Women in the Islamic world
All topics-
Morgenland Festival Osnabruck
Countering patriarchal cliches
Focusing on music from the Levant to Central Asia, Osnabruck's Morgenland Festival occupies a special place in the German festival landscape. Prior to the 18th festival, which begins on 21 June, Stefan Franzen spoke to festival manager Michael Dreyer about the musical concept, the political dimension, and whether the term 'Morgenland' [engl. 'the East', 'Orient'] is still in keeping with the times
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Saudi Arabia's cultural revolution
Artists, but not individuals in the Western sense
"Saudi Vision 2030" foresees the accelerated modernisation of Saudi Arabia – and that includes the country’s culture. Huge amounts of government funding are being poured into the arts, while exchange with the West is welcomed. These new freedoms do, however, have their limits, as Joseph Croitoru reports.
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"Something Strange, Like Hunger" by Malika Moustadraf
Feminist and literary activist
The Moroccan author Malika Moustadraf (1969 - 2006) wrote about sexuality, patriarchy and women's rights in her texts. When she died from chronic kidney disease aged just 37, she left behind an exciting, little-known literary legacy. By Melanie Christina Mohr
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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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Sudan: War on women
Abducted and raped
Sudanese women are paying a particularly high price for the war that has now lasted more than six weeks. Sexual violence – committed by all parties – has skyrocketed. By Karim El-Gawhary
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750th anniversary of Rumi’s death – Part 2
A message of love, tolerance and peace
How is Rumi’s legacy preserved in the Mevlevi order today? An interview with Sufi Master Hayat Nur Artiran from Istanbul. By Marian Brehmer
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Turkish elections
Can Turkey's Gen Z tip the scales?
In Turkey's presidential and parliamentary elections on 14 May, one in five eligible voters will be under the age of 30. What does Generation Z want, and will it end up deciding the elections? By Ceyda Nurtsch
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Generation Erdogan
More than 5 million young Turks to vote for the first time
Some 5.2 million young Turks will vote for the first time in the May 14 presidential and legislative elections, and they could be key to deciding the country’s future
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Young entrepreneurs in Yemen
Coffee production offers a fresh perspective
War has been raging in Yemen for eight years, decimating the country's economy. Unexpectedly, entrepreneurial spirit in Yemen in flourishing, especially in the coffee sector. By Mona Al-Asaadi
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Freedom of speech in Lebanon
Jail? Don't make me laugh!
In June 2022, Lebanese comedian Shaden Fakih was court-martialled for allegedly humiliating the security forces. She talked to Lena Bopp about coming out on live television, sexism on the comedy scene and the changes in her country
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Tourism in Saudi Arabia
Journey to al-Ula
Saudi Arabia used to be more isolated than North Korea. Now the country is presenting its friendly face to the world and wooing Western tourists. Text by Karin A. Wenger, photos by Philipp Breu
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Iran protests
What the Islamic Republic's propaganda tells us
Challenging one of the Islamic Republic's most identifiable symbols – the hijab – with some breathtaking, iconographic feminist art, Iran's activists have wrested ownership away from the clerics with regard to who represents the nation, defines its present and shapes its future. Essay by Kevin L. Schwartz & Olmo Goelz