Society

German Architect To Build Mosque

"Muslims Should Not Try to Hide"

In order to find an architect for their mosque, a Muslim community in Germany conducted an open tender process. Now the German non-Muslim Paul Böhm was awarded the first prize for his model. Thilo Guschas interviewed the architect
A Center for Muslim Girls

Boys Stay Out

Parents control the home, and boys the street. The MaDonna center for girls is one of the few places in the troubled Rollberg area of Berlin's Neukölln district where girls from Muslim families can meet undisturbed. Lennart Lehmann reports
Anti-Pornography Bill in Indonesia

March for Diversity

Human Rights Groups join the protest of Indonesian women against a new tough anti-pornography bill – the opposition to what many in Indonesia call the "Talibanization" of society is strong. Edith Koesoemawiria reports
Muslims in the Netherlands

Islamic Cemetery to Be Established in Amsterdam

The city administration in Amsterdam, where Muslims total ten percent of the population, is planning to establish an Islamic cemetery. Michael Arntz reports on current efforts towards integration in the Dutch capital
Education in a Multireligious Society

"Religious Instruction for All"

In Hamburg, Germany, the administration of the city-state aims to develop a religious curriculum for schools and universities that aims to meet the demands of a multireligious society. Albrecht Metzger reports
Street Kids in Morocco

The Children of Beni-Anzar

To many young people from the impoverished north of Morocco, their homeland offers little that makes life worth living, while the Spanish enclave of Melilla seems like the gateway to paradise. Steffen Leidel reports
Muslim Organisations in Germany

Unity in Diversity

Germany's Muslims see themselves as part of many different communities, says Riem Spielhaus. That means there are many hurdles to be overcome before all the various Muslim organisations can come together into a single organisation
First Conference on the Veil in Yemen

Coming to Terms with a Taboo

There is no law requiring Yemeni women to wear a veil, yet nearly all women wear black headscarves that cover everything but their eyes. Now, for the first time, the veil has been publicly debated. By Susanne Sporrer and Klaus Heymach
Interview with Armin Laschet

"Integration Is a Top Priority"

Armin Laschet of the conservative CDU party is North Rhine-Westphalia's first Minister for Integration, the first minister of that kind in Germany. In this interview with Petra Tabeling, he talks about the headscarf and the necessity of integration
Pilgrimages in Turkmenistan

"We've Forgotten Much of Our Culture"

Turkmenistan has one of the most repressive dictatorships in the world. Excursions into the countryside – for instance, pilgrimages – offer opportunities to escape the oppressiveness of everyday life. Lennart Lehmann reports
"Next Stop Denmark"

Strained Efforts to Bridge the Gap

In trying to shake off the negative image caused by the caricature row, the Danish Foreign Ministry has invited 42 young Muslims for a dialogue programme – a programme which included a visit at Jyllands-Posten. Seda Sadar reports
Mosques in Germany

The Minaret Man

Ahmet Akbaba had a good idea at exactly the right moment. Originally a carpenter, he began specializing in building minarets and is now the top man in Germany for the field. Abdul-Ahmad Rashid introduces him