Society

Germany

The Gas Station Singer

A service station in an industrial area of Münster couldn't be farther away from Ghana. For Bawa Abudu, it's a place where he can earn enough to feed his family - at least until the money matches his music's acclaim. By Guy Degan
Globalisation

Arab Knowledge Society Will Need Civil Rights

The debate on education and human rights initiated by the Arab Human Development Report is continuing. The Middle East countries need reforms if they do not want to miss the boat on globalisation. Germany is regarded as a trustworthy partner. By Hans Dembowski
Algeria

A Protest against Discrimination

For twenty years Algerian family law has disadvantaged women to the benefit of men, giving women a lifetime status equivalent to minors. Algerian women have now begun a campaign at home and abroad called "Twenty years are enough" – "Vingt ans barakat". By Martina Sabra
Reformist Islam

For an Open Interpretation of the Koran

The reformist thinker and philosopher Abdolkarim Sorush is one of a new generation of theologians that openly speaks out in favour of human rights and secularism in Iran. Katajun Amirpur about an awkward Iranian intellectual.
September 11

Book Casts Terrorist in Unexpected Light

A new book by a U.S. journalist on Mohammed Atta, allegedly the pilot of the first plane that flew into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, reveals a man hooked on drugs and alcohol while living in Florida.
UNESCO Peace Prize

Award for Cardinal Etchegaray and Mufti Ceric

The Grand Mufti of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mustafa Ceric and the Roman Catholic Cardinal Roger Etchegaray were chosen as laureates of the 2003 UNESCO Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize.
Asia

Women in Inherited Positions of Power

From Indira Ghandi to the Indonesian head of state Megawati, in Asia many women play leading roles in politics. Does this mean that women have more political power in Asia than in other countries? Sybille Golte doubts this is the case.
Germany

Islam on the Curriculum

Until now, only Koran schools have offered lessons in the Islamic religion to Muslim children in Germany. Now, pilot programmes are to be carried out at German schools, too. Max Bönnemann reports
Spain

On the Edge of Society

Since the terrorist attacks in Madrid, many Moroccans resident in Spain are fearful of exclusion, marginalisation and racist attacks. Already, they often feel shunned and unwanted, like second-class citizens. Bettina Ambach reports from Madrid.
Germany

Giving the Headscarf a Makeover

Even as the headscarf row simmers in Germany, a Berlin Muslim has designed colorful alternative headgear that serves the purpose of a traditional hijab but looks like anything but. Finding takers is a problem. Sonia Phalnikar reports
Position

Against the Relativism of the Headscarf Debate!

Lale Akgün, member of the Bundestag for the Social Democrats (SPD), criticises the political exploitation of the headscarf in Germany by Islamist associations that would like to see religious/cultural differences taking precedence over basic democratic rights.
Germany

Al-Qaida and the Courts

A German court has decided to grant the only person convicted in connection to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks a retrial. The decision illustrates the difficulty Western courts are having in putting suspected terrorists behind bars.