Society

The Lebanese women's rights activist Hayat Mirshad

"We need a feminist revolution"

The efforts of the women's rights movement in Lebanon have remained unsuccessful for more than 70 years, says Hayat Mirshad, a member of the Democratic Women's Association. The blame lies with feminists' willingness to compromise, but also with women's rights organisations' hunt for sponsorship money. Juliane Metzker spoke to her in Beirut
By Juliane Metzker
Islam in Germany

The long road to legal recognition

According to expert opinion, there is still a great need for action in the legal recognition of Islam in Germany. There has been some progress in recent years, but Islamic religious communities are still a long way from being on a level footing with others. Susanne Kaiser summarises the deficits
By Susanne Kaiser
Mona Eltahawy: "Why do you hate us so?"

The Middle East needs a sexual revolution

As long as there is no true revolution, women in Islamic countries will remain second-class citizens, believes the controversial Egyptian journalist Mona Eltahawy. Claudia Kramatschek introduces her recent book
By Claudia Kramatschek
Islamic approaches to non-violence

In Gandhi's footsteps

Ever since the attacks of 9/11 and the rise of political Islam, the relationship between Islam and violence has presented a fundamental challenge for Muslims. Merely distancing itself from terrorism is not enough for an in-depth confrontation with the subject. Some voices on the Islamic spectrum are taking things further. They endorse a completely non-violent stance, and are also finding theological justification for their approach. By Claudia Mende
By Claudia Mende
Morocco's abortion ban

Acknowledging reality

There are plans afoot to liberalise Morocco's abortion laws. While an initial draft reform presented by the Ministers for Justice, Religious Affairs and Human Rights in mid-May has been sharply criticised by some women's rights organisations, doctors are expressing cautious optimism. By Martina Sabra
By Martina Sabra
Profile: Fatimetou Mint Abdel Malick

Role model for Africa's women

Fatimetou Mint Abdel Malick has been the mayor of a district of the Mauritanian capital Nouakchott for 14 years. She is living proof that women can make it to the top even in conservative Muslim societies. Elisa Rheinheimer introduces a courageous Mauritanian
By Elisa Rheinheimer
Muslim youth in America

The "mipster" phenomenon

Most people have heard of the term "hipster", which conjures up images of hip young, middle-class urban adults with progressive ideas who are into indie music. But what of the mipster, the "Muslim hipster"? Is it a real or just an imaginary concept? And for young American Muslims, is the label a blessing or a curse? By Joseph Mayton in San Francisco
By Joseph Mayton
Tolerance and religious freedom in France

Fighting radical Islam with lessons in secularism

The French government wants to send imams and non-Muslim civil servants to classes in secularism and religious freedom in an attempt to prevent home-grown extremism and promote tolerance. Elizabeth Bryant reports from Lyon on a programme that is paving the way
By Elizabeth Bryant
Hindus in Pakistan

"I want to preserve my Hindu bloodline in North Waziristan"

All around the Islamic world, people are being forced from their homes for religious reasons or are fleeing religious violence and conflict. Many leave, intending never to return in the hope of being able to start a new life in a different country. Others, however, want to return home and carry on. Just like this elderly Hindu lady who wants to go back to the predominantly Muslim region of North Waziristan to rebuild her destroyed home and keep the Hindu population there alive. She told her story to Kiran Nazish
By Kiran Nazish
The destruction of Yemen's cultural heritage

Treasures of humanity under threat

Ongoing airstrikes and the military conflict with the Houthi rebels bring the threat of further destruction of important historical buildings and cultural monuments in Yemen. By Amida Sholan
By Amida Sholan
The role of the HDP in the Turkish general election

Beacon of hope for women and LGBTs

In the Turkish election campaign, all eyes are on the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP). The party's success would fundamentally redraw the nation's political map. Within a short period of time, it has succeeded in gaining favour with an array of disadvantaged social groups. By Ceyda Nurtsch
By Ceyda Nurtsch
Book review: Khaled Diab's "Intimate Enemies: Living with Israelis and Palestinians in the Holy Land"

Prioritising the people

At a time when Palestinian–Israeli relations are at a particularly low ebb, it might seem over-optimistic to argue that the divisions between the people on the two sides are less than they seem, and that a "people's peace process" could lead to a just solution. Yet this is what the Egyptian-Belgian journalist, author and blogger Khaled Diab does in his book "Intimate Enemies: Living with Israelis and Palestinians in the Holy Land". By Susannah Tarbush
By Susannah Tarbush