Society

Best of Qantara.de 2021

Top ten most-read articles on Qantara.de

Every year in December, the team at Qantara.de takes a look back at the articles that proved most popular with our readers. This year is no different. Here is a run-down of the stories that mattered most to you in 2021. Happy New Year to all our readers!
Arab world

Conflict and climate change drive Syria's water crisis

Northeastern Syria is experiencing its worst drought in nearly 70 years, with rising temperatures and erratic weather exacerbated by tensions with Turkey. Daniela Sala, Bart von Laffert and Shaveen Mohammad report
By Daniela Sala & Bart von Laffert & Shaveen Mohammad
Young people in Iraqi Kurdistan

Turning towards religion or away from it?

Young people in northern Iraq are so disillusioned that many are trying to leave the country any way they can. Some fear widespread discontent could push people toward potentially dangerous religious fundamentalism. By Cathrin Schaer
By Cathrin Schaer
Haifa's Holiday of Holidays

The festival where everyone is welcome

Haifa is known for being Israel’s exemplary model of relative harmony between Jewish and Palestinian citizens. Its unique "Holiday of Holidays" is a joyous, multicultural event that has become a major player in domestic tourism. After a two-year break due to the pandemic, Noam Yatsiv writes from this year's festival
By Noam Yatsiv
Women's rights in North Africa

"The headscarf is losing its religious edge"

Moroccan sociologist Fatima Sadiqi believes that women's movements in North Africa have changed over the past ten years. Today, women from all social classes are fighting together for more rights, regardless of whether they are "secular" or "Islamic" feminists. Claudia Mende spoke with her for Qantara.de
By Claudia Mende
Middle East

Lebanon: Influencers join together to fight hate speech

A group of 20 social media influencers in Lebanon is seeking to de-escalate political tensions and overcome sectarian problems. Their outreach is impressive among the young and tech-savvy population. By Jennifer Holleis and Razan Salman
By Jennifer Holleis & Razan Salman
Middle East

Young Arabs: "more Israeli and more Palestinian than ever"

May 2021 saw a deadly flare-up in Israel-Hamas hostilities, with eruptions of extreme violence in several of Israel's 'mixed' cities. Two weeks later, a broad-spectrum governing coalition – the first to include an independent Arab Israeli party – was formed. Noam Yatsiv reflects on this year's rollercoaster of events with Thabet Abu-Rass, co-director of NGO Abraham Initiatives
By Noam Yatsiv
First ever antidiscrimination chatbot

Meta: standing up to racism

Former lawyer Said Haider has invented a chatbot for those seeking advice on anti-discrimination issues – Meta is the first chatbot of its kind in the world. In conversation with Qantara.de, Haider talks about the development of Meta, his experience of discrimination and Meta's future prospects
By Schayan Riaz
Syria

Idlib: Collapsing Turkish lira makes life harder than ever

The Turkish lira is in freefall – with devastating consequences for people in the Syrian region of Idlib. 46-year-old Khadija needs two jobs to provide for her family
By Diana Hodali
Islam in Germany

Imam Idriz – "We need to allow controversial discussion"

Benjamin Idriz, imam of the mosque in Penzberg near Munich, is one of the most prominent representatives of Islam in Germany. He sees his role as building bridges to mainstream society without surrendering his own Muslim identity. In interview with Claudia Mende for Qantara.de, he argues that the mosque should be a place of open discussion where controversial opinions are possible
By Claudia Mende
War in Yemen

Death to journalists

Journalists are under fire from all factions in the Yemen conflict. Rasha Abdullah al-Harazi, nine months pregnant, recently died in a car bomb attack in Aden, her husband barely survived. Just one of many, as Diana Hodali reports
By Diana Hodali
Murder of women in Turkey

Femicide requires harsher sentencing

According to lawyers and women's rights activists, the prison term for the murder of women in Turkey is not long enough. They argue that the brutality of the crime should carry more weight during sentencing – and hope thereby for a deterrent. Burcu Karakas reports
By Burcu Karakaş