Most recent articles by Laura Overmeyer
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Gate of Tehran – Days of Experimental SoundsWelcome to the Persian sound laboratory
Mehdi "Peter" Pirhosseinlou lives and works as an artist in Tehran. He regularly organises concerts and festivals in Iran with the artist collective "House No. 4", which he founded. "Gate of Tehran" is an electronic sound spectacle currently showcasing in Berlin. Interview by Laura Overmeyer
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"The Blue Between Sky and Water" by Susan AbulhawaLove and suffering in Gaza
"The Blue Between Sky and Water" is the title of the new book by Palestinian-American bestselling author Susan Abulhawa. With her tried and tested concept of the dramatic family saga, Abulhawa also aims to make the suffering of the Palestinians visible. Laura Overmeyer read the book
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International understanding through cuisineFood for thought
Can sharing meals together promote peace? At the very least, the culture of cuisine provides people with the opportunity to come closer together, overcome prejudices, and better understand various lifestyles. Laura Overmeyer on cooking as a form of cultural dialogue
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Civil war in LibyaA stateless society
The political divide in Libya continues to grow. Amal El-Obeidi, professor of Comparative Politics at the University of Benghazi, cites two historical causes for the current situation: the absence of a Libyan identity and the tribal structure of society in the North African country. By Laura Overmeyer
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Interview with Abdallah Abu RahmaCreative resistance to barbed wire and walls
The phrase "Palestinian resistance" evokes images of suicide bomb attacks and stone-throwing youths. But the peaceful resistance movement in Palestine has long been a reality. The village of Bil'in has always played a leading role in these endeavours. Laura Overmeyer spoke to Abdallah Abu Rahma, co-founder and co-ordinator of the Bil'in Popular Committee against the Wall
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Samaritans in NablusThe other "People of Israel"
They hold dual citizenship and speak both Arabic and Hebrew fluently. The small Samaritan community in Nablus sees itself as the custodian of the "true religion of the Israelites". Its members support a two-state solution, yet deliberately distance themselves from the Middle East conflict. Laura Overmeyer paid them a visit
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Syrian refugee childrenA lost generation in the making
In the Jordanian village of Manshia, a German NGO has set up a kindergarten for traumatised Syrian refugee children. Here, they can leave their horrible past behind and learn how to be children again. Laura Overmeyer visited the kindergarten
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The X-Games skaters in PalestineIf at first you don't succeed
The city of Qalqilya in the north-west of the West Bank is walled in on three sides by the Israeli separation barrier. A group of young local skaters called the "X-Games" is fighting for more space, freedom of movement and a way to break out of the stuffy, conservative atmosphere. Laura Overmeyer reports from Qalqilya
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The Palestinian Circus SchoolSpreading hope and fostering inclusion
Pupils at the Palestinian Circus School don't just learn how to somersault and juggle, their training gives them the chance to transform their negative energy into self-confidence, creativity and hope – no mean feat in a country where children and young people have to cope with the harsh realities of violence and military occupation. Laura Overmeyer paid the school a visit
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Interview with the Syrian Writer Rosa Yassin HassanTouched by Magic
Until a few months ago, Rosa Yassin Hassan was filing daily reports on the war in Syria in her blog, "Diary of the Syrian Revolution". Her accounts detailed both the suffering of civilians and the brutal acts committed by both the regime and the opposition. Persecuted by the regime, she fled to Germany in the autumn of 2012. Laura Overmeyer spoke to her
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The Case of SomaliaPirates, Warlords, and Islamists
Over the past few years, interest in the fate of Somalia has increasingly faded into the background. And as books about the country are a scarce commodity, it is all the more welcome that Marc Engelhardt is now sharing his wealth of experience and solid knowledge about Somalia. By Laura Overmeyer
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Islamic Streetwear from the German ''Styleislam'' LabelModern, Rebellious, and Pleasing in the Sight of God
Melih Kesmen designs Islamic fashion, which has brought him a great deal of international success. Laura Overmeyer relates how Kesmen, a German Muslim, developed his spontaneous idea into a successful concept and how fashion can be used to promote interreligious dialogue