Islam in the Balkans

Kirkpinar: Turkey's annual oil wrestling tournament
Kirkpinar: Turkey's annual oil wrestling tournament

Held each year in late June or early July in Turkey's northwestern town of Edirne, Kirkpinar – on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list since 2010 – is officially recognised as the longest continuously running sporting competition in the world. By Konstantin Novakovic
Islam and tolerance

Albania's Bektashi Muslims

In Albania, where most Muslims live a pretty secular life, it would seem that praying and drinking go hand-in-hand. Nevertheless, over a hundred Albanians still went to fight for Islamic State. By Karin A. Wenger with photos by Philipp Breu
Dayton, Putin, the EU

Bosnia and Herzegovina's 30-year struggle

Separatists continue to threaten to destroy Bosnia & Herzegovina. A look back indicates the tiny western Balkan state is lacking democracy, the rule of law, prosperity and the prospect of being integrated into the EU soon. By Rudiger Rossig
Bulgaria's Muslim minority

Bulgarian Pomaks keep traditional wedding rite alive

A wedding extravaganza of bright colours, flowers, feasting and dancing, yet the bride, Nefie Eminkova, who comes from Bulgaria's Pomak – Muslim – minority, can see none of it. Her eyes must remain tightly closed until the imam gives his blessing.
Muslim miners in Bosnia break their fast underground

Muslim men engaged in long hours of hard labour deep underground in a coal mine in Bosnia still find the strength to fast. Kemal Softic accompanied them down the mine
The grim legacy of the Yugoslav Wars

Reflecting on Srebrenica – genocide denial concerns us all

Protecting the truth from deniers and serving justice for victims of the Srebrenica genocide is our best bet to prevent genocides from occurring again, writes Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Dunja Mijatovic
Muslims in Bosnia Herzegovina

Help is at hand

In Bosnia Herzegovina Islam has been part of Europe for centuries. But in the debate surrounding Islam, little consideration is given to the experience of Bosnian Muslims. Nedad Memic considers this approach short-sighted
Juergen Habermas awarded Kluge Prize for Philosophy

″Asylum is a human right″

What holds society together and what's our role in it? Philosophers Juergen Habermas and Charles Taylor have recently been honoured in the US for their work on these issues. By Klaus Kraemer and Stefan Reccius
Debate on European Islam

A Mined Terrain

The concept of European Islam has proved to be a constant source of controversy. For some it embodies the deliverance of Islam from everything that is perceived as backward looking and pre-modern. Others fear that a European Islam is a watered-down religion, a kind of government-controlled "state Islam", prepared to fully accommodate to the wishes of the authorities. By Claudia Mende
''Euro-Islam''

Too Diverse to Domesticate

Since 9/11, Europe has been debating whether the principles of Islam are compatible with European culture and values. Could ‘Bosnian Islam’ be the model? Or should Europe avoid trying to domesticate Islam altogether?