Society

Religions for Peace conference in Lindau

Fighting hate speech, climate change and COVID-19 together

Religions are often a source of conflict. But the worldwide Religions for Peace movement seeks to change that by galvanising interreligious dialogue. Delegates from 90 countries are meeting this week in Germany. The involvement and commitment of young women at this year's conference is striking. By Christoph Strack
By Christoph Strack
More German MPs with a migrant background

Germany's 2021 election – the diverse lawmakers making history

At 735 members, Germany's newly elected Bundestag is the largest it has ever been. But it is also becoming more diverse. More members of parliament come from ethnic minorities. It's a historic opportunity. By Lisa Hanel
By Lisa Hänel
Prostitution in the Shah's Iran

Shahr-e No – "the neighbourhood of the sorrowful"

Drawing on the history of Tehran's Shahr-e No red light district, Nasrin Bassiri describes how prostitution functioned in Iran before the Islamic Revolution. The neighbourhood would end up being destroyed in August 1980, six months after Khomeini came to power
By Nasrin Bassiri
Future-proofing Islam

Focus on the soul of Islam

Indonesian religious affairs minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas set the bar high for both President Joko Widodo and Nahdlatul Ulama – the religious backbone of Widodo's government – when he laid out the agenda for his country's presidency of the G20 last week. James M. Dorsey has the details
By James M. Dorsey
Iraq's electricity crisis

Iraqis left in the dark by their corrupt politicians

Every electricity minister since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein has faced the same daunting equation: Iraq should be able to produce over 30,000 megawatts of power, enough to meet current demand, but only about a half of that reaches consumers. Samya Kullab explores the reasons why
By Samya Kullab
Germany's general election

Not enough migrants in German politics

One in four people in Germany has a migration background, but less than 8% of the members of parliament have foreign roots. Germany is out of touch with reality, says Maissun Melhem
By Maissun Melhem
General election in Germany

How will Germany's immigrants vote?

Germany’s electorate includes some 7.4 million citizens with international roots, while many more millions of residents from abroad aren’t allowed to vote. Both groups are often overlooked by political parties. Kay-Alexander Scholz reports
By Kay-Alexander Scholz
Life in Iran

Treats and tradition in Tehran's oldest, tiniest teahouse

Tea is a mainstay of popular culture across the Middle East, from Morocco to Qatar. Tucked away in Tehran's Grand Bazaar is arguably the world's tiniest tea shop. The owner's signature brew – "the tea of kndness" – is just one of the many treats awaiting discovery
Karl-Josef Kuschel's "Goethe and the Koran"

Islam for the 21st century? Look no further than Goethe

No other Western poet was arguably so well-versed in the Koran or so fascinated by Islam as Germany's national hero, Goethe. In a new publication that examines all Goethe's writings relating to Islam, theologian Karl-Josef Kuschel shows that the poet's message is still highly relevant today. Stefan Weidner read the book
By Stefan Weidner
Arabic inscription on Coimbra Cathedral

"Greatness will remain"

The façade of a twelfth-century cathedral is an unlikely place to find a message in Arabic script carved in stone, but so it is in the Portuguese city of Coimbra. Marta Vidal explores the background to the cathedral and examines how an 800-year Arabic inscription endured on the walls of a Roman Catholic house of worship
By Marta Vidal
COVID-19 in the Middle East

Playing down pandemic death tolls

A new global database shows a significant gap in reported COVID-related deaths, suggesting the actual worldwide death toll is short by at least 1 million. That's due in part to false figures from autocratic regimes. Jennifer Holleis has the details
By Jennifer Holleis
Afghan women challenge the Taliban

For freedom, equality and the right to play sport

Despite their promises of "moderate" rule, the Taliban have announced the end of mixed classes in universities and a ban on sports for Afghan women. Many are taking the streets to denounce the worrying measures, only to be met with violent repression. Cyrielle Cabot reports