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Anti-colonialism"Palestine reveals the limits of international solidarity"
Why do African publics stand so firmly with Palestine while many of their governments court Israel? Algerian researcher Raouf Farrah traces the answer to the continent's anti-colonial past, and to the gap between popular solidarity and state diplomacy.
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German state electionsMigrants face a shifting political reality
The far-right AfD made historic gains in September's state elections, while the Left Party came out on top in Berlin for the first time. Migrants across the country are now considering what the results could mean for their everyday lives and futures.
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"Postmuslim" by Youssef RakhaOne author, multiple selves
"Postmuslim" is an intimate new collection of essays in English by Youssef Rakha. The Egyptian author explores his complex relationship with the West while tracing his intellectual evolution over several decades.
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Education and climate in YemenToo hot for class
In Houthi-controlled Yemen, the decision to schedule the school year by the Hijri calendar has pushed classes earlier into the harshest heat of summer. For students this has compounded the impact of climate change, posing health risks and driving up dropout rates.
Politics
More about Politics-
Gilbert Achcar on the impact of 9/11"The Iraq War shattered the promise of a new world order"
The attacks of 11 September 2001 fundamentally altered US foreign policy and triggered a series of wars that have reshaped the Middle East. 25 years on, Gilbert Achcar reflects on the US response to 9/11 and its enduring impact on the region.
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Taliban in AfghanistanPower consolidated, society reshaped
In the five years since regaining power, the Taliban have cemented their rule in Afghanistan, bringing armed conflict in the country to a relative lull. Their ambitions go beyond maintaining control: they are seeking to transform the country from the bottom up.
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The grim legacy of the Yugoslav WarsReflecting 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
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Endemic anti-Ahmadiyya discriminationPakistan's "Commission for Minorities" without the Ahmadis
Pakistan’s conduct towards the Ahmadis and its obsession with religious identity is symptomatic of the radicalisation of society that permeates all areas of life and is reflected in the laws of the land, says Mohammad Luqman
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Fourth Brussels Syria ConferenceAfter nine years of war, who is helping the Syrians?
Twelve million Syrians are dependent on humanitarian aid, a sombre figure that conceals much suffering and high costs, of which Europe bears 80%. With an aid shortfall looming, the EU is mobilising donations and counting on civil society. Christian Hanelt argues that Brussels must take a stronger stance politically if the suffering is to stop
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Political transition on the Bosphorus?Turkey's "woke" Generation Z haunts President Erdogan
Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seeking to win over the millions of young Turks who will soon be of voting age. Yet many of the country's youth are in rebellious mood and openly reject him and his policies. By Sinem Ozdemir and Daniel Derya Bellut
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Mask diplomacy and power politicsErdogan's foreign policy in the shadow of coronavirus
In the age of corona, Ankara's regional power strategy is twofold: on the one hand, Turkey is engaged in a charm offensive to revamp its political image, which has suffered lately in certain quarters. On the other, President Erdogan is pursuing a tough policy of interests backed up by military force. By Ronald Meinardus
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Corruption in the Arab worldWhy are most Arabs so prepared to trust the military?
Why do so many people in Arab countries trust the armed forces, even though most armies in the region are highly corrupt? Abdalhadi Alijla has the answers
Society
More about Society-
Turkish women's association Havle"White secular women do not have a monopoly on feminism"
The Muslim queer-feminist group Havle uses religious arguments to challenge discrimination. Facing growing hostility and, most recently, arrests, two members speak about the struggle for LGBTQ rights in the country.
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Detainees in northeast SyriaWhat will happen to the women and children of al-Roj camp?
Deteriorating conditions are fuelling tensions at al-Roj camp, where people with alleged links to IS have spent years in detention. As control of the camp shifts to the Syrian central government, uncertainty grows over their future and prospects of returning home.
