Qantara Startseite Englisch - Dialogue with the Islamic world
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"Christ in the Rubble" by Munther IsaacThe Christian case against Gaza's War
Munther Isaac, a pastor in the West Bank, objects to Bible-based justifications for war and describes Gaza as a "moral compass". In a new book, "Christ in the Rubble", he offers views that are polarising without being destructive.
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GazaCaught between starvation and deadly aid centres
In Gaza, survival now means facing not only bombs but also starvation. As some Palestinians risk their lives to receive aid from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, others turn to desperate measures to feed their children.
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Moroccan Gnawa festivalA Sufi tradition on the world stage
A festival in Morocco is bringing Gnawa music to the mainstream. Shaped by migration, slavery and a long struggle for recognition, the once marginalised Sufi tradition is now internationally renowned.
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Morocco-Algeria arms race"The solution requires political courage"
Tensions between Morocco and Algeria are fuelling a frantic arms race. Moroccan researcher Hicham Mouatadid traces the roots of the rivalry and calls for a solution that goes beyond the Western Sahara conflict to address regional security as a whole.
Politics
More about Politics-
Lebanese Civil WarThe postwar that never was
Fifty years since its outbreak, Lebanon's Civil War continues to shape its society and political system. The postwar era has been marked by violence, foreign occupation, political paralysis and economic crisis—raising the question: did the war ever truly end?
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The "New Middle East"Pax Israelia or bellum aeternum?
With the support of the USA, Israel is reshaping the Middle East. Though framed as a path to stability, their strategy risks locking the region into a permanent conflict.
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2024 General election in IndiaA third term for Hindu nationalism?
As the world's largest democracy gets ready to vote in the upcoming general election, Narendra Modi and his BJP look set to win a third consecutive term in power. Critics warn, however, that if the BJP wins another election victory, it will continue reshaping the country into a Hindu state.
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Local elections in TurkeyHow the opposition won
Turkey's economic woes are the reason why so many voters turned against long-sitting President Erdoğan, experts say.
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Voicemail from North Gaza26 minutes of misery
An extract from the diary of Palestinian Ibrahim Kharabishi, who lives with his pregnant wife Nasreen and their three children in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood of Gaza City, where Ibrahim also looks after his two elderly parents
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EU-Egypt agreementDubious deal with Cairo
The EU's planned aid for Egypt will primarily serve to prop up authoritarian rule rather than contribute to the country's long-term stability. Additionally, the EU Commission's procedural approach is highly problematic
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Middle East: Is there a solution to the endless conflict?Welcome to Abraham/Ibrahim
Who invented it? The Swiss. Why it might be worth looking to the Swiss Confederation in the search for a solution to the Middle East conflict
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Arabian PeninsulaDawn of a new era in the Gulf
Political scientist Sebastian Sons describes in his new book how societies on the Arabian Peninsula are undergoing multiple changes simultaneously as they search for a new identity
Society
More about Society-
German academiaWhen neutrality becomes complicity
German scholars of the Middle East often wear the mask of political neutrality. But both Western philosophy and the classical Islamic tradition insist that knowledge carries an ethical duty. A call for moral responsibility.
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Iran at warThe scapegoating of Afghan refugees
Amid conflict with Israel, Tehran's regime is fuelling mistrust of Afghan refugees. Yet they are among those most vulnerable to Israeli air strikes.
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German academia and the war in GazaUniversities must remain places of dialogue
Discussions about the Middle East conflict naturally tend towards polarisation. In Germany, showing empathy for victims of political violence in Israel while drawing attention to the suffering of Gazan and West Bank Palestinians, who bear the brunt of any major confrontation, is a tricky balancing act
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German immigration policyYazidis relive the horror as deportation looms
Recently Germany's "culture of welcome" has given way to a much tougher asylum and immigration policy. Now Yazidi survivors of IS genocide face an uncertain, potentially re-traumatising future
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Gaza war challenges Germany's culture of remembrance"Decent people must take a stand!"
Germany is seeing a lurch to the right in its political discourse and minorities in society are being increasingly stigmatised. A new historical consciousness can counteract these trends, says historian Juergen Zimmerer in interview with Qantara.de
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Pakistan electionWhy are rural women more willing to vote?
During Pakistan's last election in 2018, women from five remote areas of the country were more likely to vote than anywhere else in the country, including big cities
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Interview with Islam expert Felix KoernerThe Pope and the Muslims
Will Pope Francis still be travelling to Riyadh? What will be the outcome of his planned visit to Indonesia? How important is his friendship with Grand Sheikh al-Tayyeb? Interview with Islamic scholar Felix Koerner, five years after the Abu Dhabi document "on human fraternity"
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Women's rights in Saudi ArabiaAisha al-Mana – the first woman to drive a car in Riyadh
When people talk about feminism in the Middle East, they usually mean women in Cairo, Beirut or Damascus. Saudi-Arabia, on the other hand, rarely gets a mention. Local activist Aisha al-Mana proved a trailblazer for women in the region
Culture
More about Culture-
"Carmen" on the Egyptian stageRewritten to fit the patriarchal script
A stage production of "Carmen", adapted from Prosper Mérimée's French novella, has captured the attention of audiences and critics in Cairo. While the French novella portrayed Carmen as a free-spirited rebel, the Egyptian adaptation tells a different story.
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"Dis-orienting the Maghreb" by Sadik RddadPlural identities in colonial Morocco
In his new book, Moroccan scholar Sadik Rddad revisits colonial-era British and American travel writing, challenging Edward Said's view of Orientalism and its flattening of Maghrebi identities.
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Aga Khan Master Musicians' "Nowruz"Sunshine, peace and the smell of home
While intent is always important, it is no guarantee of artistic merit. "Nowruz", the Aga Khan Master Musicians' debut album, is an example of both in perfect synthesis. Richard Marcus had a listen
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Adania Shibli, the Frankfurt Book Fair and the LiBeraturpreisLitprom under fire
Palestinian author Adania Shibli was to have received Litprom's LiBeraturpreis at the Frankfurt Book Fair. Writers from around the world have criticised the organisation in an open letter for postponing the award ceremony. By Nikolas Fischer
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The deserted villages of the soulYavuz Ekinci's new novel
Armenian genocide denial is a great and enduring lie by the Turkish state, characterised by ongoing violence and racism. Yavuz Ekinci takes up the subject in an unsparing and powerful novel: "Das ferne Dorf meiner Kindheit" – 'the distant village of my childhood'. Gerrit Wustmann read the book
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'Assassin's Creed Mirage' goes BaghdadBack to the era of the Caliphs
The "Assassin's Creed" franchise is among the world's most popular video game series. The new release is set in 9th-century Baghdad during the Golden Age of the Abbasid caliphs. By Kristina Reymann-Schneider
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Galeet Dardashti's "Monajat"Dedicated to Muslims and Jews everywhere
Reminding people of the close ties that once bound Muslims and Jews in Iran and elsewhere, American-Iranian vocalist and songwriter Galeet Dardashti's "Monajat" travels through time to transcend seemingly impassable geographical and cultural borders. By Richard Marcus
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10/11, not 9/11New literary agency for a new approach
Specialising in bold, exciting, contemporary Arabic literature, 10/11 literary agents Sandra Hetzl and Katharine Halls talk to Marcia Lynx Qualey about their tastes and selection criteria, how they divide their work, and what they love (and don't) about literary agenting
750th anniversary of Rumi's death
750th anniversary of Rumi's death - Qantara.de
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