Society

Islamic Manuscripts from Mali

From Holes in the Sand to a Digital Library

Forgotten, stolen and now rediscovered: In West African Timbuktu, families have maintained thousands of Islamic manuscripts down the centuries. Private individuals such as Abdelkader Haidara are now working to protect and digitise this African library heritage. By Charlotte Wiedemann
"Wasla" – Egypt's Magazine for Bloggers without Blogs

Experiments on Paper

Internet blogs are today taking on increasing importance in Egypt. But many readers simply don't have the time to do so much reading online. The new blog magazine "Wasla" is setting out to change that. Haytham Abdelathim presents the first issue
Tribute to the British Muslim Gai Eaton

Glamour and Humility

Gai Eaton, or Sidi Hasan, which was his Muslim name, was a diplomat, author and one of Britain's most influential convert Muslims. In his nearly 60 years as a Muslim he proved that British values are very much compatible with Islamic ones, writes Kristiane Backer in her tribute to a friend
Foreign Television Broadcasters in Arabic

Waving the Flag in Arab Living Rooms

A steadily increasing number of foreign television broadcasters are battling to win over public opinion in Arab countries. Media experts forecast an intensification of this competition, especially now that the private sector has also stepped into the arena. By Mona Sarkis
Islamophobia and Anti-Semitism

Mechanisms of Exclusion and Discrimination

According to Wolfgang Benz, head of the Center for Research on Anti-Semitism at Berlin's Free University, there are structural similarities in the stigmatisation of Muslims and Jews. An interview by Claudia Mende
The Photographer Judah Passow

An Eye for the Tragedy of the Conflict

The photographer Judah Passow, four times awarded with the World Press Award, abhors religious fervour and works towards social tolerance. Alexandra Senfft met with Passow in London and offers us a portrait of the man
Migration and Integration in Germany

The "Heroes" of Berlin-Neukölln

The "Heroes" project in Berlin is designed to help boys from Muslims families to break with traditional patriarchal behaviour patterns and stand up against honour being used as a means of suppression. Regina Friedrich reports
New Participants in the German Islam Conference

The Patronised Minority

There is something deeply paternalistic, even un-democratic, about the policy for choosing members of the German Islam Conference. The ministry deliberates behind closed doors. And the Muslims wait to see who will represent them. A commentary by Hilal Sezgin
Interview with the Senegalese Sociologist Amsata Sene

Last Stop Senegal

Many young Senegalese want to go to Europe to escape unemployment and poverty. They risk their lives to fulfil this goal. Of those that make it, most are deported back to Senegal. Naima El Moussaoui spoke to the Senegalese sociologist Amsata Sene about the causes and the consequences of irregular migration to Europe
New Grand Sheikh at Al-Azhar University

Fighting Extremism in A Suit and Tie

The new grand sheikh of al-Azhar University, Ahmed al-Tayyib, is considered open-minded and moderate. He rejects all forms of political Islam and would like to continue to lead the most renowned and respected seat of Sunni learning in the progressive tradition established by his predecessor. Alfred Hackensberger reports
Alliance of Christian and Muslim Creationists

Fossilised Thinking Proves God's Existence

Evangelical Christians and Muslim creationists – such as the Turkish anti-Darwinist Harun Yahia – have one thing in common: their fight against materialism and the secular state. Harald Brandt has the details
"No Integration?!"

Concepts for a Cosmopolitan Europe

The concept of integration has dominated the immigration debate in recent years. Specialists in the field of migration say it's time to stop issuing the unilateral demand that immigrants fit in with the host society, and are calling for a new approach. By Holger Moos