Society

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
Refugees in Germany

Working through the trauma

Refugee children have often experienced terrible things. By reading aloud to them, volunteers give them time out from the stresses of their everyday lives. A specially designed trauma picture book helps children and parents to better come to terms with their experiences. By Gunda Achterhold
By Gunda Achterhold
Egypt's people-smuggling mafia

Where crossings cost but lives are cheap

Borg Meghezel looks like a perfectly normal Egyptian fishing village. But almost all its inhabitants earn their living through people-smuggling. An exclusive report by Karim El-Gawhary
By Karim El-Gawhary
Interview with Navid Kermani

Solidarity, liberty, openness

German-Iranian writer and Islamic studies expert Navid Kermani, who was awarded the German Book Trade′s Peace Prize in Oktober 2015 is one of Germany's most compelling thinkers. In an interview with Catherine Newmark, he speaks about literature und politics, the threat to freedom and the future of Europe
By Catherine Newmark
Fashion for Muslim women

Modesty a la mode

The years-old debate about designing fashion for Muslim women who follow strict dress codes has re-ignited in France, raising the question of just what role, if any, European design houses have in a political debate. By Courtney Tenz
By Courtney Tenz
Education in the Arab world

Stop corrupting the next generation!

With curricula still focusing on fighting Christians, the torments of the grave, not to mention children being burnt in Hell, a revolution in Islamic religious education would appear to be long overdue. Mousa Barhouma argues in favour of teaching pupils noble Islamic ideas and humane values without overtaxing their intellectual maturity
By Mousa Barhouma
Syrian refugees in Lebanon

The house of 18 women

Domestic violence, sexual abuse and child marriage – when Syrian women in Lebanon don't know where to turn, they can find refuge at the women's shelter "Al Dar". A visit to the Bekaa Valley. By Iris Mostegel
By Iris Mostegel
Feminists in Turkey

Looking to big sister

The extent to which the ruling AKP party will be able to reshape Turkey according to Islamist notions will depend in part on whether it is able to impose its conservative policies in the field of women's rights. By Joseph Croitoru
By Joseph Croitoru