Society
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Interview with Barbara IbrahimA Wave of Charity among Egypt's Youth
Toys for orphans, tutoring for mentally disabled: voluntary dedication to the weaker is booming among young Egyptians. In this interview with Mona Sarkis, Barbara Ibrahim explains what is behind this
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Zenab El-Khatib
Headscarf Pioneer
Zenab El-Khatib is just 15 years old, but is already heralded for her pioneering role. After all, it is still unusual to see a woman running for a goal while wearing a headscarf. But not for Zenab and the Danish U-16 national football team. A portrait by André Tucic
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Christians in the Middle East
Between Coexistence and Suppression
Christians and Muslims have a long history of coexistence in the Middle East. Martin Tamcke, theologian, describes the history and the variety of Christian communities in the Orient in his recently published book. Claudia Mende read it
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Interview with Photojournalist Ursula Meissner
Afghanistan: Hope and Beauty in a War-torn Land
Since the mid-1980s, acclaimed German photojournalist Ursula Meissner has been regularly traveling to Afghanistan. Her photographs go beyond the war to show people's daily lives. Interview conducted by Petra Tabeling
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The Intellectual Legacy of Islam
Koran Studies under Scrutiny
Contemporary methods of interpreting the Koran are increasingly subject to critical discussion. Erhard Brunn was at a scholarly symposium in Germany, where participants doggedly argued over authoritative interpretations of the Koran
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Interview with Mohammad Mojtahed Shabestari (Part 2)
"Muslims Can Have Democracy without Having to Leave Islam"
Mohammad Mojtahed Shabestari is one of the world's most significant contemporary Shia clerics. In the second part of this interview with Fatma Sagir, Shabestari speaks about the compatibility of Islam and Democracy, and about how the Iranian revolution affected his philosophy
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Interview with Mohammad Mojtahed Shabestari (Part 1)
"Islam Is a Religion, Not a Political Agenda"
Mohammad Mojtahed Shabestari is one of the world's most important contemporary Shia clerics. In the first part of this lengthy interview with Fatma Sagir, the Iranian philosopher and theologian speaks about the complex relationship between state and religion, and about the effects of coercion and regulation in matters relating to faith
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Alevis in France
Striking a Balance between Old and New
The Alevis in France have been celebrating in style. The occasion, the tenth anniversary of their federation, makes one thing clear, however: the balancing act between France and Turkey is a difficult one for members of the immigrant Turkish religious community to master. Andreas Gorzewski reports from Strasbourg
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Photography Project "Missing"
Lebanon's Shadows of the Past
The legacy of the civil war weighs heavily on Lebanon. With a photo exhibition in Beirut various initiatives hope to make people aware of the countless persons who vanished during this period and to encourage Lebanese society to start coming to terms with its past. Arian Fariborz reports
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"Non-Western Modernities"
Veiled Artistic References
"Mahrem – Footnotes on Veiling" is the title of a new art exhibition which can be seen in Germany until the beginning of August. Turkish sociologist Nilüfer Göle conceived the exhibition as a way of exploring the ambivalence of veiling and its changing cultural symbolism. Ariana Mirza reports.
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A Visit to Darul Uloom Deoband
The School of the Taliban Presents Itself as Apolitical
The Darul Uloom in north Indian Deoband is the most important Islamic seminary in Asia. Even the Afghan Taliban ascribe to the interpretation of Islam taught here. Since the terrorist attacks of 2001, the school has been under tightened observation. By Ulrich Schwerin, Deoband
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Muhammad Iqbal
The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam
Muhammad Iqbal is regarded as one of the great thinkers of the Islamic Awakening. His major philosophical work has now been published in German. The book's a timeless intellectual challenge of the first rank, says Ludwig Amman
Most read articles
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Syrian activist The Darvish
"Queerness is freedom and freedom is indivisible"
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Journalists in Gaza
A new generation bears witness
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Book review: Fatima Daas' "The Last One"
Confessions of a Muslim woman
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Egypt's TikTok crackdown
Suzy el-Ordoneya and the politics of social media fame
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Syria's shadow economy
Sex work, captagon and currency
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Middle East conflict and the Gaza war
"Wake up to the reality of what is happening"