Society

The Asian Muslim Action Network

Recovering the Social Message of Islam

According to Muhammad Abdus Sabur, Islam properly understood stands for equality and fraternity, not just within the mosque, but beyond the Muslim congregation as well. Yogi Sikand met up with the general-secretary of the Asian Muslim Action Network in Thailand and talked with him about the organisation's progressive vision of Islam
Documentary about Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

A Film Has Turkey Talking

A documentary on the founder of the Turkish Republic is causing a stir in Turkey. As young audiences in particular engage with the controversial film, the filmmaker and journalist Can Dündar is increasingly coming under attack. Yet he is anything but a strong critic of Atatürk. Jürgen Gottschlich has the details
The Debate on Islam and the Enlightenment

For Conflict Resolution without Self-Righteousness

"Enlightenment" and "the clash of civilizations" are buzzwords that we often hear in the debate on the relationship between the cultures of Islam and Western Europe. In view of the current conflicts in this area, Stefan Weidner advocates a cultural rivalry without "Enlightenment fanaticism"
Turkey's Noel Baba

Saint Nicholas, Turkish style

Men clad in red and white Santa outfits are no longer a rarity on Turkish streets. Legend has it that Noel Baba, as the Turks call Saint Nicholas, was even born near Antalya. Dilek Zaptçıoğlu has the details
Freedom of the Press and Democracy in Yemen

"Yemen Is a Law unto Itself"

Nadia A. Al-Sakkaf is editor-in-chief of the independent English-language daily Yemen Times, which was established in 1990. She spoke to Alfred Hackensberger about media, press freedom, democracy, and tribal culture in Yemen
Education in the Gulf

Knowledge instead of Oil

The Arab Gulf states have discovered education as the raw material of the future. In order to quickly move ahead, they are importing universities from the west. There is still room for many more students – even those from abroad. A report by Arnfrid Schenk
Immigrants under Psychological and Social Stress

Migration and Illness Experiences

With unemployment, confined living conditions or social control via people from their home country, immigrants are often subjected to high levels of psychological stress which can result in illness or violence. Betül Licht is familiar with this phenomenon; now she has written a novel about it. Ute Hempelmann investigates
Interview with Mohammad Ali Abtahi

Iran's "Cool Blogger"

Mohammad Ali Abtahi, director of the "International Institute for Interreligious Dialogue" in Tehran, was a close associate of the reform-oriented Iranian President Mohammad Khatami. But among young Iranians the theologian is best known as "the cool blogger." Naghmeh Hosseini spoke with Abtahi in Tehran
Islamic Revival in Kazakhstan

A Pragmatic Islam

Islam is enjoying increasing popularity in Kazakhstan. For many people this represents a return to Kazakh traditions, even if the impetus for the return to their roots has come from abroad. The Kazakh government continues however to promote religious freedom and diversity, and to protect itself against fundamentalist extremism. Edda Schlager reports
Bosnian Grand Mufti Mustafa Ceric

A Bridge Builder or a Closet Fundamentalist?

Mustafa Ceric, the Grand Mufti of Bosnia-Herzegovina, is a committed proponent of inter-faith dialogue in the spirit of mutual recognition, recently honoured in Germany for his activities. In his home country, however, he is seen as a controversial and conservative religious leader. The German press have also questioned Ceric's suitability for the award. Zoran Arbutina on the case
The Secret Life of Syrian Lingerie

Panties from the "Axis of Evil"

While visiting Syria, two London-based women of Arab origin became fascinated by the risqué lingerie openly on display in the souqs and shops of Damascus and Aleppo. The book they now produced is one of the most unusual publications you are likely to see on the Arab world, says Susannah Tarbush
By Susannah Tarbush
The Egyptian Center for Culture and Art

The Best Music in the "Place"

As is often the case in the Arab world, one almost has to search with a magnifying glass to find an independent art and cultural scene, even in Egypt. It is, however, increasingly showing signs of flourishing. The Egyptian Center for Culture and Art is one of the independent cultural centers to have emerged in recent years in the mega city Cairo. By Sebastian Blottner