Syrian Civil War
All topics-
Assad's rehabilitation
Enforce sanctions instead of normalising the Assad regime
The Arab League's decision to bring Syria back into the fold after 12 years in isolation shocked Syrians the world over. Rebekka Rexhausen examines what led to this development and argues that the West must adhere to a human rights-centred foreign policy to address authoritarianism in Syria
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Counterrevolution in the Arab world
Authoritarianism, a forever scenario?
Calls to normalise relations with the criminal Assad regime, which has killed and displaced millions of Syrians, marks a new phase, namely the victory of the counter-revolutionaries. The old-style Arab regime is back – more brutal and oppressive than ever, as Ali Anouzla explains
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Economic diplomacy
Who wants to invest in Syria now?
Recent events may indicate the world wants to start doing business with Syria again, despite its government being accused of war crimes. But, asks Cathrin Schaer, how likely is it China, the EU and Gulf states will start spending big there?
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Romani-Syrian band Taraf Syriana
Poignant cross-pollination
The idea that Romani musicians have anything in common with their counterparts from Syria may seem far-fetched. Yet, listening to Taraf Syriana's debut album, it seems natural the two musical worlds blend effortlessly together. By Richard Marcus
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Human rights violations under Assad
Syrian state torture on trial
A new trilingual anthology showcases recent efforts to achieve justice for the victims of crimes committed in Syria. The book lends perspective to the trials held in Germany, offers historical and social contextualisation and outlines the limits of this judicial approach. By Rene Wildangel
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Turkish elections
Turkey's Erdogan pushed to historic run-off
Retired civil servant Kemal Kilicdaroglu has pushed President Recep Tayyip Erdogan into an election runoff – the first of the country's post-Ottoman history. It was a bittersweet result that left the opposition leader's supporters frustrated following a heated night of vote counting
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Saudi-Iran rapprochement
A revolutionary resolution for the Middle East?
Saudi Arabia and Iran's reconciliation serves the interests of both sides and represents a major geopolitical shift in the Middle East, writes Maha Yahya. Where all this will lead is still up for discussion, but for the first time in many years, something appears to be changing
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Khaled Jarrar's documentary "Notes on Displacement"
Putting faces to the nameless
Many films exist about the dangerous escape routes people have been taking to reach Europe since 2015 to escape war, conflict and precarious living conditions. In this very personal documentary, Palestinian artist Khaled Jarrar accompanies an old lady from Yarmouk, Syria, who was driven out of Nazareth as a child. By Rene Wildangel
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Syrian refugees in Turkey
A hot button election issue, now more than ever
Turkey has taken in about 5.5 million refugees, many of them Syrians. Ahead of the May 14 parliamentary and presidential elections, almost all parties say they would send Syrians back if elected. By Elmas Topcu
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Turkey-Syria earthquake
Polarising religious narratives
Religious discussions on the causes and aftermath of the earthquake disaster in Turkey and Syria have dominated Arab discourse recently, revealing the urgent need to support marginalised, humanist religious voices and those placing the human above polarisation and the instrumentalisation of events. By Mustafa Karahamad
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Syria earthquake aftermath
Life is a whole lot worse for women
For women in northwestern Syria, the aftermath of the February 6 earthquakes has deepened the trauma of 12 years of war. By Diana Hodali
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Iran-Saudi rapprochement
Cooperation rather than confrontation?
Arch-rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia are to re-establish diplomatic relations thanks to China's mediation. If this rapprochement is serious, the cards in the Middle East will be reshuffled, writes Karim El-Gawhary from Cairo