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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 state, uncertainty grows over their future and prospects of returning home.
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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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Ahmed Isamaldin"Gold is directly connected to the violence in Sudan"
Artist and researcher Ahmed Isamaldin uses satellite imagery to trace how Sudan's gold industry has expanded during the war. His research reveals how the conflict is linked to global supply chains and the commodities we consume.
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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Iranian parliament approves cabinetMoving forward into the past
The cabinet of new Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian has disappointed those who voted for change. Pezeshkian’s voters had only modest expectations – less oppression of women and easier access to the internet – but in the Islamic Republic, everything remains the same.
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Pakistan and the war on GazaCommitment to pan-Islamic solidarity
With a population of 235 million, Pakistan is one of the most populous Islamic countries. There is great solidarity with Palestine among the population. The government views the war on Gaza primarily against the backdrop of the Kashmir conflict.
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India and the Middle East conflictIndia’s arm sales to Israel are a political statement
The ammunition supplies to Israel may bring more support for India within Western capitals. However, the Arab-Israeli crisis continues to shape the future balance of power in the Middle East, mainly against the Western countries and their Gulf allies, states the Indian Middle-East expert Omair Anas.
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Iran and IsraelThe spiral of violence escalates
The assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyah is a drastic event. The Islamic Republic seems determined to take revenge, and a new armed conflict against Israel cannot be ruled out. In addition, everything the new president had promised is obsolete for the time being.
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EU-Arab cooperation for PeaceFrom word to deeds
While all eyes continue to be turned towards the US for decisive action, a potential regional contribution should not be ignored. In this regard, tightening cooperation between European and Arab states could produce tangible progress to support Israeli-Palestinian peace making.
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South Africa's lawsuit at the International Court of JusticeIn the centre of an international legal maelstrom
Amidst rising geopolitical competition, South Africa has sought to position itself as a leading voice of the global south. The country sits outside the complex geopolitics that plague the Middle East but taking Israel to the International Court of Justice underlines the countries intentions, to play a new global role.
Society
More about Society-
Religious diversity in TunisiaThe Virgin Mary on the streets of Tunis
In Tunisia, a tradition is being revived: the Marian procession in La Goulette. Christians, Jews and Muslims from around the world are coming together to make a statement in favour of peaceful coexistence, in a country where the authorities are cracking down on migrants.
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Faten HarbMediating family conflicts in wartime Gaza
Faten Harb is one of Gaza's first female mukhtaras, a mediation role traditionally reserved for men. As war has upended everyday life, she has found herself mediating disputes shaped by displacement, poverty and loss, helping families navigate a society under extraordinary strain.
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Crisis Communication and the Middle EastLike and share
Especially in the Gaza war, serious reporting is difficult. Western media depend on people from the Gaza Strip to provide them with images and sound material. Among them are serious journalists, as well as Hamas members disguised as journalists.
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Animal welfare in TurkeyWhat fate for Turkey's stray dogs?
The Turkish government's draft bill seeking euthanasia for stray dogs en masse has raised concerns among animal rights activists and many in the country. But some say attacks by dogs are increasingly alarming and that such danger must be removed from the streets.
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Africans in PakistanMagical Karachi
Juergen Wasim Frembgen's new book, "Bambasa Street", is a fascinating account of the traditions of the African diaspora in Pakistan's largest metropolis
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Ahmadis persecuted in PakistanSacrificial animals – a political issue
In 1974, Ahmadi Muslims were declared a non-Muslim minority by the Pakistani parliament. Since then, it has become much harder for them to perform their religious duties
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German coverage of the Middle East"Germany's reputation is suffering"
Media expert Kai Hafez talks to Qantara.de about German coverage of the Gaza war, traditional narratives and the link to Islamophobic attitudes within society
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Syrians in LebanonNot safe to stay, not safe to go home
Desperate Syrians are weighing up whether to stay in an increasingly hostile Lebanon or risk a precarious existence in areas held by the Syrian opposition. The return journey is deadly and conditions in Syria are tough
Culture
More about Culture-
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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Egyptian photographer Roger Anis"The Nile is part of our collective consciousness"
Egyptian photographer Roger Anis has spent nearly a decade documenting the world's longest river. In 2024, he revived an ancient Nile procession with local fishermen, turning their boats into a moving celebration of the river and its communities.
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Desert X AlUla 2024"The desert is demanding new ways of seeing"
Over the past three years, there has been a shift in perception around the Saudi Arabian art scene, and at this year's DesertX, artists benefitted from freer expression
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Contemporary Algerian musicA Franco-Arabic acoustic duet
Djazia Satour is one of the most eminent Algerian vocalists of our time. Her new stage project sees her performing her songs in a duo setting with pianist Pierre-Luc Jamain and bringing to life the sounds and tonal colour of her childhood home.
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Contemporary Art Biennale in RiyadhWhat comes after the rain
For the second time, a biennale for contemporary art is taking place in Riyadh. It stands for Saudi Arabia's new policy of opening up and focuses on the theme of nature and environment. A report from Riyadh
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Israel-Hamas conflict impacts BerlinaleGaza war sparks tensions
The Berlin International Film Festival is no stranger to politics. The Middle East conflict was bound to cause debates and protests this year
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Milan's La ScalaMigrant boats make music at the opera
Stringed instruments made from migrant boats met with sustained applause as they debuted at Italy's prestigious La Scala opera house in tribute to those who perish attempting the Mediterranean crossing to Europe
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Music of the SahelJarama – echoes of the Sahara
It's a long way from Hungary to Morocco, both geographically and culturally. For expatriate Moroccan Said Tichiti, the distance finally caught up with him in 2018. Stuck musically and seeking inspiration he and two of his Chalaban band mates made the long trip to his former home. New release "Jarama" is the musical outcome
750th anniversary of Rumi's death
750th anniversary of Rumi's death - Qantara.de
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Frauenverein „Havle“ in der Türkei
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Sudan
„Der Goldabbau hat sich im Krieg rasant ausgebreitet“
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Streit schlichten in Gaza
Die Frau, die Frieden im Kleinen stiftet
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Nach der Abschiebung
Die Sprache nimmt ihm keiner
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Sex-Tourismus in Ägypten
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