Society

Gender rights and "Pink Bike"

Gaza ladies' bicycle club

After helping her daughter survive cancer, Rania Shaik has dedicated herself to bringing joy to the women of Gaza by letting them loose on two wheels. Ziad Ali reports
By Ziad Ali
Pakistani cuisine

Lahore’s maverick restauranteur

Welcome to Baking Virsa, a hole-in-the-wall in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore described as the country’s most expensive restaurant for what it serves – household favourites like flatbreads and kebabs
Qatar, Israel and the Palestinians

Middle East conflict impacts World Cup

With reported hostilities against Israeli journalists and the flag of the Palestinian territories flying on the streets and in the stadiums, it is clear the World Cup in Qatar is not apolitical. By Stefan Nestler and the DW team in Qatar
By Stefan Nestler
Human rights and migration

Why older Algerians risk the small boats to Spain

Nouara may be 65, but she is ready to join thousands of others who burn their ID and pay traffickers for the chance of a new life in Europe. Zineb Bettayeb reports
By Zineb Bettayeb
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Football fans see double standard in stadium politics ban

When is it and when is it not acceptable to display a political banner at the World Cup in Qatar? The answer seems to depend largely on the political message, with fans criticising what they see as inconsistent enforcement of FIFA rules by the host country.
Afghanistan under the Taliban

"Girls continue to attend our schools"

Education for girls and women is still possible in Afghanistan, says Reinhard Eroes of the Kinderhilfe Afghanistan initiative. In interview with Elisa Rheinheimer, he talks about skewed media portrayals, the great hunger gripping the country and why aid organisations should return
By Elisa Rheinheimer
Hasan al-Banna and the Muslim Brotherhood

Who was the architect of Islamism?

Renowned scholar of Islamic Studies Gudrun Kramer has just published the first well-founded biography of Hasan al-Banna, founder of the Muslim Brotherhood. Joseph Croitoru read the book
By Joseph Croitoru
Protests in Iran

Islamic Republic facing a religious watershed

Iranians do not want an Islam that interferes. They are fed up with a system that manipulates people with simple promises of salvation and anti-Western propaganda. Islamic theologian Hamideh Mohagheghi sees Iran at a religious crossroads
Qatar 2022

Migrant workers enjoy FIFA World Cup on the cheap

Shafeeq Saqafi paid $3 for the Argentina shirt he proudly wore when he sat with 15,000 other migrant workers in a hidden corner of Doha to watch Lionel Messi's side salvage their World Cup
Integration versus racism

I don't see myself as a victim

Canan Topcu came from Turkey to Germany as a child. In her essay, she describes how bothered she was by the racism she encountered in her country of origin when she travelled there recently. She describes her very personal take on identity, racism and exclusion
By Canan Topçu
Turkey’s new media law

Censorship by any other name

According to Turkey’s revised media legislation, spreading "fake news" now carries a prison sentence. The definition of what this entails has been kept intentionally vague. Opposition leaders, journalists and human rights observers call foul. Leyla Egeli reports
By Leyla Egeli
FIFA Qatar 2022

Children in Syria's Idlib hold their own World Cup

More than 300 children in rebel-held northwest Syria kicked off their own football World Cup on Saturday, with organisers hoping to shine a light on communities battered by 11 years of war