Society

Suffering and Its Endurance in Christianity and Islam

The World Is Not a Vale of Tears

Is resignation to one's fate a typical Islamic characteristic? Does only Christian theology deal with the question of the righteousness of God? These issues were recently discussed in detail by Islamic and Christian theologians. Claudia Mende presents the results
Muslims in Germany

Vanguards of "Euro-Islam"?

Prestigious mosques, well established organisations, university chairs – Islam in Germany has outgrown its status as a minority religion. Could this be the start of what is known as Euro-Islam in the Federal Republic, asks Gregor Taxacher
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Philosophy in Iran

Between Critical Rationalism and Eastern Wisdom

Philosophical thought in Iran has long been influenced by direct dialogue with western philosophers. But the Iranians are also attempting to maintain the heritage of their own intellectual tradition. Alessandro Topa took a trip to the Iranian Institute of Philosophy
Freedom of the Press in Turkey

The Sultan Likes His Press Meek

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan particularly objects to the newspapers published by the Dogan Group, above all during the current campaign. The media group is now threatened by a tax fine so huge that its very existence is at risk. Karen Krüger reports
Islamic Banking

Growing Confidence in the Islamic Banking System

The effects of the global financial crisis are also being felt on the stock markets of the Arab world. It is no surprise, therefore, that finding ways out of the current crisis was at the top of the agenda at the recent World Islamic Economic Forum in Jakarta. Does "Islamic Banking" have the answer? Peter Philipp reports
Star Mountain Rehabilitation Centre in Palestine

Tough Times for the Disabled

The Star Mountain Rehabilitation Centre near Ramallah is a centre for physically and mentally disabled children and young people. Key components of its rehabilitation work include raising awareness and fighting prejudice. By Sumaya Farhat-Naser
Tariq Ramadan

Epochal Reformer or Wolf in Sheep's Clothing?

Tariq Ramadan is Europe's most admired Muslim intellectual, combining heavyweight intellectualism and charisma. In a new book, Nina zu Fürstenberg attempts a study of the Tariq Ramadan phenomenon. Katajun Amirpur read the book
Guy Helminger: Literary Exchanges in the Middle East

Everyday Stories from Yemen

Writer Guy Helminger spent four weeks in Yemen. Below he tells us about his encounters with a happy Somali girl, a morally outraged taxi driver, a friendly imam – and about authors without books
Khomeini's Fatwa on Salman Rushdie

Fundamentalist Claims

Khomeini's fatwa was just as illegitimate in the traditional Islamic view as the attacks of 9/11 – both are vile products of modern fundamentalism. Daniel Bax comments
Portait of Sami Khedira

Origins are irrelevant in football

The professional footballer Sami Khedira holds a Tunisian and a German passport. Off the pitch, the 21-year-old midfielder from VfB Stuttgart supports integration projects. And it looks like we'll soon see him in the German kit. A portrait by André Tucic
The Rise of Dubai

A Laboratory City in the Desert

Is Dubai's groundbreaking urban construction project the way of the future - or will it stumble over its own contradictions? Rüdiger Heimlich travelled through the emirate, gathering voices from Western and Arab intellectuals
Intercultural Gardens

The Gardens of Others

The concept of "intercultural gardens" sounds auspicious: Fallow land is developed into community gardens where people from different cultural backgrounds can plant crops. However the example of the intercultural garden in Cologne, Germany, shows that integration work can also be counter-productive. Pouyeh Ansari reports