Society

Women in Syria

Syria’s increasingly female job market

As a consequence of the 11-year war, twice as many women are now in paid jobs in Syria as before. Their employment is driven by courage and the need to feed their families. By Jennifer Holleis and Omar Albam
By Jennifer Holleis, Omar Albam
Confessions of an ex-jihadist

What makes someone a jihadist?

Charting his own descent into extremism, former Moroccan jihadist Adil El Hasani reveals how he was ultimately able to extricate himself from the grasp of those peddling religious illusions. Mohamed Taifouri read the book
By Mohamed Taifouri
Iran protests 2022

Tehran's Berlin Wall moment?

Iran may use the Islamic veil as a tool of oppression, but the hijab is also the weakest pillar of an embattled regime trying to forestall its own "Berlin Wall" moment, says Masih Alinejad
Gender rights in the Gulf

UAE ups the ante on LGBTQ community

Queers have so far managed to live in the Gulf state by keeping a low profile. But UAE’s new crackdown on the LGBTQ community might change that, writes Jennifer Holleis
By Jennifer Holleis
Iran protests

"Change that goes beyond the moment"

The protests in Iran have entered their third week with no indication that Tehran is prepared to address the demands that are echoing through the streets. Radio Farda’s Hannah Kaviani spoke to Erik Siegl for Qantara.de
By Erik Siegl
Hadis, Minoo and Ghazaleh

The women victims of Iran's crackdown

"I am really hoping that in some years from now, after everything has changed, I will be happy to have been involved by taking part in this protest," Iranian woman Hadis Najafi, 22, said in a self-recorded video as she prepared to take to the streets
Africa, not the EU

Tunisia's brain drain

Tunisia's economic and political instability and the increasing reluctance of Europe to take in job-seeking migrants is leading many Tunisians to head for sub-Saharan Africa in the hope of building a better life for themselves and their families. Tarak Guizani reports
By Tarak Guizani
Golineh Atai's unsung heroines

In Iran, freedom is female

In "Iran. Die Freiheit ist weiblich", journalist Golineh Atai describes the dogged resistance of courageous Iranian women against the Islamic Republic and the mullahs who have ruled Iran for more than 40 years. Claudia Mende read the book for Qantara.de
By Claudia Mende
Yemen’s other war

Female politicians targeted on social media

With more than two hundred thousand followers on Facebook and about 54 thousand followers on Twitter, I am one of the most prominent Yemeni politicians on the ground and online. Yet not a day passes without me having to fight in the virtual world because I decided to have a voice. Activist Nora Al-Jarawi gives a personal account
By Nora Aljarwai
Qatar World Cup 2022

Fans: "Abolish sexual and gender identity penalties"

Unflattering terms were used at a German Football Association human rights congress aimed at "intensifying the discussion" ahead of the World Cup. One speaker in particular made waves with an impassioned personal plea. James Thorogood reports
By James Thorogood
Mental health and Islam

Bangladeshi mystic fights demons with psychiatry

Evil spirits bedevil the families that seek blessings from an elderly Sufi mystic – but he knows his prayers alone are not enough to soothe their troubled minds
Sufism in Morocco

A cure for extremism?

Morocco's Sufi traditions go back centuries. Now King Mohammed VI is trying to use them to combat extremism. His programme of reforms includes the promotion of Sufi movements and moderate Islamic thinkers. By Marian Brehmer
By Marian Brehmer