Qantara Startseite Englisch - Dialogue with the Islamic world
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Rebuilding KhartoumThe same old tale of power and exclusion
While Sudan's de facto government focuses on reviving the capital, its reconstruction policies follow a familiar pattern: channelling resources to the centre while neglecting the marginalised, war-torn periphery.
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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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50 years of occupation in Western SaharaThe "pearl of the south" is still not free
Morocco celebrates Sahrawi heritage through state TV, tourism campaigns and festivals. But self-determination for Western Sahara remains a distant prospect, while the central government deepens its hold on the territory through major development projects.
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Morocco protests"Gen Z has surprised the political elites"
For two weeks, a group called Generation Z 212 led mass youth protests across Morocco, demanding reforms in healthcare and education. Researcher Mohamed Sammouni says the movement lays bare a crisis of political legitimacy.
Politics
More about Politics-
Israeli-Palestinian conflict"Jerusalem is the key to a political solution"
Peace through interdependence? According to Yudith Oppenheimer and Amy Cohen of Israeli NGO Ir Amim, a shared capital city could pave the way for an end to the violence.
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Two years after October 7Making a case for a wide-ranging viewpoint
Two years after October 7, the need for honest analysis has never been more urgent. Real understanding can only emerge when we begin at the right place—by looking beyond recent events and the history of occupation of the Palestinian territories.
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Germany's shared responsibility for the Gaza conflict and its endDéjà vu in Gaza
For months, there has been an intense debate about whether Germany should assume greater foreign policy responsibility. Yet when it came to the conflict in Gaza, Germany's politicians have once again slipped into the role of the horrified bystander. By Muriel Asseburg und René Wildangel
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Interview with Yehuda Shaul"The treatment of the Palestinians is the biggest threat to Israel"
Yehuda Shaul, a former soldier in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), is one of the founders of the Israeli NGO Breaking the Silence. Marian Brehmer talked to him about Operation Protective Edge and the link between the Gaza war and the occupation of the Palestinian territories
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Erdogan elected president of TurkeyWhat Erdogan did next
Election results can bring political stability. In the case of Turkey, however, Erdogan's election as president is likely to bring the country the exact opposite: some serious domestic political conflicts are now on the cards. A commentary by Omer Erzeren in Istanbul
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Indonesian President-elect Joko WidodoComfortable among the people
Indonesians have chosen Joko Widodo, commonly known as Jokowi, to be their next president. He won more than 53 per cent of the vote in July's election. His rival Prabowo Subianto refuses to concede defeat and has taken the matter to the Constitutional Court. Observers doubt the court will accept his claim that the election was stolen. By Edith Koesoemawiria
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Europe and the Gaza conflict"The Europeans must conduct a direct dialogue with Hamas"
In light of the inability of those involved in the Gaza conflict to make peace, Europe cannot just stand on the sidelines and watch. If it does, the conflict will come here. The ostracisation of Hamas has proved counter-productive. A commentary by Abdel Mottaleb El Husseini
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The EU and the Gaza conflict"Effective diplomacy needs engagement with all sides"
While Europeans are focusing on Ukraine and Iraq, the oldest of the Middle East issues will haunt them for some time. The wider Israel–Palestinian conflict needs the full attention of Europe, writes Mattia Toaldo
Society
More about Society-
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.
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Interview with the sociologist of religion Detlef Pollack"Germans are much less tolerant"
The Archbishop of Cologne recently drew distinctions between the value of Christian and Muslim families in Germany. For Detlef Pollack, this is not an expression of Islamophobia, but an example of German reservations. Stefan Dege spoke to the sociologist of religion
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Dispute about Prof Mouhanad KhorchideA conflict of many layers
The dispute about Mouhanad Khorchide, director of the Centre for Islamic Theology at the University of Münster, is heating up. Although the conflict is ostensibly about the "correct" interpretation of Islam, it is also an attempt by the Islamic associations in Germany to make a show of strength to politicians. The dispute has dire consequences for the discipline of Islamic theology, which is still in its infancy in Germany. By Canan Topçu
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Interview with the Lebanese activist Rima NajdiProvocation for peace
Dressed as a suicide bomber with a fake explosive belt, "Madame Bomba" roamed the streets of Beirut ... Her aim in doing so was to provoke a reaction in those that saw her and to protest against the on-going violence in Lebanon. But who is "Madame Bomba"? Juliane Metzker spoke to Rima Najdi, the Lebanese activist behind the provocative performance
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Global historyPlaying with the relativity of perspectives
A new six-volume work entitled "A History of the World" is the high point of a historiographical boom in the discipline known as "global history". The project attempts to overcome the eurocentrism of traditional writings of history. By Andreas Pflitsch
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UNRWA photo exhibition: "The Long Journey"The long journey into uncertainty
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) recently opened a photo and video exhibition on the history of Palestinian refugees since 1948 in East Jerusalem. By Joseph Croitoru
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Civil society initiatives in Lebanon"I am not a martyr"
Bomb attacks and other acts of violence have almost become part of everyday life in Lebanon. After recent bomb blasts, two media campaigns were launched to raise awareness among Lebanese people of the everyday violence in their crisis-torn country. A background report by Juliane Metzker
Culture
More about Culture-
"In the Land of the Forgotten" by Aliyeh AtaeiStories of war and the fight for freedom
With a keen sense for nuance, Aliyeh Ataei describes a life between Iran and Afghanistan, one marked by resistance, a search for identity and constant confrontation with social norms.
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AlgeriaA DIY cultural renaissance
A new independent, youth-led movement is reshaping Algerian culture. Four young artists reflect on their experiences and efforts to carve out space outside of official frameworks.
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Salwa Al Neimi's "The Proof of the Honey"The Lost World of Arab Erotica
No Arab book has ever been sold for so much money to foreign publishing houses. But Salwa Al Neimi's novel has substantially more to offer than the mere lurid sensationalism of some of its competitors. By Stefan Weidner
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Daniyal Mueenuddin: "In Other Rooms, Other Wonders"
The Dictates Of Feudalism
In his book 'In Other Rooms, Other Wonders', Daniyal Mueenuddin depicts the pursuit of happiness in Pakistan. In a society marked by feudalism where they are often regarded as property, women see love as a kind of business. By Claudia Kramatschek
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The Literary Legacy of Mohamed Choukri
A Time of Mistakes
Mohamed Choukri's books rank among the classics of modern world literature. But Morocco has failed to preserve the legacy of one of its best-known literary figures. By Alfred Hackensberger
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Interview with Salwa al-Neimi
The Liberation of Erotic Literature
'The Proof of the Honey' by Salwa al-Neimi is celebrated as a milestone of modern Arabic literature and condemned as scandalous prose. Her novel poses fundamental intellectual and political questions, says the author.
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Arab Photographers' View of the "Orient"
Looking into the Blind Spot
Images that "orientalize" Middle Eastern subjects are widespread and well known. The Arab Image Foundation presents other views of this part of the world. Its online collection is a discovery, says Mona Sarkis
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Syrian Cinema
Thumbing Its Nose at the Censor
Politically explosive films and television series from Syria are storming the Arab market. Now the film "The Long Night" has become ensnared in the censorship process. But it is reaching its audience via satellite. By Susanne Schanda
750th anniversary of Rumi's death
750th anniversary of Rumi's death - Qantara.de
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