Society

Interview with French extremism researcher Olivier Roy

They love death as we love life: jihad and the roots of terror

French extremism researcher Olivier Roy talks to Eren Guvercin about the Catch 22 situation of European Muslims expected to speak for Islam, the irrelevance of 'liberal' reforms, the false premise of current de-radicalisation programmes and the nature of modern terrorism
By Eren Güvercin
Egypt’s new cybercrime law

What Sisi sees

In May 2018, Egypt’s parliament approved several new pieces of legislation regulating the press and the media, but also the controversial cybercrime law. Amr Gharbeia, technology and human rights officer with the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) and an expert on Internet surveillance in Egypt, spoke to Sofian Philip Naceur
By Sofian Philip Naceur
Urban development in Tunisia

Keeping the speculators out of Tunis

While there is a gradual reawakening of interest among the inhabitants of the Tunisian capital in their historical old town, the cityʹs colonial districts are at risk of falling prey to property speculators. Sarah Mersch on the development of Tunis
By Sarah Mersch
Syrian refugee children

Urgent action required

Eight years of war in Syria have meant eight years of children being permanently exposed to violence. Many of them have been forced to leave their homes and now live in southern Syria, Jordan or Lebanon – often in precarious conditions. By Dagmar Wolf
By Dagmar Wolf
Immigration

Integration "made in Germany"

Successful integration, a new German trademark? While chaos appears to reign at the Federal Office for Refugees, daily life for migrants is better than many might assume. A look at positive trends. By Astrid Prange
By Astrid Prange
Interview with Wafa′a Alsaidy, co-ordinator of Medecins du Monde in Yemen

At the expense of the Yemeni people

After more than three years of violent conflict, Yemen′s public and health sector is on the brink of collapse. While the warring factions are comfortable with the state of affairs, much of the population faces starvation and disease. Wafa′a Alsaidy, co-ordinator of the Yemen mission of Medecins du Monde (MdM) talks to Kai Schnier
By Kai Schnier
Exiled Turks in Greece

Bridge-building in 'enemy country'

At school they were taught that the Greeks were their enemies. Now many Turks, driven into exile by Erdoganʹs aggressive policies, have found refuge in Thessaloniki, just five hours by road from Istanbul. Report by Florian Schmitz
By Florian Schmitz
Iran at the 2018 FIFA World Cup

Battling on several fronts

Iran's participation in the 2018 Football World Cup in Russia – the fifth time the nation has taken part in the competition – should be a joyous occasion for soccer-mad Iranians. But foreign sanctions and domestic restrictions are subduing the celebratory mood. Farid Ashrafian reports
By Farid Ashrafian
Islam and single-use plastics

Appealing to Indonesia's Muslims

The Indonesian government and Greenpeace have teamed up with Islamic organisations to promote plastic waste reduction. Can including religion make environmental campaigns more effective? By Rizki Nugraha and Ayu Purwaningsih
By Rizki Nugraha, Ayu Purwaningsih
Moroccoʹs football star Mehdi Benatia

No defence against an own goal

Morocco made it to the final round of the World Cup for the first time in 20 years. A key figure in this success was centre back Mehdi Benatia, who ensured the squad qualified without conceding a single goal. No one could have reckoned with the crunch that was to follow. By Bachir Amroune
By Bachir Amroune
Cultural shift in Jordan

A slow awakening

What is causing the generational conflict in Amman? Two poles are currently in the process of emerging, pitting a new independent cultural identity against a politicised rural and Bedouin one. By Yazan Ashqar
By Yazan Ashqar
When East meets West

Debunking the ʹclash of civilisationsʹ myth

Cultural discourse is littered with narratives that build on a number of false dichotomies, the most enduring being the exclusivity of East and West. The clash of civilisations, the superiority of one over the other, is an entrenched myth that not even globalisation and communications technology have managed to shatter. By Muhammed Nafih Wafy
By Muhammed Nafih Wafy