Most recent articles by Christoph Dreyer
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Egypt's and Tunisia's State Security FilesAn Inaccessible Past
Two years after the Arab Spring started shaking up the political landscape of the Middle East, many secret police files are still kept locked up in the relevant ministries and therefore remain inaccessible. Christoph Dreyer reports
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Islamic Law and Ethics''We Are Calling for a New Interpretation of the Koran''
A new research centre in Qatar seeks to focus more attention on the ethical dimension of Islam. The founders of the centre and its director, Tariq Ramadan, are calling for a new interpretation of the Koran in order to advance a contemporary Islamic understanding of matters such as environmental ethics and gender issues. Christoph Dreyer spoke to the centre's deputy director, Jasser Auda
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Interview with Ahdaf SoueifHappy to Follow the Tahrir Youth's Lead
One year after the fall of Hosni Mubarak, Egyptian author and activist Ahdaf Soueif is full of hope for the revolution to achieve its final aims of human rights and social justice. In this interview with Christoph Dreyer, she talks about changed Western perceptions of the Arab world, her relation to the Tahrir youth, and the balance between explaining the revolution and taking part in it
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Interview with Irshad Manji''I Consider it Wrong to Say that Muslims are Incapable of Reform''
The liberal feminist Muslim and bestselling author Irshad Manji calls for a reconciliation between faith and freedom. Christoph Dreyer spoke with her about civil courage, the dangers of moderation and her new book Allah, Liberty and Love
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Post-graduate Programme on Islamic Theology''Muslim Theologians are Instigators of Change''
Islamic theology is still a very new academic discipline at German universities. It is hoped that a new nationwide post-graduate programme will boost its development, lead to increased representation of Muslims in Germany, and lay the groundwork for the training of state schoolteachers of Islam. As Christoph Dreyer reports, expectations are high all round
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Stand-up Comedy in DubaiClean Humour for the Arab World
Stand-up comedians have a reputation for using provocative and often political jokes. Not to be daunted by this apparent obstacle to success, an American and an Emirati are trying to create a stand-up scene in the conservative Arab Gulf states. Through their Dubai comedy school, they promote a clean brand of humour. Christoph Dreyer reports
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Interview with the Saudi Writer Badriya Al-Bishr''Anything You Write about Is Made a Scandal, Even Love''
In her novel "Hind and the Soldiers", Saudi author Badriya Al-Bishr focuses the daily struggle of women in her native country for a little more personal freedom. Christoph Dreyer interviewed the Dubai-based writer and columnist