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The iniquity of the kafala systemLebanon's migrant workers – exploited, then abandoned
Foreign employees in Lebanon have been working for months without pay. Many have been cast out into the streets by their employers, and others are in forced labour. Their embassies have refused to help them. Most of them want only one thing, to finally go home. By Sandra Wolf
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Sauti – Africa young feminist blogGiving a voice to young African women during coronavirus
The end of July saw the launch of the African Union’s "Sauti" digital publication, the first young feminist platform in Africa, which this year showcases stories by female youth on their initiatives and their challenges in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Alessandra Bajec reports
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Interview with political scientist Tobias ZumbraegelHow are Middle East countries coping with climate change?
Climate change, water scarcity and declining oil revenues: the Middle East and North Africa face huge environmental challenges. Political scientist Tobias Zumbraegel has published a study on how the region is dealing with these pressing issues. Interview by Christopher Resch
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Aftermath of the Beirut explosion"Revolution is born out of suffering"
Following the explosion in the port of Beirut, the Lebanese are united in their anger with the politicians. Volunteers are sweeping up broken glass and removing rubble and stones from houses. While the political scene is trying to sort itself out, it is the Lebanese people who are rebuilding the country. Julia Neumann reports from Beirut
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Islam in the NetherlandsBurka ban and face mask laws frustrate Dutch Muslims
One year after the burka ban in the Netherlands, Muslim women are reporting increased discrimination and violence. Adding to the frustration, face masks against coronavirus have become mandatory on Dutch public transport. By Ingrid Gercama and Sanne Derks
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Beirut in crisisCan things get any worse for the people of Lebanon?
In Lebanon the economy is going downhill at an ever faster rate. The Lebanese are fighting the dramatic effects of the crisis with barter exchanges and joint projects. Apart from that, all they have left is black humour to endure the situation. Tom Allinson reports from Beirut
Culture
More about Culture-
Arthouse film in MoroccoKeeping Tangier's cinematic history alive
20 years ago, the historic Cinema Rif in Tangier was renovated and reopened as the Cinémathèque de Tanger, one of the few arthouse cinemas in North Africa today. Elisa Pierandrei traces its history and place in Morocco's vibrant film culture.
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Remembering Sliman MansourThe artist behind a Palestinian icon
"Camel of Hardship" by Sliman Mansour, who died on 24 August, is one of the most recognisable images in Palestinian art. Asmaa al-Ghoul tells how it came to appear on walls across the country and why it remains deeply embedded in collective memory.
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Non-fiction: Dunya Mikhailʹs "The Beekeeper"Rescuing the stolen women
In a harrowing compilation of true stories charting the fate of women abducted by IS in Iraq, Dunya Mikhail shows how the best of human qualities can persist even in the worst of times. Marcia Lynx Qualey read the book
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The history of jazz in IranCreating a confluence
Jazz made its way into Iran, along with a host of other foreign influences, during the 1960s. In the decade that followed, the music's exposure on Iranian radio helped it achieve a measure of popularity – until the Islamic Revolution came along, a social caesura that brought a long-term ban on secular music. By Bernd G. Schmitz
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Gazaʹs cultural heritageThe Palestinians' vanishing legacy
As well as giving the nod to the reckless redevelopment of ancient historical sites, Hamas and its de-facto government have also been fingered in the disappearance of countless archaeological finds. Gazan activists, archaeologists and historians are now fighting to protect what remains of their Palestinian heritage. By Abdalhadi Alijla
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The Book of ExpositionAn archaeology of erotica
Nowadays credited to a fifteenth-century Egyptian polymath called Jalal adʹDin al-Suyuti, "The Book of Exposition" is an exploration of promiscuity under the societal constraints of the Arab-Islamic world, using bawdy and salacious scenarios to stimulate and evoke fantasies in the readerʹs mind. By Sherif Dhaimish
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Photographer Charlotte SchmitzBetween documentation and activism
Charlotte Schmitz is one of the most significant emerging photographers of our times, capturing refugees, Erdogan supporters and sex workers on camera. She travels the world and lets her protagonists shape their own images. By Ceyda Nurtsch
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Album review: Imarhanʹs "Temet"Keeping it real
With their second album, "Temet", Imarhan has achieved something of an organic progression from the traditional Tamasheq sound, melding musical influences – absorbed from an increasingly urbanised existence – to create something new. Review by Richard Marcus
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