Qantara Startseite Englisch - Dialogue with the Islamic world
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Reform of Iraq's Personal Status LawAre Shiite forces on the verge of victory?
The Personal Status Law in Iraq encompasses regulations on marriage, divorce, child custody, inheritance and more. It could soon be amended, with dramatic consequences for women's and children's rights. Feminists and left-leaning political parties have mobilised to defend it.
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UAE in GazaSecuring a role in the postwar plan
The United Arab Emirates is supplying vital humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza. Behind the scenes, it is working closely with Israel and the US to plan for the future of the enclave—and to secure a role for itself—once the war is over.
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Book “111 Places in Berlin That Teach Us About Islam”Searching for traces of Muslim life in Berlin
The historic Şehitlik cemetery in Kreuzberg, the queer-friendly Ibn Rushd-Goethe mosque in Moabit, the Muslim community's poetry slam i-Slam: Islam is part of Berlin's history, politics and everyday life.
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Album "Mute" by El KhatOn the edge of anarchy
The Berlin-based Yemenite-Israeli band El Khat use handmade instruments to create a chaotic blend of styles and traditions. Behind the raucous noise, they explore themes of silencing, conflict and displacement.
Politics
More about Politics-
Hezbollah's new leader Naim QassemStepping out of Nasrallah's shadow
Naim Qassem is a veteran of Hezbollah in Lebanon. A member since its foundation, he could never escape the shadow of Nasrallah. Now, he's the boss, and a man the Israeli government says is living with a death sentence.
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UAE in GazaSecuring a role in the postwar plan
The United Arab Emirates is supplying vital humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza. Behind the scenes, it is working closely with Israel and the US to plan for the future of the enclave—and to secure a role for itself—once the war is over.
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Middle East policy under Donald TrumpReturn of the dictators
Just how the Trump administration will handle the thorny issue of the Middle East remains to be seen. Trump's policy of non-intervention and "pragmatic" alliances with authoritarian rulers is, however, likely to encourage the return of repressive dictatorships, lending them apparent respectability in exchange for guarantees of stability. By Rene Wildangel
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Military force and drone warfarePost-truth victims
During the Obama era, the world witnessed what could be referred to as the 'dronification' of killing. Gone are combatant status, war goals and the option of negotiation. No prisoners are taken; people are just killed and anyone who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time just gets killed along with them. By Charlotte Wiedemann
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Charges against Bashar al-AssadHis turn will come
Six German lawyers are bringing a case against Syrian leader Assad for war crimes and crimes against humanity. It may sound naive, but it is a long-overdue step in international law enforcement – and Germany is the perfect venue. By Kristin Helberg
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Syrian conflictThe price of acceptance
Allied to the Assad regime in the Syrian conflict, Iran has been luring its Afghan refugee population to sign up for the war with promises of high wages and residence permits for their families. By Shabnam von Hein
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Libya′s domestic crisisOn the road to nowhere
Libya′s domestic crisis, which has been rumbling on since the outbreak of civil war in the summer of 2014, has peaked this year. With a gamut of issues – political, social, security and financial – confronting the country, Libya is more divided than ever. Houda Mzioudet writes from Tunis
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Interview with Sihem Bensedrine"We mustn't forget what happened!"
Tens of thousands of people who suffered at the hands of Ben Ali's dictatorship have made submissions for compensation to the Tunisian Truth and Dignity Commission. The first public hearings were held in mid November. Sarah Mersch spoke to Sihem Bensedrine, president of the commission
Society
More about Society-
Reform of Iraq's Personal Status LawAre Shiite forces on the verge of victory?
The Personal Status Law in Iraq encompasses regulations on marriage, divorce, child custody, inheritance and more. It could soon be amended, with dramatic consequences for women's and children's rights. Feminists and left-leaning political parties have mobilised to defend it.
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Tareq Sydiq’s book “The New Protest Culture”Can protests transform society?
From Iran to the Last Generation, citizens in democracies and dictatorships alike are taking to the streets. Tareq Sydiq analyses these uprisings and asks why some fail while others dramatically change the system.
