Society

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
Islamic State on trial

Prosecuting IS returnees in Germany takes the law's longest arm

An increasing number of Islamic State returnees are standing trial in Germany, including female supporters of the terror group. To make their case, federal prosecutors are relying on international criminal law. By Matthias von Hein
By Matthias von Hein
Review of Leor Halevi's "Modern Things on Trial"

Bottom-up fatwas – Rashid Rida and laissez-faire Salafism

Leor Halevi’s latest work examines how Muhammad Rashid Rida with his pro-capitalist and open-market fatwas promoted a version of "laissez-faire Salafism" at the turn of the 20th century. Muhammed Nafih Wafy read the book
By Muhammed Nafih Wafy
Human rights and civil society in North Africa

Tunisia joins George Floyd protests to say 'no' to racism

Tunisians rallied on Saturday in support to the Black Lives Matter movement, decrying anti-black racism and raising awareness about racial discrimination in the North African country. Alessandra Bajec reports from Tunis
By Alessandra Bajec
COVID-19 pandemic

Afghans fear a belated coronavirus wave

According to official figures, Afghanistan has so far not been affected by the corona pandemic to the same extent as its neighbour Iran. But deficits such as a lack of testing capacity are giving rise to fears of worse to come. Waslat Hasrat-Nazimi reports
By Waslat Hasrat-Nazimi
Non-fiction: Ulrike Freitag's "A History of Jeddah"

The legacy of Jeddah's migration history lives on

Jeddah is very different from other cities on the Arabian Peninsula, says Ulrike Freitag, historian of the Modern Middle East. In her book "A History of Jeddah", she explores the turbulent history of this former Ottoman port city, which has been uniquely shaped by trade and pilgrimage. Jannis Hagmann spoke to her about the city and the book
By Jannis Hagmann