Society

The ″Azura″ restaurant in Jerusalem

Cooking between the extremes

In the midst of the ongoing Middle East conflict, there are many places where Jews and Palestinians have worked together peacefully for years. At the restaurant "Azura", for example. Daniella Cheslow reports from West Jerusalem
By Daniella Cheslow
Interview with Ingrid Mattson

″Muslim youngsters need genuine role models″

Muslim youngsters are often unsure as to the real nature of Islam. They need role models within their own communities who are prepared to stand up with self-confidence to extremist ideologies. Ingrid Mattson, a Canadian scholar in Islamic Studies and former president of the largest Muslim organisation in Northern America, spoke to Claudia Mende
By Claudia Mende
CrossCulture internships

A catalyst for societal change

The CrossCulture programme run by the Institut fur Auslandsbeziehungen (ifa) offers young professionals from Islamic countries the opportunity to work as an intern in Germany. Participants gain an insight into German culture and the country's work environment. The goal of the programme is to promote intercultural exchange and further professional development. By Claudia Mende
By Claudia Mende
Egypt′s all-female taxi service

Playing it safe

Almost every woman in Egypt has experienced sexual harassment in public. A businesswoman is making the most of this sorry statistic: "Pink Taxi" is a service by women for women. Elisabeth Lehmann reports from Cairo
By Elisabeth Lehmann
Navid Kermani on Christianity

The awe of a loving unbeliever

With his book "Ungläubiges Staunen" (literally "unbelieving awe", as yet unavailable in English), Navid Kermani delivers a fascinating reflection on Christian art and religion. The German-Iranian writer looks at Christianity with a curiosity and an earnestness that has become rare among Christians themselves. Ulrich von Schwerin read the book
By Ulrich von Schwerin
Navid Kermani′s Peace Prize acceptance speech

Freeing Islam from the clutches of the fanatics

For the first time, Germany′s most important cultural prize has gone to a child of Muslim immigrants, the German-Iranian writer and Islamic studies expert Navid Kermani, born in 1967. According to Stefan Weidner, his combative speech may well go down in history
By Stefan Weidner
Migration and human rights

Refugee versus migrant: what's in a name?

″All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights″: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights couldn′t be much clearer. Still the political response to the current flood of refugees is inevitably proving insufficient. Pia Oberoi, advisor on migration and human rights with the UNHCR, examines the issue
By Pia Oberoi
Refugees in Germany

Mosques: a gateway to integration

The many Muslim refugees currently arriving in Germany are a challenge for the country′s mosques. Not merely in terms of humanitarian aid, but in terms of how German Islam is likely to change and develop as a result. By Andreas Gorzewski
By Andreas Gorzewski
Islam in Russia

Caught between acceptance and rejection

Russia's largest mosque recently opened its doors in Moscow. New Muslim houses of worship, however, are very controversial in Russia. More than anything, many Russians fear more immigrants. A report by Yulia Vishnevetskaya
By Yulia Vishnevetskaya
Sunni–Shia relations

Iran's futile bid for ecumenism within Islam

Although Saudi Arabia distances itself from groups like al-Qaida, its leaders share the terrorist organisation's mistrust of the Shias and fear the emergence of a "Shia Crescent" in the Middle East. But Iran has always seen itself not as a Shia but as an Islamic country and declares itself committed to a rapprochement between the different Islamic denominations. Ulrich von Schwerin analyses why Iran's attempts to further ecumenism within Islam have thus far been in vain
By Ulrich von Schwerin
Misogynists unite?

Women, Islam and Germany's modern society

For many people Islam and misogyny are apparently inseparable. And for some, growing numbers of refugees are pushing up levels of concern over both. But if immigrants and their children are thinking in patriarchal family structures, this has less to do with their religion or culture and far more to do with German immigration policy. An essay by Susanne Kaiser
By Susanne Kaiser
Islam and the West

What Islamisation?

The state promotes Islam in public life – and for good reason. This has nothing to do with Islamisation but with the liberties enshrined in the constitutions of the Western democracies, writes Christine Langenfeld, chair of the Expert Council of German Foundations on Integration and Migration
By Christine Langenfeld