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Germany′s first Arabic newspaper for refugeesNewcomers, not refugees
"Abwab" – the Arabic for doors - is the name of the first and so far the only Arabic newspaper for refugees in Germany. It aims to provide information and serve as a platform for discussing integration-related issues. Ceyda Nurtsch spoke to publisher Ramy al-Asheq
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Interview with the Croatian-German writer Jagoda Marinic″Cultural identity is not absolute″
"Made in Germany" is a label that sells. But when it comes to people, how German is Germany today? Croatian-German author Jagoda Marinic explains why identity is fluid – and the far-right so dangerous. Interview by Srecko Matic
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Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al MaktoumDubai′s fairytale prince
Dubai's Crown Prince is a star on Instagram. With some 3.5 million subscribers, he has long since overtaken royals such as Prince William and Kate. Moreover he emphasises Islamic values. Yet for all the glamour and posturing, there′s no denying that the Emirate keeps a tight rein on freedom of speech. By Mey Dudin
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Tunisia's TV spoofLook who's coming to dinner!
This Ramadan, opinions are divided over a hidden camera television show being broadcast in Tunisia. The presumed protagonist: the former ruler Ben Ali. Does the programme trivialise the dictatorship, or is it an intelligent wake-up call? By Sarah Mersch in Tunis
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Islamism in GermanyJihad in the schoolyard
Many young people are getting caught up in the Islamist scene. Why – and how can they be protected from it? Details from Arnfrid Schenk
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Azraq refugee campCaptives of the desert
The Azraq refugee camp sits just off the highway, deep in the Jordanian desert. Lorries, on their way to Baghdad, thunder past along the so-called "road of death", the endless, pothole-pitted eastbound desert dirt track. Visitors are rare. By Dana Ritzmann
Culture
More about Culture-
Book “111 Places in Berlin That Teach Us About Islam”Searching for traces of Muslim life in Berlin
The historic Şehitlik cemetery in Kreuzberg, the queer-friendly Ibn Rushd-Goethe mosque in Moabit, the Muslim community's poetry slam i-Slam: Islam is part of Berlin's history, politics and everyday life.
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Album "Mute" by El KhatOn the edge of anarchy
The Berlin-based Yemenite-Israeli band El Khat use handmade instruments to create a chaotic blend of styles and traditions. Behind the raucous noise, they explore themes of silencing, conflict and displacement.
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The Lebanese magazine "The Outpost"Road map to an uncensored world
The pan-Arab magazine "The Outpost" is produced on a quarterly basis in Beirut. Only one year after its establishment, it is already attracting international attention. Astrid Kaminski took a closer look at the magazine and spoke to its editor-in-chief, Ibrahim Nehme, about its success
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Syria's opposition writersFighting oppression and censorship
Syrian writers in exile have founded a new association. Their aim is to continue their country's rich literary tradition and to use the pen to fight for political and cultural change and freedom of speech in Syria. By Joseph Croitoru
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Book review: "Contemporary Artists – Arab World"Perceptions of reality
The book "Contemporary Artists – Arab World" shows how different Arab artists have reacted to the upheaval in their countries. By Kersten Knipp
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Interview with Iranian filmmaker Reza DormishianThe rage of an entire generation on screen
The film "Asabani Nistam!" (I'm not angry!) was the only Iranian entry at this year's Berlinale film festival. On screen, young Iranians vent their anger and frustration at the day-to-day economic hardship and the general hopelessness of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's term as president. Igal Avidan spoke to the director and producer Reza Dormishian
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Obituary: Lebanese poet Ounsi el-HageOne of the founders of Arab surrealism
Last month, the Lebanese poet Ounsi el-Hage died at the age of 77. Alongside Adonis and Mahmoud Darwish, he was one of the pioneers of modern Arabic poetry. An obituary by Suleman Taufiq
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Mehran Tamadon's documentary "Iranien"A bold experiment
In Mehran Tamadon's new documentary, the director enters into a debate with four loyal supporters of the regime, who better him in every aspect of the discussion. Igal Avidan saw the film at the Berlinale
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Qantara.de: Building bridges to the Islamic world
Building Bridges Across Religions
750th anniversary of Rumi's death
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