Society

Karim Benzema

The boy next door

There's no place like home – if you ask Karim Benzema, French football's diamond in the rough. He still lives at home with his parents and eight siblings and is loyal to his home team, Olympique Lyon. A portrait by André Tucic
By André Tucic
Franck Bilal Ribéry

''Always believe in God''

Franck Ribéry has never been in better shape, and - winning the Champions League plus the award for Best Player in Europe - 2013 has been the best year of his career. Yet things have not always been so rosy for Ribéry, a devout Muslim and former construction worker; not everything in his career has come easy. A portrait by André Tucic
By André Tucic
Dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian Archaeologists

Forum for Cross-border Research

Despite the provisional end to the Middle East peace process a few years ago, which put paid to official co-operation between Israeli and Palestinian archaeologists, some 50 archaeologists from both sides of the divide have decided to continue the dialogue. Joseph Croitoru reports
Journalism or Propaganda?

Prejudice and Media Perception in the Middle East

Where do authentic images end and biased reporting or even propaganda begin? Media experts and journalists from the Middle East recently discussed all these issues and more at a conference in Germany. Arian Fariborz reports
Interview with Germany's Interior Minister Schäuble

"We Must Give the Muslims Time"

How can one bring about peace among the various religions? An interview with the German interior minister and protestant Wolfgang Schäuble on the integration of Muslims into the value system of the German constitution. Interview: Patrick Bahners
The Rule of Law in Afghanistan

Many Women Are Unaware of Their Rights

Three distinct judicial systems are in force in Afghanistan: the official courts, the traditional jirgas and Islamic scholarship. The country's constitution stresses the importance of international standards such as the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights, while jirgas and religious leaders largely ignore them. Michael Nienhaus reports
Libya

German Architects to Build Gadhafi's New Headquarters

A Berlin-based group of architects has been awarded a contract to design the new headquarters for the Libyan government in Tripoli. They see the project as a chance to work on a "new Libya." Jane Paulick reports
Germany's Ahmidiyya Muslims

Celebrating 100 Years of the Caliphate

Muslim missionaries found in Western cities are often part of the messianic Ahmidiyya movement. The peaceful beliefs of Ahmadis, who can be found in small numbers in Germany, are seen as heretical by most Muslims. Oliver Samson reports
The Transparent Penzberg Mosque

No Longer in the Backyard

Almost whenever plans are made to build a mosque in Germany, there's a heated debate. But in the Bavarian town of Penzberg, a new mosque has had a positive influence on the way in which Muslims and Christians live together. Francisca Zecher reports
Portrait: Uri Avnery

"I Don't Believe in Hopeless Situations"

Uri Avnery has been a leading figure in the Israeli peace movement for a long time. Ulrike Vestring portrays the journalist and politician - the first Israeli peace activist who officially met with Yassir Arafat. A portrait by Ulrike Vestring
An Anti-Biography of the Founder of Islam

The Mohamed Myth

The Dutch Arabist Hans Jansen has ventured to write a biography of the prophet Mohammed. His initially plausible criticism of the religious sources quickly turns into a sweeping condemnation, however, according to Islam expert Stefan Weidner
Egypt's Internet Radio Station "Horytna"

A Small Insurrection

Finding that the Egyptian press seldom provided independent sources of information or reported issues of interest to young people, a group of young journalists in Cairo decided to start their own radio station. Sarah Mersch has more