Society
Topics
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Nahr al-Bared Refugee Camp in LebanonChildren Flee the Fighting
Families with children have been caught in the crossfire between the radical Islamist Fatah al-Islam and the Lebanese army at the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp. Christina Förch reports on the efforts of local and German NGOs to cope with the humanitarian crisis
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Women in Oman
"We Are Better!"
In 1970, when Sultan Qaboos came to power, Oman had only two schools, not one of them for girls. Today, the country's public university protects itself from the female onslaught with a men's quota. Charlotte Wiedemann reports
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Reform of Morocco's Nationality Law
A New Achievement for Women
A new nationality law ends the discrimination that has long affected the Moroccan woman giving her the right to pass her citizenship of origin to her children. A report by Muhammad Massad
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Mosque Controversy in Germany
The Freedom to Practice One's Religion Is a Constitutional Right
Controversy reigns in debate over the building of Cologne's new mosque. If the majority population stands in the way of religious freedom, it must bear responsibility, too, for the failure of integration, says Peter Philipp
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EU Handbook on Integration
Grappling with the Complexities of Migrant Life
Integration is not a one-way street. Society must be prepared to accept immigrants, as well as support them. An outline of strategies can be found in the EU Commission's new "Handbook on Integration." Daniela Schröder reports
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Interview with Zafer Yenal
On the Connection between Nationalism and Cuisine
Zafer Yenal, assistant professor of sociology at the Bogazici University in Istanbul, explains the important connection between political processes and the cuisine – and why the term "Turkish cuisine" is a new development only since the 1980s.
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The "DeuKische Generation"
A German-Turkish NGO Aims to Dispel Stereotypes
The focus is often on crime and violence when German media report on Turkish youth. A group of young Turkish-Germans are trying to dispel those stereotypes. Seda Serdar reports
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Commentary by Ian Buruma
The Strange Death of Multiculturalism
Enlightenment values are sometimes used in a very dogmatic way against Muslims – but the real reason for defending Enlightenment values is that they are based on good ideas, and not because they are "our culture," says Ian Buruma
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Press Freedom in Turkey
Journalists under Pressure
Although the number of journalists in prison in Turkey has gone down, there are still several provisions of the Turkish penal code which threaten press freedom in the country. They are a particular problem for independent and critical media. By Arian Fariborz
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Islamic Religion and Studies at German Schools
Many Obstacles to Overcome
Trial lessons are being held in many of Germany's Länder. But "Islamic Religion" is still not being provided as a standard part of the curriculum in Germany. By Lamya Kaddor
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Interview with Roger Willemsen
"There Is Great Hunger for Peace in Afghanistan"
The journalist and documentary-maker Roger Willemsen visited Afghanistan twice in 2005. He spoke to people from across the political spectrum, and to artists, drug barons and traumatised individuals. Homeira Heidary met him
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Reza Aslan's "No God but God"
Demonstrating the Modernity of Islam
Reza Aslan is an Iranian-American writer whose first book, 'No God but God', met with widespread acclaim. In her review for Qantara.de, Helena Sabbagh praises Aslan's combination of academic knowledge and an easy-to-read tone
Most read articles
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Turkey-Syria earthquake
Biden's farewell to empathy
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Heatwave in Egypt
"Not only the prices are going up, the temperatures are too"
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Aftermath of the Beirut explosion
Lebanon, a state in freefall thanks to corrupt governance
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Ido Haar's "9 Star Hotel"
No Hope in No Man's Land
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Interview with Yamina Bachir-Chouikh
No Freedom of Expression without Funds
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Transgender rights
Pakistan's Hijra hold their heads high