Society

COVID-19 pandemic

Ramadan during coronavirus – with a virtual community

Ramadan begins this week even as the coronavirus pandemic up-ends life around the world. The crisis is forcing Muslims to re-think traditions and find new approaches to one of Islam's most important religious rituals. By Siham Ouchtou and Kersten Knipp
By Siham Ouchtou, Kersten Knipp
COVID-19 in the Middle East

Women talk under coronavirus lockdown: "I want my life back"

How are people in the Middle East and North Africa dealing with the new coronavirus pandemic? Women from countries across the region, some of them war zones, share their worries – and hopes. By Diana Hodali
By Diana Hodali
Digitalisation and the coronavirus in Morocco

From care to control?

With a series of digital measures introduced in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Morocco is creating a trade-off between ways to provide rapid support and the parallel development of digital control. By Anja Hoffmann and Bauke Baumann
By Anja Hoffmann, Bauke Baumann
Coronavirus pandemic in the Islamic world

Doubling down on containment efforts

Around the Islamic world, lockdowns and curfews are being extended and religious ceremonies are being cancelled outright in the hope of slowing the spread of COVID-19. Here’s the latest from across the region
Impact of Coronavirus

Rise in domestic violence in the Middle East

As authorities across the region struggle to contain the pandemic with curfews and lockdowns, few have thought of the knock-on effects. For many women, more time at home means more physical abuse from family members. By Maram Shahatit
By Maram Shahatit
COVID-19 pandemic

Devastated by war, Syriaʹs Idlib braces for coronavirus

No soap, hardly any water and no space to quarantine: in Idlib there is growing concern over the possible spread of coronavirus. A women's centre there is trying to educate people. Diana Hodali reports
By Diana Hodali
Pandemic update

Corona across the Islamic world – the toll of COVID-19

While some are beginning to protest the lockdown, others are unable to bury their loved ones in accordance with Islam. Here’s the latest from across the region
Business in the Middle East

Jordanʹs digital start-ups – innovation in Silicon Wadi

Young people in Jordan are increasingly turning to digital start-ups to improve their prospects, rather than relying on the countryʹs rigid labour market. Claudia Mende reports
By Claudia Mende
Freedom of the press

Turkey's Pelican group – Erdoganʹs state within a state?

After Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government set its sights on critical news outlet OdaTV, several of its journalists now face harsh prison sentences. Is Turkey's president using a secret group to control judges? By Hulya Schenk & Daniel Derya Bellut
By Hülya Köylü Schenk, Daniel Derya Bellut
Pandemic update

COVID-19 across the Islamic world – Fighting shy of coronavirus

Coronavirus continues unabated. Iran remains a hub of infection, war-torn Syria has recorded its first case and Yemen is bracing itself for the worst. Here’s the latest from across the region
COVID-19 pandemic

The world’s religions and coronavirus

As COVID-19 sweeps across the globe, it is forcing religions to adapt and take action to prevent infection. But experts warn against using the crisis to fuel conspiracy theories. Christoph Strack reports
By Christoph Strack
Biodiesel production

Destroying Indonesia's virgin forests to protect the climate?

Germany continues to believe in the fiction that palm oil obtained from South East Asia to blend with diesel fuel is ecologically sound and climate-friendly. But that belief is mistaken, as Inge Altemeier and Stefan Buchen found out
By Inge Altemeier, Stefan Buchen