Society

Integration of Muslims in Denmark

Discussions about Prayer Rooms in the Workplace

Denmark has long been known for its strict immigration policy. But things are changing. The debate in the country at the moment is how far should Denmark go to integrate the so-called 'new Danes'. Marc-Christoph Wagner reports
Brian Whitaker – "Unspeakable Love"

Gay and Lesbian Life in the Middle East

Homosexuality in the Middle East is still largely a taboo subject. Now Brian Whitaker, the Guardian's Middle East editor, has written a book about it. Anne Françoise Weber has read it
Human Rights

Universal or Culturally Specific?

Are human rights a universal concept or are they dependent on a particular cultural understanding? Are Islamic societies and human rights compatible? Hajo Goertz interviewed Heiner Bielefeldt, Director of Germany's Institute for Human Rights
Turkey's EU Enthusiasm Wanes

"Not in God's Lifetime"

In Turkey support for joining the EU has for the first time fallen below 50 per cent – according to the findings of the Euro barometer. The barometer regularly measures public support for the EU among members and applicants. Dorian Jones reports
EU Refugee Policy

The Onslaught of the Impoverished

In his opinion piece, Rupert Neudeck, founder of the aid organization Cap Anamur, urges Europeans to deal with refugee issues more responsibly and argues for targeted cooperation with certain African states
Commentary on the Pew Institute Study

Damaged Image

The results of the study show that Muslims in Germany suffer from a particularly negative image. Ülger Polat believes that this is due to one-sided, over-emotional debates in society about such issues as forced marriages or honour killings
Pew Institute Study

Relations between Muslims and the West

Feelings between citizens of western countries and the Muslim world have not improved in recent years; in fact, they continue to worsen. That is the conclusion of a study by the Washington Pew Institute that was conducted in 14 countries. Peter Philipp reports
Israel-Palestine Conflict

Rise in Violence Against Women

Since the payment of financial aid to Palestine has been stopped, there has been an increase in sexual violence against women in the Palestinian territories and, most particularly, in the refugee camps. Petra Tabeling reports
"Li-Lak" - German-Arabic Youth Portal

Optimistic but Not Reckless

The Goethe Institute's website Li-Lak is aimed at young people from Germany and the Arab world. Li-Lak provides a forum where they can exchange views about their everyday lives, favourite places, or hopes for the future. Stephanie Gsell reports
Germany's "Leitkultur" Debate

German-Only School Wins National Prize

A Berlin school that hit the headlines earlier this year for banning Turkish and other languages and making students speak only German on its premises has been awarded a national prize. Uwe Hessler reports
Integration through Football

World Cup Passion Unifies Germans and Turks

Both times Germany has won World Cup games, Turkish soccer fans have celebrated the victory along with the Germans. Florian Blaschke spoke to researcher Faruk Şen about the World Cup as a new integration engine
Koran Studies

A Reappraisal of the Position of Women in Islam

The supremacy of men over women in Islam is often substantiated by citing Sura 4.34 in the Koran. An academic institute in Germany has just published a new study on the Sura. Susan Javad interviews the editor