Society

Marital traditions in the Islamic world

Marriage first, love later?

The number of arranged marriages in the Middle East and North Africa is decreasing. Matrimony between cousins is still widespread, but matches of this kind now account for at most a quarter of all weddings. A growing number of young people find their partners without mediation; marriage for love is their ideal. By Martina Sabra
By Martina Sabra
Azerbaijan′s enlightenment

A nation at odds with itself

As the first Muslim country to grant women the vote in 1919, Azerbaijan is rightly proud of its enlightened heritage. Yet increasingly, tensions are arising between an evolving 21st century ″anything goes″ interpretation of religious tolerance and the secular legacy of its literary founding fathers. An essay by Nermin Kamal
By Nermin Kamal
Profile: Nadia Murad

One woman's fight against Islamic State

She escaped from a living hell: Nadia Murad gives a face to the thousands of Yazidi women who were raped by members of IS. She openly tells of her time as a sex slave, her sorrow and her desire to change things. By Sabrina Pabst
By Sabrina Pabst
Slavoj Zizek’s exploration of Islam and modernity

A Eurocentric perspective

Unlike most of his published work, Slavoj Zizek′s latest essay on Islam and modernity is not left-wing at all. Rather surprisingly, he is favour of restricting the mobility of refugees within Europe and defends a whole range of Eurocentric attitudes. By Tarkan Tek
By Tarkan Tek
Islamic divorce law in India

Trouncing triple talaq

Victims of what they regard as archaic family law, many of India's Muslims are fed up. With their cause now being championed, rather ironically, by the Hindu nationalist BJP, they are hoping for an end to what critics refer to as "religious apartheid″. By Ronald Meinardus
By Ronald Meinardus
Nine Muslims on right-wing populism

Should I stay or should I go?

Young Muslims in Germany are feeling increasingly alienated. The AfD and the debate on Islam are reasons. But are they reasons for leaving? Dunja Ramadan spoke to nine of them
By Dunja Ramadan
Interview with Hossein Derakhshan

Iran's 'blogfather' turned Internet sceptic

Hossein Derakhshan, a.k.a. Hoder, pioneered the blogger revolution in Iran. Released from prison following a term of six years, he barely recognised what the Internet has become. Interview by Julia Hitz
By Julia Hitz
New peace initiatives for the Middle East conflict

Two states, one homeland

A group made up of Israelis and Palestinians has some unusual ideas on how to resolve the Middle East conflict. It′s a peace initiative based on the notion that no side should lose. By Inge Gunther
By Inge Günther
Political Islam and violence

A question of power

In his essay, the renowned Shia theologian and philosopher Hasan Yousefi Eshkevari considers the significance of political power and violence in Islamic systems of government
By Hassan Yussefi Eshkevari
Eco-tourism in Jordan

Guests of the Bedouin

The Feynan EcoLodge in southern Jordan is one of the few socially and ecologically sustainable tourist destinations in the Middle East. The project, managed and run by a group of local Bedouin, gives visitors an intriguing insight into a culture in transition. Claudia Mende reports from Feynan
By Claudia Mende
Syrian refugee Nather Henafe Alali

Exile and integration: the double whammy

As a result of this war, we Syrians experience terrible things every day, even in exile: despite the distance, we suffer along with those members of the population who have stayed in our country. At the same time, we ′exiles′ experience what it means to be foreign, writes Nather Henafe Alali in his third column
By Nather Henafe Alali
Civil rights in Lebanon

″Reclaiming Beirut′s public space″

In June this year, Beirut′s largest green space, Horsh Beirut, re-opened to the public after an extended period of closure. Thanks to a strong campaign led by the NGO Nahnoo, citizens are once more able to enjoy strolling under the pines. By Changiz M. Varzi
By Changiz M. Varzi