Most recent articles by Marian Brehmer
-
Spain and Ibn Arabi′s heritageThe great master of Murcia
Ibn Arabi was born 850 years ago in Murcia. The influence of this mystic on Islamic spirituality was second to none. Nevertheless, few in modern-day Spain have even heard of him. An account by Marian Brehmer
-
Interview with the Iranian filmmaker Ayat Najafi"Freedom starts in the mind"
In his two documentary films, Ayat Najafi has focused on women who are fighting for change in Iran. Marian Brehmer talked to him about his projects and the difficulties faced by Iranian filmmakers
-
The Iranian singer Mahsa Vahdat"Every place can be my stage"
Mahsa Vahdat is not only one of the finest woman singers in Iran, she has also dedicated herself to the preservation of the female voice in classical Iranian music. Marian Brehmer listened to her new album "Traces of an old vineyard"
-
Sufis in AfghanistanThe forgotten mystics of the Hindu Kush
Sufism has shaped Afghan society and politics for much of the country's history. Today, very few are aware of this legacy. Might the Sufis now provide an important contribution to the stability of the country? By Marian Brehmer
-
Art and performance project "The Forgotten"Focusing attention on hidden realities
Once upon a time in a land far away, there existed a storytelling tradition known as "naghali". Iranian artist Golnar Tabibzadeh was inspired by this tradition to combine art and storytelling for her project "The Forgotten", which tells some of the heart-rending personal stories behind the daily news. Marian Brehmer spoke to the artist about her project and the Iranian art scene
-
Interview with Michael Dreyer of the Osnabruck Morgenland FestivalA hub connecting the Orient and the Occident
The Osnabruck Morgenland Festival has acquired a reputation for top-class Oriental music. Marian Brehmer spoke to the festival's founder, Michael Dreyer, about the challenges of organising the annual festival, and how un-political a festival of the Orient can be
-
Film review: "Desert Dancer"Dancing around clichés
The film "Desert Dancer" tells the story of an Iranian dancer in a land where dancing is not permitted. Audiences are once again presented with a biased picture of a complex country. Marian Brehmer watched the film and questions the tendency of filmmakers to portray Iran in an exclusively negative light
-
Interview with Kinan Azmeh and Dima Orsho"All we can do is sing and play our hearts out"
Clarinettist Kinan Azmeh and soprano Dima Orsho, friends since childhood, are two of the most talented musicians to emerge from the Damascus music scene. Marian Brehmer talked to the two Syrian musicians at the Morgenland Festival in Osnabruck about playing music in times of war and misery
-
Interview with Yehuda Shaul"The treatment of the Palestinians is the biggest threat to Israel"
Yehuda Shaul, a former soldier in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), is one of the founders of the Israeli NGO Breaking the Silence. Marian Brehmer talked to him about Operation Protective Edge and the link between the Gaza war and the occupation of the Palestinian territories
-
Portrait: the singer Cigdem AslanSongs of the outcasts
Rebetiko is a musical genre that describes the emotionally charged songs of Greeks who were expelled from Turkey in the wake of the population exchange of 1923. Cigdem Aslan, a young Kurd from London, lends her powerful voice to the stories behind these songs. By Marian Brehmer
-
Interview with the political theorist Rajeev Bhargava"The BJP has to give up its obsession with Muslims"
India's new ruling party has earned itself the reputation of inciting communal tension, and its leader has been accused of turning a blind eye to anti-Muslim violence. Marian Brehmer spoke to India's leading political scientist, Rajeev Bhargava, about Narendra Modi's electoral victory, Hindu–Muslim relations and secularism
-
Book review: Jürgen Wasim Frembgen on KohistanWith the wild men of Kohistan
Very few foreigners have ever ventured into Kohistan in the north of Pakistan, where the locals have a reputation of being barbarians. In his book "Das verschlossene Tal" (The Sealed Valley), the German ethnologist Jürgen Wasim Frembgen paints an exhilarating portrait of this mountain region. By Marian Brehmer