Society

EU Migration Policy

Europe Opens its Gates – Slowly

Demographic change and globalisation are forcing legal migration onto the EU agenda. Daniela Schröder reports from Brussels
Anti-Islamic Movements in Germany

"Islamophobic – and Proud of It"

Fundamentalist Christians are using populist slogans to incite against Muslims, whom they see as the new source of danger for Europe. The number of internet users who visit their websites is alarmingly high. Claudia Mende reports
Betsy Udink: Allah and Eve, Islam and Women

No Paradise in Pakistan

As the wife of a diplomat, the Dutch journalist Betsy Udink has seen the world. On her travels, she spent three years in Pakistan. In her book, she denounces Pakistan as "the most deadly country in the world" for women. A review by Susan Javad
Iraqi Refugees in Sweden

Fleeing Violence and Repression

Up till now Sweden has been the only EU country with a reasonably accommodating approach to admitting Iraqi refugees. The Swedish town of Södertälj has become a particular stronghold for refugees. Petra Tabeling went there
Islam and the West

"Allah's Long Shadow"

German Islam scholar Michael Lüders has written a new book to counter the skewed perception the West has of Islam. It is an attempt to dispel prejudices and point toward a path of dialogue. Kathrin Erdmann has reviewed the book
Spirit World of the Uzbeks

Born of the Flames

In Uzbekistan, a pre-Islamic belief in the spirit world is alive and well. In the popular form of Islam as practised by the ordinary people, the spirit world belongs to everyday reality. Jesko Schmoller dropped in on an "otin", a traditional Uzbek healer
Sexual Harassment in Egypt

Trying to Lift the Veil of Silence

The number of sexual assaults in Egypt has shot up in recent times, especially in Cairo. Women's organisations are taking defensive measures, but the problem is deep-seated. Katharina Goetze reports from Cairo
The Ahmadiyya Community in Germany

Admonitions from the Caliph

For his followers, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad is the representative of the promised Messiah in Islam. Around 30,000 Ahmadi Muslims came to see their Caliph at the annual German meeting. By Andreas Gorzewski
The Turkish Reformation

The Islam of Today Lacks a Philosophy

Turkish Islam has arrived in today's world, writes Zafer Senocak in his essay. But, he says, the Islam of today still lacks a philosophy, and it avoids the fundamental issues
Iraqi Refugees in Syria

Open Door Policy at Significant Cost

Syria's welcoming policy toward Iraqi refugees has been praised by the UN. But the estimated 1.5 million Iraqis who fled the violence in their home country are putting increasing stress on the Syrian housing market and the public sector. Zaytuna Razan reports
British Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies

Increasing Politicisation

Professors and lecturers at Britain's Islamic Studies departments have denied that there is a link between Islamic Studies and extremism on campuses in the United Kingdom. Susannah Tarbush has the details
Interview with Maulana Kalbe Sadiq

''Education Is the Most Crucial Challenge for India's Muslims''

Maulana Kalbe Sadiq is one of India's leading Shia Muslim scholars. In this interview with Yoginder Sikand, he talks about educational concepts of Indian Muslim scholars and their widespread reluctance to face Muslims' contemporary challenges