Society

Immigration in Morocco

The long road to integration for immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa

Morocco officially declared itself a country of immigration in 2013, responding to the growing number of immigrants arriving from sub-Saharan Africa. Since then, tens of thousands of illegal aliens have been given residence permits, making them legal residents of the country. Despite this progress, however, Morocco's immigration policies remain inconsistent, and society has yet to truly accept the newcomers. By Claudia Mende
By Claudia Mende
Tipaza's HOME environmental activists

Algerian woman spearheads fight for sustainable fishing

Among the greatest threats to Algeria’s 1,622 km long coastline are irresponsible fishing practices and a complacency about marine pollution, especially plastic waste. The HOME environmental association in Tipaza is trying to change that. By Nourredine Bessadi
By Nourredine Bessadi
President Sisi, the Grand Imam and Al-Azhar

Egypt’s eternal conundrum – reforming religious thought

How long can Al-Azhar University mount guard over orthodox Islamic learning, fending off Sisi’s attempt to assert control while also curtailing the influence of oil-rich Gulf states? By Muhammed Nafih Wafy
By Muhammed Nafih Wafy
Interview with Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Shirin Ebadi

"Ruhollah Zam's death sentence is a political judgement"

The death sentence against journalist Ruhollah Zam in Iran has been criticised worldwide. Iran has said it will not accept any interference in its "internal affairs". Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Shirin Ebadi takes Tehran to task over the matter. Interview by Shabnam von Hein
By Shabnam von Hein
Non-fiction: Mikhal Dekel's "Tehran Children"

The Jews who fled Nazi Germany to finally end up in Iran

Mikhal Dekel’s father was part of a contingent of Jewish children who went on an odyssey from Poland to Iran as a result of the Holocaust. Dekel has now written a book exploring the story of the "Tehran Children". By Daniel Walter
By Daniel Walter
Water shortage in the Maghreb

Morocco's thirst revolution and the luxury of watermelons

When residents of Zagora in southern Morocco protested in 2017, demanding the right to safe drinking water, the authorities arrested twenty-three of them in what became known as the "thirst revolution". The residents of Zagora and its environs, however, continue to suffer from a water shortage. By Ilhalm Al-Talbi
By Ilham Al-Talbi
Interview with journalist and performance artist Michel Abdollahi

"People with dark hair always have to go the extra mile"

Journalist Michel Abdollahi was born in Tehran in 1981 and moved to Hamburg in 1986. His big breakthrough came with his television documentaries on social issues such as integration, racism and right-wing populism. He spoke to Qantara.de about his book "Deutschland schafft mich!" (Done away with by Germany – What happened when I found out I wasn't German after all)
By Schayan Riaz
What chance freedom of religion?

Deportation fears grow among Turkey's Protestant minority

Ever since the Andrew Brunson incident, tensions have been growing between the Turkish government and the country's Christian community. Religious freedom is in jeopardy, as the Subasiguller case illustrates. By Deger Akal
By Deger Akal
The case of exiled Saudi activist Omar Abdulaziz

Critics of Saudi Arabia and Khashoggi's colleagues, beware

A friend of the murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Omar Abdulaziz is a thorn in the side of Saudi Arabia. Living in exile in Canada, the activist has been warned by the police of a possible threat against him. By Diana Hodali
By Diana Hodali
Omitted from the United Nations' list of shame

Yemen's dead and injured children haunt Saudi-led war

Just one day after the UN Secretariat omitted Saudi-led forces from a "list of shame", an airstrike killed four children. The UN is under pressure to acknowledge Saudi Arabia's role in killing and maiming children. By Lewis Sanders IV and Kerstin Knipp
By Kersten Knipp, Lewis Sanders IV
Obituary: Egyptian LGBTQ activist Sarah Hegazy

"How can I survive in a society based on hate?"

In 2017, Sarah Hegazy was arrested in Cairo for displaying a rainbow flag, the symbol for homosexuality and queerness, at a concert. The activist recently took her own life in Canada. By Christopher Resch
By Christopher Resch
Coronavirus fallout

Tunisia post-lockdown – should we stay or should we go?

Now that the COVID-19 crisis in Tunisia has abated, the government has lifted almost all restrictions. But the social consequences of the lockdown are still hitting the country hard. While social protests and strikes put pressure on the government, an increasing number of people are starting to see escape to Italy as the only way out. Sofian Philip Naceur reports from Tunis
By Sofian Philip Naceur