Qantara Startseite Englisch - Dialogue with the Islamic world
-
Comic book author Joe Sacco"Gaza was where the West went to die"
Trailblazing cartoonist and journalist Joe Sacco reflects on Western coverage of the war on Gaza, oral histories, and comics as a medium for critical journalism.
-
Post-Assad Syria"Let freedom of the press be enshrined as sacrosanct"
The collapse of the Assad regime must not only mark the end of an era steeped in fear and oppression, but it must also serve as the dawn of a new chapter in the country’s history. Syrian independent media outlets publish their demands to the new government.
-
ICC arrest warrantsWhat the Netanyahu warrant can teach us about international law
Arrest warrants issued against Israeli leaders are putting international law to the test. Do Western states only support UN courts when it serves their interests? Can the "principle of universal jurisdiction" save international criminal justice?
-
Israel in new Merkel memoir "Freedom"Merkel's reason of state
When Angela Merkel used the word "Staatsräson" in a 2008 speech to the Israeli Knesset, she may not have expected the enduring intensity of the debate it would ignite. In the new memoir "Freedom", the former chancellor reveals her idealised view of Israel, and her reluctance to acknowledge Palestinian perspectives.
From our archive: Christmas in Islam
Politics
More about Politics-
Trump and the Gulf StatesSkeptical optimism in the Gulf
Saudi Arabia and the Emirates hope to reap economic benefits from the Trump presidency. But the Gulf has learned that Washington cannot be relied upon. Meanwhile, the Saudis could push Trump to take a tougher stance towards Israel.
-
Dawn of a new eraZero hour in Syria
After more than half a century in power, the Assad regime has fallen. The end of one of recent history's most brutal dictatorships has sparked both joy and deep uncertainty about the country's future. Who are Syria's most powerful factions? And are there any "good guys"?
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
Turkey′s EU accession negotiationsThe big freeze
With Turkey maintaining an ever greater distance from the European Union, the EU needs to reconsider its options. Analysis by Nassir Djafari
-
Guest columnist Ilja TrojanowIt′s not a black and white world!
Viewing the world in absolute terms only serves to encourage propaganda and make simplistic scenarios seem like real solutions. The current public discourse on the refugee crisis is like a piece of political satire, says Ilija Trojanow
-
Press freedom in TurkeyWriting in a state of fear
Turkish journalists have been detained for their independent reporting, ahead of the international book fair in Istanbul. It takes courage to be a journalist in Turkey, writes Cigdem Akyol
Society
More about Society-
Podcast with Qantara author Emran Feroz"The question is: which human rights do the Taliban not violate?"
In August 2021, the USA and its allies withdrew from Afghanistan. Emran Feroz joins the "Deep Dive" podcast to shed light on the human rights situation in the country after three years of Taliban rule.
-
Syrians in Germany"We have suffered at the hands of this regime, its fall unites us"
Stunned by the sudden collapse of the Assad regime, Syrians take their joy to the streets of Berlin. Some have already started planning their return home.
-
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
-
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
-
Interview with Chen AlonBetween the lines
Chen Alon is a teacher at Tel Aviv University, theatre director and co-founder of the NGO Combatants for Peace. In an interview with Fabian Ebeling he talks about how politics in Israel are affecting the cultural sphere and the work of left-wing organisations
-
Transgender activism in PakistanThe dynamic third gender
In times of increasing radicalisation, minorities and those who occupy society's niches and in-between realms can become prime targets, as the attack last weekend on a gay nightclub in Florida so painfully demonstrated. Recently, however, on the other side of the globe in South Asia, there have also been some astounding breakthroughs. By Sara-Duana Meyer
-
Protecting women from violence in JordanFor a self-determined life
Under pressure from women′s organisations, several women′s refuges for survivors of domestic violence have been set up in Amman. As long as the state continues to offer insufficient protection, initiatives like Lina Khalifeh′s "Shefighter" will focus on strengthening the individual. By Claudia Mende in Amman
-
The IftarlendarAn "Advent calendar" for Ramadan
First there was the Advent calendar. Now, with the so-called "Iftarlendar," Muslims can also prepare themselves for one of their most important holidays, the feast of Eid al-Fitr marking the end of the fast. And it only takes 30 windows. By Uta Steinwehr
Culture
More about Culture-
Tunisia's Carthage Film FestivalDecolonial cinema
The Carthage Film Festival in Tunis aims to counter the Global North's dominance in the world of film. Until Sunday, a diverse range of films from Africa and West Asia will be screened. But can the festival truly fulfil its own ambitions?
-
Palestinian director Dima Hamdan"There is no pride when gay men are blackmailed"
Winner of the prestigious Iris Film Prize, Dima Hamdan's short film "Blood like Water" addresses how Israel uses the social stigma of homosexuality in Palestinian society to blackmail gay men.
-
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
-
Book review: Uri Shani's "Nemashim" theatre projectCreating a level playing field
In his book, the Israeli theatre director and drama teacher Uri Shani describes the ups and downs of an Arab–Hebrew community theatre project known as "Nemashim". Julie Schwannecke read the book and spoke with the author
-
The X-Games skaters in PalestineIf at first you don't succeed
The city of Qalqilya in the north-west of the West Bank is walled in on three sides by the Israeli separation barrier. A group of young local skaters called the "X-Games" is fighting for more space, freedom of movement and a way to break out of the stuffy, conservative atmosphere. Laura Overmeyer reports from Qalqilya
-
Iranian musician Shahram NazeriThe Persian nightingale and the flowers of hope
Shahram Nazeri is the undisputed master of setting Rumi's poetry to music. At a recent concert in Teheran, the renowned musician sang his audience into a state of ecstasy and gave voice to the Iranians' hopes for a brighter cultural future. After several barren years, the cultural scene is indeed showing tentative signs of change. By Massoud Schirazi
-
Nefin Dinc's documentary "The Other Town"
A universal story of ethnic hatred
Two towns – one in Turkey, the other in Greece – similar yet infused by mutual dislike. Birgi and Dimitsana are both "the other town" in Turkish film-maker Nefin Dinc's eponymous prize-winning documentary, which investigates the mutual animosity between two towns.
-
TV Satirist Bassem Youssef"People should be able to listen to different opinions"
The political satire show "AlBernameg" attracted millions of Arab viewers each week before it was suddenly cancelled in November 2013. On Friday 7 February 2014, it returned to Egyptian TV screens on MBC Egypt. Jaafar Abdul-Karim and Khalid El Kaoutit spoke to its host and star, Bassem Youssef
From the Syria archive: Assad's regime of terror
750th anniversary of Rumi's death
750th anniversary of Rumi's death - Qantara.de
Most read articles
-
Comic-Autor Joe Sacco
„Der Westen starb in Gaza“
-
90 Jahre Fairuz
Lieder über einen perfekten Libanon, den es nie gab
-
Repräsentationsdefizit in den Nahoststudien
Alte Strukturen, neue Realitäten
-
Rumis Todestag in Konya
Sufismus zwischen Tradition und Lifestyle
-
Sex-Tourismus in Ägypten
Braut für einen Sommer
-
IStGH und "Weltrechtsprinzip"
Was der Netanjahu-Haftbefehl über das Völkerstrafrecht lehrt