy is one of the foremost European experts on Islam. His new book, "Holy Ignorance. When Religion and Culture Diverge", will soon be published in English. Eren Güvercin spoke with Roy about the current Islam debate in Europe
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Jewish and Muslim mysticism
Jewish mystics on the Sufi path
The Middle East conflict has dug deep trenches of enmity between Jews and Muslims. That makes it easy to forget that, for centuries, the two religions contributed much to each other's philosophy and spirituality. Nimet Seker looks at the influence of Muslim Sufism on Jewish mysticism
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IslamOnline Dispute
End of the Dialogue?
At the beginning of March, IslamOnline.net was one of the most successful websites in the Middle East. Now the editorial team are locked in a power struggle with their Islamist financial backers in Qatar. Alfred Hackensberger reports
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Online Sex Shop for Muslims
Sharia-conform Eroticism from Amsterdam
Abdelaziz Aouragh opened the world's first halal shop for sexual enhancement products. It is but one indication that many young Muslims are charting their own course in managing adherence to a faith whose sexual morals historically have been interpreted by arch conservatives. James M. Dorsey reports
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Lebanese singer Fairuz
The "grande dame" of Arab music turns 85
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Execution for a Facebook post?
Why blasphemy is a capital offence in some Muslim countries
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″Afro-Iran″ photo book
The Persian Gulf′s forgotten minority
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Sex education in the Arab world
Let's talk about sex, habibi!
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Hindus in Pakistan
"I want to preserve my Hindu bloodline in North Waziristan"
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Syrians in Germany
Writer Widad Nabi: ″Integration is the search for common ground″