Society

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
Iran and the Pope

Easing Relations

The Vatican and leading Iranian theologians have reached agreement on a declaration on "Faith and Reason in Christianity and Islam." The paper sends out an important signal in terms of easing religious and political tensions. Reinhard Kleber reports
Liberal Islamic Networks in Indonesia

A Counter-Movement to Political Islam

In recent years Indonesia has seen the development of a network of various Muslim NGOs that convey a contemporary understanding of Islam, working to counter the advance of Islamization. Arian Fariborz reports
Alcohol Consumption in Islamic Countries

The Devil's Brew in Great Demand

Alcohol and Islam are generally considered to be mutually exclusive, but people do drink in the Muslim world. Alfred Hackensberger says that, even though most Muslims consider alcohol to be something negative, there's another tradition dating from a more tolerant period
Interview with Karl-Heinz Ohlig

Muhammad as a Christological Honorific Title

In his book "The Hidden Origins of Islam: New Research into Its Early History," the theologian Karl-Heinz Ohlig has come to the conclusion that Islam was not originally conceived as an independent religion. Alfred Hackensberger has talked with the author