Society

Restoration of the Old Quarter in Herat

A Race against Time

Germany is providing financial support for the restoration of the Old Quarter in the Afghan city of Herat. The aim is to help the Afghans retrieve some of their lost identity and to create new jobs by funding the conservation of their culture. Britta Petersen reports from Herat
Portrait Sadiq Al-Azm

An Argumentative Arab Enlightener

The Syrian philosopher Sadiq Al-Azm is one of the highest-profile and most strident critics of the Arab world. To this day, his ideas are between all fronts, making him enemies of both Islamist and secular dogmatists. Sadiq Al-Azm is soon to celebrate his 75th birthday. A portrait by Kersten Knipp
Interview with Asra Nomani

'Gender Jihad' in the Service of Women's Rights

The 44-year-old US writer Asra Nomani is viewed as a prominent representative of "Gender Jihad". For the former Wall Street Journal reporter, there is no contradiction between Islam and feminism. She spoke to Alfred Hackensberger
Opus Prize for Aicha Chenna

"Secular in My Head, Muslim in My Heart"

The Opus Prize, worth 1 million US dollars, is awarded to people who are motivated by their faith to carry out humanitarian work. This year the award went to an Arab Muslim woman for the first time – Aicha Chenna of Morocco. Martina Sabra visited the founder of the women's organization Solidarité Féminine in Casablanca
Baha'i in Iran

A Life of Repression

The situation for Baha'i in Iran has been deteriorating ever since the "Islamic Revolution" thirty years ago. Yet persecution has intensified under President Ahmadinejad's rule. By Katajun Amirpur
Piety and Politics in the Middle East

A Bad Pair

From the very beginning, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was more than just a fight for land. Religion plays a large role, for both the Israelis as well as the Palestinians. Pious fanatics from both sides put a strain on negotiations. Kersten Knipp reports
Marrakesh Elects Its First Woman Mayor

Equal Rights and a Change of Generation

Last summer saw the election of the 33-year-old Fatima Azzahra al-Mansouri as the first woman mayor of the city of Marrakesh in the south of Morocco. As Alfred Hackensberger reports, she won the vote in spite of the warnings of conservative politicians
Interview with Susan Schenk on Al Jazeera English

Not As One Might Expect

In her new study "The image of Islam in international television", the communications scientist Susan Schenk reaches the surprising conclusion that coverage of Islam-related issues on Al Jazeera English differs very little from that on other international news channels such as CNN or BBC. Interview by Loay Mudhoon
Interview with Kay Sokolowsky

Racism Dressed Up As Criticism of Islam

Media critic Kay Sokolowsky warns against the negative consequences of rising Islamophobia for the co-existence of Muslims and non-Muslims and calls for dialogue and education. Interview conducted by Ramon Schack
Cultural Policy in the Maghreb

Is Northern Africa Losing Its "Soul"?

Poor governance and the pressure of globalisation mean the Maghreb runs the risk of losing its unique character. Yet only a small minority seems to be aware that this development is destroying an irretrievable part of the Maghreb identity. An essay by Beat Stauffer
Commentary by Aiman Mazyek

Putting Christian-Muslim Dialogue to the Test

Aiman Mazyek, media adviser and editor-in-chief of islam.de, criticizes the stagnation of Germany's dialogue between the religions and suggests practical ways for reviving it
Media Critique on the Marwa El-Sherbini Case

Desperately Seeking Intercultural Sensitivity

Reporting on the murder of Marwa El-Sherbini in the German and the Egyptian media testifies to mutual misperceptions, ignorance and a lack of intercultural sensitivity in both countries. A critical analysis by Hanan Badr