Society

Azraq refugee camp

Captives of the desert

The Azraq refugee camp sits just off the highway, deep in the Jordanian desert. Lorries, on their way to Baghdad, thunder past along the so-called "road of death", the endless, pothole-pitted eastbound desert dirt track. Visitors are rare. By Dana Ritzmann
By Dana Ritzmann
Interview with Chen Alon

Between the lines

Chen Alon is a teacher at Tel Aviv University, theatre director and co-founder of the NGO Combatants for Peace. In an interview with Fabian Ebeling he talks about how politics in Israel are affecting the cultural sphere and the work of left-wing organisations
By Fabian Ebeling
Transgender activism in Pakistan

The dynamic third gender

In times of increasing radicalisation, minorities and those who occupy society's niches and in-between realms can become prime targets, as the attack last weekend on a gay nightclub in Florida so painfully demonstrated. Recently, however, on the other side of the globe in South Asia, there have also been some astounding breakthroughs. By Sara-Duana Meyer
By Sara-Duana Meyer
Protecting women from violence in Jordan

For a self-determined life

Under pressure from women′s organisations, several women′s refuges for survivors of domestic violence have been set up in Amman. As long as the state continues to offer insufficient protection, initiatives like Lina Khalifeh′s "Shefighter" will focus on strengthening the individual. By Claudia Mende in Amman
By Claudia Mende
The Iftarlendar

An "Advent calendar" for Ramadan

First there was the Advent calendar. Now, with the so-called "Iftarlendar," Muslims can also prepare themselves for one of their most important holidays, the feast of Eid al-Fitr marking the end of the fast. And it only takes 30 windows. By Uta Steinwehr
By Uta Steinwehr
Domestic violence against women in Turkey

″Don′t prevent divorce, prevent murder!″

The past few years have seen a huge increase in the number of women murdered in Turkey. There are also increasing reports of domestic violence. Those victims who report violence to the authorities, however, are often treated badly. By Ceyda Nurtsch
By Ceyda Nurtsch
Muslims in Bosnia Herzegovina

Help is at hand

In Bosnia Herzegovina Islam has been part of Europe for centuries. But in the debate surrounding Islam, little consideration is given to the experience of Bosnian Muslims. Nedad Memic considers this approach short-sighted
By Nedad Memić
Interview with Mevlevi sheikh Kabir Helminski

Sufism and the power to transform

The U.S. American and Mevlevi sheikh Kabir Helminski is founder of the international ″Threshold Society″ and one of the most important Sufi teachers in the West. Marian Brehmer talked to him about the role of Sufism in the modern world and the dangers of religious extremism
By Marian Brehmer
Breaking the Silence

The ″turncoat″ sons of Israel

Founded 11 years ago, Breaking the Silence has collected and published over 1,100 mostly anonymous testimonies from IDF (Israel Defence Forces) veterans that document army violations against Palestinians. Earlier this month, an Israeli court heard a petition filed by the state attorney to force the organisation to reveal the identity of some of the testifiers. Ylenia Gostoli caught up with Breaking the Silence′s co-founder Yehuda Shaul
By Ylenia Gostoli
Jordan and the Syrian refugees

Across a great divide

In mid-2013, Jordan stopped letting Syrian refugees freely through its borders and shut all but two of the 45 informal crossings. The current policy of only permitting the war-wounded to enter the country, while in itself commendable, is separating families and leaving people with disabilities and in need of constant care to fend for themselves in Jordan. By Ylenia Gostoli
By Ylenia Gostoli
Alice Schwarzer: "The Shock – New Year's Eve in Cologne"

Curious bedfellows

In her new book, Alice Schwarzer is the first to finger a definite culprit in the New Year's Eve incidents in Cologne: "sharia Islam". In her reasoning she adopts the same interpretation of the Koran favoured by Muslim extremists, while providing fodder for Islamophobic right-wing populists. By Khola Maryam Hubsch
By Khola Maryam Hübsch
Interview with the Islamic theologian Hamideh Mohagheghi

We need to talk

With the recent rise in Islamophobia across German – and the wider European – society, the Islamic theologian Hamideh Mohagheghi warns against retreating from the debate. Now is the time for Muslims to practise their faith in confidence, step forward and speak out. Interview by Canan Topcu
By Canan Topçu