Society

Contemporary political discourse

What can Europe learn from Arab philosophy?

Michael Frey has written a fascinating book about the contemporary political thinker Nassif Nassar. Since 1967, Nassar has devoted his life’s work to the question of a fair social order both within and beyond Lebanon. Now Frey offers us the first introduction to his work in a European language. By Sonja Hegasy
By Sonja Hegasy
Counter-terrorist, terrorist – what's the difference?

YPG returnees under suspicion

The Kurdish YPG militia did the heavy lifting in the fight against the "Islamic State", yet many foreign YPG adherents, including Germans, have come home to find themselves under suspicion of terrorism. By Esther Felden & Matthias von Hein
By Esther Felden, Matthias von Hein
Interfaith dialogue

Muslim-Jewish pilgrimage to Auschwitz

Few Muslims have to date visited the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp memorial site. Now high-ranking representatives of Muslims and Jews are travelling together to the place of horror. It is a story of personal encounter. By Christoph Strack
By Christoph Strack
Islamism in Germany

Preventing radicalisation in prisons

The terror attacks in Paris, Brussels and Berlin were all carried out by men radicalised in jail. In Germany, politics and the judiciary are trying out new approaches to prevent inmates from becoming extremists. By Esther Felden and Matthias von Hein
By Esther Felden, Matthias von Hein
Reconstruction and humanitarian aid in northern Iraq

100 wheelchairs for Mosul

Two and a half years since its liberation from the Islamic State group, large areas of Mosul still lie in rubble. Germany is contributing in a variety of ways to the reconstruction of the city in northern Iraq. Brigit Svensson reports from Iraq
By Birgit Svensson
Interview with Quranet founder Ofer Grosbard

Parenting according to the Koran

At the suggestion of his Arab students, Israeli psychologist Ofer Grosbard created the project "Quranet", which uses texts from the Koran to solve educational problems in schools and families. More than ten years after its inception, the project is now attracting attention in the Arab world. Interview by Claudia Mende
By Claudia Mende
First Arabic website for parents of disabled children

"Habaybna" – for advice, community and inclusion

Reem Al Farangi from Gaza, mother to two children with autism, has created the first Arabic-language website for the parents of disabled children. "Habaybna" provides important information about early recognition, therapies and self-help – and connects parents from across the region. Claudia Mende reports from Amman
By Claudia Mende
The Istanbul Canal project

Erdogan's dream, Istanbul's nightmare

Turkey's President Erdogan wants to create a second Bosphorus. The cost to the economy and environment would be enormous – and that's why Istanbul's mayor is attempting to stop the plan. A bitter power struggle is raging. By Daniel Derya Bellut
By Daniel Derya Bellut
Interview with Nihad Salim Qoja

“Iranian hegemony in Iraq is very strong”

For 12 years, Nihad Salim Qoja was the mayor of Erbil, capital of the autonomous Kurdish regions of Iraq. Christopher Resch spoke to the local politician in Erbil about the future of his city and the current political problems in Iraq
By Christopher Resch
Interview with environmental expert Tarik M. Quadir

"If we don’t pull together to save the earth, we will ‘sink’ together"

Taking the Fridays for Future movement as his starting point, Muslim environmental expert Tarik Quadir talks to Marian Brehmer about the connections between Islam and environmental protection – and the attitude Islamic countries need to adopt in countering climate change
By Marian Brehmer
Women's rights in Jordan

The women of Dar Amneh

In Jordan, members of civil society have set up the first shelter for women who are under threat of death from their own families. For one year now, such women have been able to turn to Dar Amneh for help and support. A report by Claudia Mende
By Claudia Mende
Islam in Germany

Anna, a young woman seeking love and Allah

Elke Muller is fighting for her daughter Anna, who fell in love with a young Afghan and converted to Islam. The mother spoke to Esther Felden about feeling alienated and her fear that Anna might become radicalised
By Esther Felden