Society

Humour in Arab Culture

The Prophet's Candid Camera

Is it permissible to make jokes about the Prophet Mohammed? Has the increasing politicisation of Islam had an effect on humour in the Arab world? Just two of the questions discussed at a conference on humour held recently in Berlin. Antje Bauer went along for a laugh
Nasr Hamid Abu Zaid

The Power of Dialogue

Nasr Hamid Abu Zaid, exiled Egyptian theologian, promotes renewed dialogue with the Islamic world – a dialogue that seeks to connect with representatives of moderate political Islam as well as the "silent majority" of the Islamic world. Mahmoud Tawfik reports
Bosnia's Multiethnic Denominations

Interreligious Dialogue for Reconciliation

The peaceful coexistence of Christians, Muslims, and Jews in Bosnia-Herzegovina has not been a simple matter in the aftermath of the war in the 1990s. Today, however, there are several interreligious dialogue initiatives, many sponsored from abroad. Mirjana Dikic reports
Baden-Württemberg's Conscience Test

Zeitgeist of Fear and Prejudice

The conscience test, conceived by the interior ministry in the German state of Baden-Württemberg to check whether potential German citizens have the right moral convictions, reflects current German attitude towards Muslims, says Ülger Polat
Integration and Immigration Policy in Germany

Immigration Law as "Integration Prevention Law"

In his commentary Memet Kiliç, criticizes the tightening of immigration law in Germany. Instead of promoting integration, the "old defensive spirit" of the law on aliens is creeping into immigration law, says Kiliç
Germany's Second Integration Summit

In the Shadow of the Boycott

A number of Turkish associations have boycotted Germany's integration summit and want to take the issue of Germany's tightened immigration laws to the Federal Constitutional Court. German politicians, meanwhile, have dismissed the boycott as a complete overreaction. Peter Philipp reports
Al-Jazeera's Coverage of Salman Rushdie's Knighthood:

Reading into the Minds of Millions in the Islamic World!

Al-Jazeera did not treat the knighthood awarded to the Indian-born British writer Salman Rushdie as a literary or cultural item. Instead, it created a major political news story. A commentary by Fidel Sbeiti
Facebook – Has Young Egyptians Hooked Online

Cyberspace Link-Ups

At the end of last year, access to the US-based Facebook website became available to users throughout the world. Egyptian teenagers have been as enthusiastic as any of their contemporaries when it comes to exploring the pros and cons of networking. By Sherif Abdel Samad
Book Review: "Fleeing Force"

Society in Motion: Of Migrants and Tourists

In their book, Mark Terkessidis und Tom Holert examine the phenomenon of people 'in movement' and the consequences of this mobility. Heike Friesel reports
Amnesty International Report on Turkey

Turkey's Justice System Needs Reform

Amnesty International has released a damning report entitled "Turkey: The Entrenched Culture of Impunity Must End". In it, Amnesty outlines the country's persistent violations of human rights and a lack of willingness to deal with the problem. By Mark Caldwell
Interview with Andreas Hieronymus

"You Have Rights"

The Research Institute for Migration and Racism (iMiR) in Hamburg is responsible for compiling annual reports on the situation of various groups affected by racism in Germany. Dr. Andreas Hieronymus, director of the institute, explains the centre's role to Susan Javad
BBC Prize for Catholic Radio Pacis

Peace of Christ for All – Also for Ugandan Muslims

The Ugandan radio station "Radio Pacis" has won several BBC prizes as the best non-commercial station in East Africa, and recently the station was awarded the "Best African New Radio" prize in Nairobi. Erhard Brunn reports