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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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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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Algeria and France"We must deepen our understanding of the colonial era"
History weighs heavily on Algerian-French relations. Historian Benjamin Stora discusses the obstacles and progress made towards a shared culture of remembrance, and the threat posed by the French far right as elections approach.
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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.
Politics
More about Politics-
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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Death sentence for Bashar al-AssadJustice cannot be rushed
The abrupt verdict against Bashar al-Assad is a missed opportunity for justice. A genuine trial could have documented the full extent of his crimes and given survivors a platform to tell their stories.
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Qatar's foreign policyLittle emirate, big ambition
This week, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani paid his first state visit to Germany since being named emir of Qatar after his father's abdication in June 2013. The 34-year-old emir is one of the Middle East's most influential leaders, but his political course is controversial. By Anne Allmeling
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The German Muslim community's protest against extremism"No" to hatred and injustice
The German Muslim community's day of action against extremism and injustice was a strong appeal for tolerance. It was also a demonstration that there are many, many Muslims who are not willing to allow their religion to be hijacked as a justification for barbarism and hatred. By Bettina Marx
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New government in IraqShouldering a huge political burden
Iraq's new prime minister, Haider al-Abadi, along with some members of his cabinet were recently confirmed in their posts with the help of votes from Kurdish members of parliament. But the haggling in Iraq's post-Saddam political bazaar is far from over. By Birgit Svensson in Baghdad
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Outside intervention in SyriaWanted: moderate, reliable rebels for fight against IS
The US wants to bolster the Syrian rebels in the fight against IS. But which of the groups is it supposed to support? Kristin Helberg examines three reasons why the search for suitable allies on the ground is not as straightforward as it seems
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British fatwa against ISBreaking the spell of a poisonous ideology
Leading British Muslims have issued a fatwa against the terrorist group Islamic State. The imams are hoping that it will help change the minds of some of the group's supporters. By Kersten Knipp
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Turkey's new presidentWhere to now, President Erdogan?
Following his recent victory in Turkey's presidential election, Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced plans to pursue the process of democratisation in Turkey and the nation's efforts to join the EU. But his political opponents say all he's really interested in is the consolidation of his own power and the conservative-Islamic restoration of Turkey. An essay by Cemal Karakas
Society
More about Society-
Inequality in MoroccoCeuta was a referendum
Shortly before the general election, the mass crossing into Ceuta has shaken Morocco's image as a stable and thriving nation. The fact that so many people embarked on the journey reveals the depth of discontent in the country.
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Afghans in Germany"Most of us feel betrayed"
Five years on from the fall of Kabul, the German government is cooperating with the Taliban. Mitra Hashemi from the German-Afghan Friendship Society talks about the Afghan community in Germany, a lack of recognition and responsibility towards their relatives in Afghanistan.
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Teachers with a migrant backgroundMore or less open racism
They are desperately sought after and yet they still face discrimination: teachers with a migrant background are often regarded as "exotic" at German schools. According to a recent study, all that many of these teachers want is normality. By Anke-Martina Witt
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Interview with American photojournalist Michael KamberDispelling the myths of war and war photography
Michael Kamber is an American photojournalist and winner of the World Press Photo Award. Between 2003 and 2012 he covered the Iraq War extensively for the "New York Times". In 2013, he published the book "Photojournalists on war – The untold stories from Iraq", a mixture of photography and interviews with 39 photojournalists from different countries who worked in Iraq. Felix Koltermann spoke to him about his motivation for making this book
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Women in MoroccoRape victims no longer forced to marry their aggressors
Although Morocco has done away with a controversial law allowing rapists of underage girls to escape prosecution if they marry their victims, the basic problem of rape remains. Activists say it's time to enact change in society to protect rape victims. By Monika Griebeler
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Multicultural classroomsAn opportunity not a problem
It is increasingly the case that students from different nations, cultures and religions sit together in the same classroom. Experts at the University of Hildesheim in Germany are considering how teachers worldwide can better prepare themselves for this kind of diversity. Anke Martina Witt takes a look at how this issue is adressed in Germany, Canada, Norway and Turkey
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The Avicenna scholarship programmeFostering talented, socially committed Muslim students
Named after an eleventh-century Persian scholar, the Avicenna scholarship programme will offer its first 50 scholarships to students for the coming winter semester 2014/15. It is the first programme of its kind for gifted Muslims in Germany. Thus far, the country has only had special religious scholarship programmes for Christians or Jews. Shohreh Karimian spoke to Beschir Hussain and Matthias Meyer, the initiators of this innovative programme
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Interview with Naika Foroutan on Germany's Islam ConferenceEncouraging developments
Germany's Interior Minister Thomas de Maizière has announced that the German Islam Conference will no longer concern itself with security issues. For sociologist Naika Foroutan of Berlin's Humboldt University, this is a positive sign. At last, the conference will be able to concentrate on ensuring religious equality for Muslims in Germany. Claudia Mende spoke to her
Culture
More about Culture-
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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Miss Syria 2026"For me, beauty is self-confidence and presence"
At this year’s Miss Arab World pageant, which took place in Cairo, Syria was represented by Muna Almohamad, who was born and raised in Germany. She wants to encourage women to be true to themselves and become more visible.
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Interview with Fuad Rifka, Winner of the Goethe MedalA Life Dedicated to the German Language
In recognition of his numerous renderings of German language poetry into Arabic, the Lebanese Fuad Rifka has been awarded with the Goethe Medal. Rainer Traube interviews Fuad Rifka
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Oriental Music in the West
A Creative Musical Laboratory at the Heart of Germany
The Morgenland Festival Osnabrück is setting new standards in the encounter between the West and the East. This year's focus was the music of the Uyghurs, the Muslim minority in China. By Stefan Buchen
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Ara Güler's Istanbul
A City, Beautifully Blemished
The highly atmospheric photos of the Bosporus are bearing the unmistakable signature of the legendary Magnum photographer Ara Güler. A new book now presents half a century of Istanbul's history through his lens. By Nimet Seker
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Interview with Tahar Ben Jelloun
Culture Shock in the Homeland
In his latest novel, Tahar Ben Jelloun writes about an old Moroccan man who returns to his homeland after 40 years in France and finds himself torn between two cultures. Kersten Knipp spoke to him
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Interview with the Pakistani Sufi Singer Faiz Ali Faiz
"This Music Placates People"
Faiz Ali Faiz from Sharaqpur in Pakistan comes from a long line of qawwali musicians. The song form aims to establish contact with God through ecstatic rapture. Stefan Franzen interviewed him
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The Contemporary Art Scene in Syria
New Kid on the Block
Arab countries have not exactly been conspicuous on the art scene. International auction houses and Syrian art gallery owners are doing their best to make Syrian art the next big thing. By Mona Sarkis
750th anniversary of Rumi's death
750th anniversary of Rumi's death - Qantara.de
Most read articles
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Gilbert Achcar über Folgen von 9/11
"Der Irakkrieg hat die Weltordnung zertrümmert"
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Ägyptischer Fotograf Roger Anis
„Der Nil ist Teil unseres kollektiven Bewusstseins“
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Nachruf auf Sliman Mansour
Sein Bild hing überall in Palästina
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Algeriens Zukunft unter Präsident Bouteflika
Der kranke Mann am Mittelmeer
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Stephan J. Kramer zum Mord an Marwa al-Sherbini
Im Zeichen der Solidarität mit allen Muslimen
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Sex-Tourismus in Ägypten
Braut für einen Sommer