Society
Topics
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Holding on to a Vision: The Willy Brandt Centre in Jerusalem
In hard times, the Willy Brandt Centre in Jerusalem is trying to build bridges between young Palestinians and Israelis. The centre for international dialogue opened its doors this month.
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New Mosque in Germany Opens Its Doors
A new mosque was opened in the German town of Wülfrath in September 2003. Celebrities from Germany and Turkey attended the official opening ceremony. Apparently, there were no heated debates about the building of the mosque.
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Toxic waste from Europe
In 1996, after poison barrels from Germany, Italy and Belgium were discovered in Lebanon, a Greenpeace office was opened in the country’s capital. In an interview with Mona Naggar, Greenpeace press officer Basma Badran, talks about her work.
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Jerusalem Berlin Forum - An Initiative for Trilateral Cooperation
In a bid to develop a just solution for the future of Jerusalem, a common Berlin Jerusalem platform was set up by the German Friedrich Ebert Foundation. Under this framework urban experts from Berlin are working together with Israelis and Palestinians from Jerusalem. Recently they met in Berlin.
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Arab Women, the Internet and Public Space
Musa Shteiwi, lecturer of sociology at the University of Jordan in Amman, is one of the few male sociologists who has specialised in women studies. In this article, he argues that the Internet may liberate Arab women from social isolation.
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Learning About Mohammed and the Koran in German
Schools in three states are offering Muslim students a chance to learn about their faith in the German language instead of in their mother tongue, in a move that’s hoped to contribute towards better integration.
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Working Together against Legal Discrimination and Male Violence
Patriarchy and the resulting violence against women and children are increasingly being viewed as a problem both in the western and Arab/Islamic worlds. A group of women’s rights activists from the Maghrib came to Germany to gather information and learn from their colleagues. Martina Sabra reports.
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Al-Andalus: Colonialism the Nice Way?
At a Berlin conference about European Islam, Dr. Rosa Guerreiro of the UNESCO argued that our perspective on Al-Andalus is influenced by historic nostalgia. In cultural terms, however, Europe has highly profited from the Moors' occupation. Read an excerpt from Dr. Guerreiro's speech.
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Learning the Immigrant Lesson at a Young Age
Foreigner integration has been a hot-button issue as German politicians battle over the country's first immigration law. At a school in Cologne, the next generation has got it down pat - busily smoothing the road to integration.
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Plea for the Modernisation of Islamic Studies
Ulrike Freitag is the new director of the Centre for Modern Oriental Studies, Berlin. On the occasion of the 80th birthday of Fritz Steppat, initiator of the Centre, Freitag dedicates her plea to this pioneer of contemporary Islamic Studies.
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On Headscarves and Lawcourts
The so-called "Headscarf Dispute" continues to excite considerable interest in Germany. A recent discussion at the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Berlin attracted so many people that there was barely standing-room left in the auditorium.
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Iran: Anomymity of the Internet Fosters Freedom of Expression
According to a current report by “Reporters Without Borders”, Iran is still “the biggest journalists’ jail in the Middle East”. Nonetheless, some journalists are optimistic – thanks to the Internet.
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Christians in Lebanon
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Islamophobia
Criticism of religion? Blatant racism!