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Gaza’s lost booksHow to preserve what remains
In Gaza, people are working to salvage books from the ruins of libraries, while others are digitising historical texts. The first public libraries are set to reopen soon, even though many important books have been lost for good.
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Lebanese film "Do You Love Me"A complicated love
Lana Daher’s new film "Do You Love Me" is a journey through Lebanon’s film archives. Using collage, it traces the history of a country given to repressing its complicated and violent past.
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Migration through BulgariaUnmarked graves on the EU border
Bulgaria has assumed a key role in controlling migration into the EU. People attempting to cross from Turkey to Bulgaria report violence, pushbacks and unanswered emergency calls. Dozens have been killed or gone missing.
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Egypt's "World Press Photo" winner"If we as locals don’t tell these stories, who will?"
Photographer Mohamed Mahdy has documented life in Alexandria, where residents suffer from severe pollution from a cement factory. He explains how they are pushing back, why he looks for his stories close to home, and what he expects from international media.
Politics
More about Politics-
Political scientist Scott Straus on Sudan"All the fundamentals of genocide are present"
Genocide scholar Scott Straus has spent decades studying the causes of mass violence. He examines the dynamics of violence in Darfur, arguing that international inaction on Sudan highlights a broader crisis in genocide prevention.
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Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-SudaniIraq's economic reform experiment
Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani is banking on hands-on reforms and new infrastructure projects to restore trust in the state. His approach has delivered short-term stability and popularity. But Iraq's oil dependence and economic weaknesses remain.
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Egypt after the Arab Spring"We all live in the shadow of the revolution"
Fifteen years after Egypt's revolution, what remains of its demands? Four Gen Z activists reflect on how 2011 shaped their political consciousness and how resistance is being redefined today.
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Migrant exploitation in LibyaLandmark trafficking trial nears verdict
Judges are set to deliver a verdict in the case of an Eritrean man accused of extorting migrants in Libya. The first alleged leader of such a network to appear in a European court, the case reveals the inner workings of transnational trafficking.
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Nahid Siamdoust on Iran's protests"Revolution has become more conceivable today"
Is Iran's regime at a breaking point? Nahid Siamdoust assesses the significance of the recent uprising, examines its potential leaders and outlines five possible scenarios for what comes next.
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Iran protestsMass anger in a political void
From bazaar strike to national revolt: Iran's current protest wave has achieved unprecedented social and geographic reach. But without a unifying programme or cohesive demands, can it withstand the regime's brutal response?
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Syrians in TurkeyA home for Istanbul's refugees
Based in an inconspicuous room in Istanbul's Beyoğlu district, Addar offers Syrian refugees education, advice and community. But without proper funding, the initiative is struggling to survive.
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Syria's economyAusterity and liberalisation won't rebuild the country
Syria's government is pursuing economic growth through liberalisation, foreign investment and cuts to state spending. These moves benefit the new elite but won't lift the majority out of crisis.
Society
More about Society-
LebanonShia families struggle for shelter in divided Beirut
More than one million Lebanese have been displaced by Israeli strikes. Destruction and occupation have made return impossible for many from the south, including Shia families, who are stranded in Beirut with limited shelter amid deepening sectarian mistrust.
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LebanonWhen war reached my Beirut home
In Lebanon, war is a test of social cohesion. Beirut-based author Manal Khader recounts how fear and uncertainty spread through her neighbourhood. Her building's WhatsApp group came to life—first with updates and practical questions, then the tone shifted.
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Egyptian feminist Nawal El Saadawi"Intersectional long before the term was coined"
A seminal feminist text by Nawal El Saadawi has been translated into English and German for the first time, over five decades after it first appeared in Arabic. Publisher and translator Sophie Haesen explains why it should be essential reading worldwide.
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War crimes in SyriaThe starvation of Yarmouk on trial
A new trial of Syrian war crimes suspects has opened in Koblenz, Germany. It's the first since the fall of Bashar al-Assad, and the first ever to charge starvation as a war crime.
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Child labour in EgyptNew regulations won't end poverty
Whether in supermarkets, workshops or factories, child labour is ubiquitous in Egypt. A new law aims to curb it, but labour laws alone will not solve the structural problems that drive children to work.
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Islah HassniyyehGaza's feminist legal pioneer
Islah Hassniyyeh was the first woman to open a law firm in Gaza. In September, she died under Israeli blockade in Gaza City. A portrait of a trailblazing lawyer and lifelong advocate for women's rights in Palestine.
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Syrian reconstruction"Debris isn't waste"
Concrete, brick, steel: Aref al-Swaidani wants to rebuild Syria from its ruins. In Weimar he’s conducting research on recycling building materials.
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"Nostra Aetate" at 60A landmark for Muslim-Christian understanding
Six decades on, the message of mutual respect between faiths, enshrined in the Catholic Church's "Nostra Aetate", feels as urgent as ever. It's a reminder that dialogue is not naïve, but necessary.
Culture
More about Culture-
Syrian novelistThe paradox of Colette Khoury
Syrian author Colette Khoury has died at 95. She wrote with unusual courage about women’s freedom, yet spent her later decades in the service of a regime that stifled the very ideals she once championed.
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Marrakesh and CasablancaTwo cities shaping contemporary art in Morocco
Morocco's art scene is diverse and growing, spanning independent spaces, commercial galleries and international fairs. While Marrakesh positions itself as a global hub, Casablanca's scene is closely tied to its history and political reality.
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Palinale film festival BerlinA politically engaged alternative
As the Berlinale faces renewed criticism over its handling of Palestine, a parallel festival, Palinale, returns for a second year with an expanded programme of international films, exhibitions and talks. Schayan Riaz shares impressions from its opening night.
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Cairo's Ramadan lanternsMore than decoration
For lantern maker Mohamed Fawzi, the traditional Egyptian lantern, a familiar sight during Ramadan, is a key part of the country's cultural identity. But a flood of cheaper imports now threatens his craft.
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Afghan cinemaAn international coming of age
For the first time, the Berlinale film festival is opening with a film from Afghanistan: "No Good Men." Germany is home to many Afghan filmmakers who fled war and Taliban rule and whose work has long been overlooked.
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Islamic historyThe critic of Sufism who became its archivist
In the 12th century, the scholar Ibn al-Jawzi wrote "Talbis Iblis" or "The Devil's Deception" to expose Sufism as heresy. Today, his text is read in two ways: as a critique and as a captivating snapshot of Sufi teachings.
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"Archiving Gaza" anthologyA vivid record of life before the war
"Archiving Gaza in the Present" brings together essays on Gazan art, literature, music and archaeology. By preserving the memory of a once-vibrant cultural world while confronting the scale of its loss, it stands as one of the most important recent books on Gaza.
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Films on SudanStories from elsewhere
The war in Sudan has made displacement a fact of life for millions. Two new films, with Sudanese women at their core, reflect this reality through very different lenses. A review of "Aisha Can't Fly Away" and "Cotton Queen".
750th anniversary of Rumi's death
750th anniversary of Rumi's death - Qantara.de
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