Society

Nuit Sacree 2019 in Paris

"No-one has a monopoly on transcendence"

On Pentecost weekend – for the fourth year in a row – numerous musicians and religious leaders of various faiths came together in the Parisian parish of Saint Merry to send out a message of peace in the face of religious fundamentalism. Zahra Nedjabat reports
By Zahra Nedjabat
Women's rights in the Middle East

Feminists in Tunisia claim civic space

In 2011, the Tunisian people overthrew their authoritarian regime after decades of oppression. The fact that women were at the forefront of this movement was soon noticed by the international community, challenging the widespread preconception of a region devoid of womenʹs activism. By Aya Chebbi
By Aya Chebbi
15 years since the neo-Nazi NSU attack in Cologne

Germanyʹs constitution turns 70 – sorry, what happened on Keupstrasse?

Anyone mentioning Cologneʹs Keupstrasse and radicalisation in the same breath cannot simply brush the matter of NSU terrorism under the carpet. Commentary by Sonja Hegasy
By Sonja Hegasy
Atheism in the Arab world

Moroccoʹs atheists find a home on the Internet

The Internet has made it possible for some to declare and even to promote their atheism by criticising Islam and other religions. Ismail Azzam spoke to some young Moroccans who have left their Muslim faith behind
By Ismail Azzam
Non-fiction: Ferda Atamanʹs "Iʹm from here. Stop asking!"

Less strident, more empathetic, please!

"I'm from here. Stop asking!" is the title of a recently published book in German by journalist Ferda Ataman. It contains quite a lot of appeals, summarises the latest debates on migration – and ignores the problems faced by an open society. By Canan Topcu
By Canan Topçu
Interview with Turkish author Asli Erdogan

"There is nothing left of democracy in Turkey"

For Turkish author Asli Erdogan the annullation of the mayoral electoral result in Istanbul marked the end of democracy in Turkey. Gezal Acer spoke to her about her life in German exile and the situation of writers and freedom of speech in Turkey
By Gezal Acer
Book review: Susannah Heschel on "Jewish Islam"

Jewish Orientalism?

In her book Susannah Heschel investigates the role of Islam in the emergence of a Jewish identity and seeks to pay tribute to the academic legacy of Jewish-German scholars of Islam of the 19th and 20th centuries. But the romantic narrative of a somewhat different kind of Orientalism has its pitfalls. By Ozan Keskinkilic
By Ozan Zakariya Keskinkilic
Interview with anthropologist Madawi Al-Rasheed

"Death penalties are the norm in Saudi Arabia"

The Middle East Eye is reporting that religious activists are once again to be executed in Saudi Arabia. Mass executions continue to increase in the country, says Saudi social anthropologist Madawi Al-Rasheed in an interview with Nermin Ismail and Hassan Hussain
By Nermin Ismail, Hassan Hussain
Uncovering Portugalʹs Islamic roots

Where Christians pray facing Mecca

Archaeologists in Mertola have spent the last 40 years looking for traces of Portugalʹs Islamic past. What they found shows that Islam is not alien to Europe and has in fact deeply influenced Portuguese history and culture. By Marta Vidal
By Marta Vidal
Remembering victim Hatun Surucu

"A Regular Woman" – the story of an honour killing

Feature film "A Regular Woman" by director Sherry Hormann tells the true story of Hatun Aynur Surucu, shot was dead in 2005 by her own brother to "protect the family honour". The haunting work gives a voice to the victim. By Ceyda Nurtsch
By Ceyda Nurtsch
The demise of Modern Standard Arabic

Tongue-tied Arabs

It is one of the most important Semitic world languages. One of the six official languages of the UN. The language of Ibn Arabis – and of the Koran. And yet Modern Standard Arabic is not very popular with native speakers. Why? Mona Sarkis has some of the answers
By Mona Sarkis
Religion and media in Turkey

Reviving Sufism with Yunus Emre

The TV series "Yunus Emre: The journey of love" was a massive hit in Turkey when it was first aired four years ago. But this popular television spectacle is not the only evidence of a renewed interest in Sufi spirituality in Turkey. Marian Brehmer reports from Istanbul
By Marian Brehmer