Media in the Arab World
All topics-
War propaganda in Israel and the Arab world
Spewing poison in both directions
In addition to the actual warfare in Gaza, another, lesser known burden is weighing on the prospects for a better future in the Middle East. Influential media channels are lending support to the most radical forces on both sides of the conflict
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Women in Iraq
Breaking down barriers and pushing for independence
After two incredibly tough decades for women since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, it is now cool to be young and female in Iraq. A report from Baghdad
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Gaza's rich historical heritage under threat
Forgotten or destroyed
The war between Israel and Hamas has brought the Gaza Strip and the suffering of the people who live there to the attention of the world. But few are aware that this tiny strip of land boasts a wealth of historical sites
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Israel-Hamas war
Arab attitudes are hardening against Israel
The prospect of normalised relations between Israel and Arab nations is fading as public anger at Israel's on-going bombardment of Gaza grows. Could it lead to radicalisation or violent extremism in the Middle East?
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Algeria – wasteland for Arabic literature
Big Brother is watching you
In May 2023, Algerian author Said Khatibi won the prestigious Sheikh Zayed Award in the young author category for his historical crime novel "Nihayat al-Sahra'" – in English, 'the End of the Sahara'. Claudia Mende caught up with Khatibi in Abu Dhabi for Qantara.de
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Jordan's new cybercrime law
Heading towards Internet censorship
Jordan's controversial new cybercrime law, now ratified by the king, could have serious consequences for freedom of expression, political participation and the digital economy. By Abdullah Jbour
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Netflix series "Queen Cleopatra"
Controversial patchwork history
The decision by Netflix' latest documentary series to portray Cleopatra as an Egyptian and thereby an African ruler is partly aimed at rehabilitating her as a historical figure. But good intentions don't always produce good results, as Shady Lewis Botros argues
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Vlogging and Arab family values
"Filming every moment"
Household labour has become popular viewing in Arab cultures where the distribution of such tasks is among the world’s most inequitable. Indeed, family vloggers' urge to "film every moment" may well prove the most politically significant content of all. By Kaitlyn Hashem
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Israel's National Guard
Itamar-Ben Gvir's controversial plans
A debate is raging in Israel over the establishment of a National Guard. The project, which raises concerns about the minister in charge forming his own "private militia", is not really new, nor is it feasible as envisaged, observes Joseph Croitoru
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Data centre plans in Saudi Arabia
Google puts Saudi activists in danger
Internet giant Google is creating a "cloud region" in Saudi Arabia. It says it will protect users there. But digital rights activists say the firm will be putting the lives of government critics at risk. Cathrin Schaer reports
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Islam in the modern world
The rise and rise of Muslim influencers
In recent decades, Muslim piety has gone through a number of qualitative transformations, the most prominent of which is the emerging phenomenon of "Islamic influencers", which represents a new type of Islamic religiousness that combines globalisation and the values of Western modernity and is easy and effortless. By Ahmad Saif al-Nasr
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Middle East
How cybercrime laws are used to silence dissent
Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are among those countries increasingly misusing cybercrime legislation to silence dissent and curb freedom of speech. Could a new global cybercrime framework under UN supervision save regime critics? Jennifer Holleis reports