Society

"Baghdad Stories"

How Children See War

A few weeks after the end of the war in Iraq, journalist Philipp Abresch travelled to Baghdad and gave cameras to Iraqi children and young people. Innumerable photos from the crisis-torn region are focusing on the civilian population.
By Anna Bilger
Interview Khaled Choukat

"The Murder of van Gogh Was a Real Catastrophe for Us"

If Theo van Gogh's murderer had attended film school, he would have responded to the film "Submission" in a civilized manner, says Khaled Choukat, director of the Arab Film Festival and delegate for the Greens Party in the Rotterdam parliament.
German Media under Fire from Muslims

Provocative Headlines

The media in Germany is often accused, not least by Muslims in the country, of being one-sided and clichéd when it comes to reporting on them. Journalists deny it, saying discernment and responsibility are important. By Vedat Acikgöz
Islamic Associations in Germany

A Plea for More Democracy and Transparency

If Muslim organizations wish to attain greater capacity for action and to be more readily accepted by the German government and society, they first need to re-orient their structures, according to Aiman A. Mazyek
Honor Killings in Jordan and Pakistan

Hiding in Prison from Their Own Family

According to a study by the UN, approximately 5000 girls and women are murdered every year in the name of honor in at least 14 countries. It is assumed that the number of unreported cases is significantly higher. Katrin Schneider reports
Amnesty Report Afghanistan

Women's Rights only on Paper

The situation of women in Afghanistan is still appalling, claims the latest report from Amnesty International. Equality, as envisioned in the Afghan constitution, is still decades away. But small advances have been made. Petra Tabeling reports
The Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies

Taking the Wind out of the Sails of Fanaticism

The Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies (RIIFS), established in 1994 in Amman, Jordan, sees itself as a focal point for dialogue between Christians and Muslims. The center also explores the roots of Islamic radicalism. Martina Sabra reports
Strategies for Local Integration Policies

Immigrant Integration Prize to Solingen

Twelve years after the arson attacks on a Turkish family in which five people lost their lives, the city of Solingen, Germany, was now awarded a prize for its successful integration policy. Marie Mévellec reports
Friends of the Earth Middle East

Water as a Source of Cooperation

Pollution in the Jordan River and the drying up of the Dead Sea are affecting all countries in the region. Cooperation is necessary in order to arrive at solutions to these problems. An Arab-Israeli NGO sees this as an opportunity to act. Beate Hinrichs reports
The Orthodox Christian Church in Turkey

Caught in the Crossfire between Secularists and Islamists

One of the EU's key demands of Turkey is the re-opening of the Orthodox Church's theological school – because otherwise the ancient Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople will soon be history. Susanne Güsten reports
Euro-Arab University Partnership

Strengthening Academic Ties between Emirates and Germany

The universities of Ajman and Erlangen recently signed a cooperation agreement. The agreement foresees an exchange of students and scholars, as well as the organization of academic conferences and joint research projects. By Florian Wagner
Women's Sport in Afghanistan

Training in Secret for Fear of Extremists

Afghanistan's very first fitness and beauty center has recently opened in Kabul. Three years after the fall of the Taliban regime the owner has nonetheless decided to keep its location a secret. By Ali Matar