Society

European Islam

Muslims in Europe between the Two World Wars

The debate about possible methods of "Europeanising Islam" already raged in several European countries in the 1920s. This was just one of many issues raised at the recent workshop in Paris. Götz Nordbruch was there
Women's Rights in Turkey

Women Are Starting Their Own Businesses

In the south and southeast of Turkey, still around 40 percent of women are forced into arranged marriages, in Ankara the figure is 22 percent. But despite violent opposition, much has changed in the past two years. Lisa Renard reports
Dialogue with the Middle East

Heinrich Böll Foundation Opens Office in Beirut

The Heinrich Böll Foundation, an organisation which is close to the German Green party, has opened a regional ofifce in Beirut. It hopes to intensify its work in cultural affairs and in the encouragement of civil society. By Bernhard Hillenkamp
The Afghan Magazine "Malalai"

The Voice of Afghan Women

Jamila Mujahed is editor of the only women's magazine in Afghanistan. For her work on the magazine "Malalai," which she founded to promote women's rights, she has been awarded the Johann Philipp Palm Prize. Petra Tabeling reports
Portrait Mohammad Shabestari

Faith, Freedom, and Reason

Can there be such a thing as Islamic human rights? Can the commandments set forth in the Koran be modified according to the demands of reason? Iranian clergyman Mohammad Shabestari has devoted his life to exploring these issues. By Roman Seidel
Tassili National Park/Algeria

Tourists Loot Objects from Protected Site

After five German tourists went missing in the Sahara desert, authorities first suspected them to have been kidnapped by Islamist rebels, but they were caught making their way with stolen artefacts to neighbouring Niger. By Anita Purcell
Women in Afghanistan

NAZO Offers Help for Self-Help

The German film-maker Elke Jonigkeit learned much about the difficult situation of women in Afghanistan while she was filming there. Now she's set up NAZO to help them and to promote the rebuilding of the country. Sigrid Dethloff reports.
Ancient City of Aleppo

Restoring a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Syria

The GTZ is an international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development. The organization aims not only to preserve the Ancient City of Aleppo, but also to give it a future. Youssef Hijazi interviewed project director Meinolf Spiekermann.
Dan Bar-On

Holocaust Reconciliation Applied to Middle East

Dan Bar-On has been working for many years with the children of both Holocaust victims and German perpetrators to create models of understanding. Now the Israeli psychologist is applying this concept to the Middle East conflict. By Mahmoud Tawfik
Seker Byrami/Sugar Festival

Celebrating Ramadan at a German-Turkish School

The end of Ramadan is celebrated with a sugar festival called Sheker Byram. Stephanie Duckstein talked to students at Aziz-Nesin, Berlin's German-Turkish School, where about half of the students are Turkish Muslims.
World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates

Yusuf Islam Awarded the "Man for Peace" Award

Noble Peace Laureates held their fifth World Summit in Rome aimed at using multilateral dialogue to promote peace. The singer once known as Cat Stevens was awarded the "Man for Peace" Award. Sabina Castelfranco reports from Rome.
Rana Husseini

Honor Murders in Jordan Not Just Isolated Cases

Court reporter Rana Husseini has documented over thirty cases a year in Jordan of "honor murder," the killing of women by their own families. Petra Tabeling met with the committed journalist.