Qantara Startseite Englisch - Dialogue with the Islamic world
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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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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.
Politics
More about Politics-
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.
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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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Afghanistan as the Western Troop Withdrawal NearsThe Failure of Dialogue
The end of the NATO mission in the Hindu Kush, scheduled for 2014, is fast approaching. The results to date are sobering. Mistrust and even mutual dislike between locals and representatives of the West in Afghanistan are striking and widespread. By Stefan Buchen
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The West and the Conflict in SyriaThe Ghost of Saddam's WMD
In view of the appalling numbers of people being killed and injured in the Syrian civil war and recent reports that poisoned gas has been used there, pressure is growing on the West to finally take some decisive action. Washington and London, however, continue to exercise restraint. By Karim El-Gawhary
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Iran in the Run-up to Presidential ElectionsThe Reformers' Swan Song
For Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a man viewed as the architect of the Islamic Republic who was the nation's most powerful figure for two decades, the outcome of presidential elections this coming June has already been decided: The reformers don't stand a chance, as Supreme Leader Khamenei will in any eventuality install his chosen candidate. By Ali Sadrzadeh
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Civil War in SyriaA Return to Normality
Aleppo, the once hotly contested north Syrian metropolis and economic centre, is now a divided city. In the part controlled by the rebels, daily life seems to be gradually returning to normal. More and more refugees from Aleppo are returning to their city, even though economic recovery is slow. Peter Steinbach reports from Aleppo
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On-going Sectarian Tension in KirkukStranded in Legal Limbo
Claimed by Kurds, Arabs and Turkmen alike, the oil-rich province of Kirkuk remains one of Iraq's most disputed and politically flammable regions ten years after Saddam Hussein was toppled. Karlos Zurutuza spoke to the most senior representatives of the region's different communities about the province's diverse problems
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Essay by the Syrian Writer Fawwaz HaddadChildren of a Divided Nation
In his essay, the renowned Syrian writer and novelist Fawwaz Haddad criticises the cynical attitude of the international community toward the Syrian conflict and the dramatic decline of his homeland
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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Europe's ''Judeo-Christian Heritage''The Fiction That It Always Was
Contemporary debate over Europe's identity increasingly refers to the continent's Christian or Judeo-Christian heritage. But a closer look at the history books belies this theory and teaches us that for centuries, Islam and Judaism have played an integral role in shaping European history and that both religions have been regarded with deep hostility down through the centuries. By Stefan Schreiner
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Islamic Law and Ethics''We Are Calling for a New Interpretation of the Koran''
A new research centre in Qatar seeks to focus more attention on the ethical dimension of Islam. The founders of the centre and its director, Tariq Ramadan, are calling for a new interpretation of the Koran in order to advance a contemporary Islamic understanding of matters such as environmental ethics and gender issues. Christoph Dreyer spoke to the centre's deputy director, Jasser Auda
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The Holy Month of RamadanTo Fast or Not to Fast
None of the five pillars of Islam is observed by as many Muslims as fasting in Ramadan. Some people who don't otherwise obey any religious rules fast; others make a conscious decision not to. Stephanie Doetzer spoke to a number of Muslims who have decided not to fast
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The Iraqi Education SystemEducation in an Age of Terror
Once renowned throughout the Arab world for the importance it attached to good education, Iraq and its education system have suffered enormously since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein nine years ago. Many intellectuals fled abroad or into the provinces of Iraqi Kurdistan, triggering change in the education system there. Birgit Svensson reports from Baghdad
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Woman in Saudi Arabia''A Golden Age for Saudi Women''
Gabriela Keseberg Dávalos recently visited Saudi Arabia on a UN fellowship. What she encountered there surprised her and completely changed her views on the lives of women in the kingdom. This is a personal account of her experiences
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The Response to the Salafist Movement in GermanyHeavy on Populism, Light on Strategic Thinking
Many intelligence officials in Germany are baffled by the political response to the Salafist movement. As far as they are concerned, there is too much populism, not enough strategic thinking, and ineffective communication to boot. Albrecht Metzger reports.
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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Ismaël Ferroukhi's "The Great Journey"
On the Way to Mecca in a Rickety Peugeot
In Ismaël Ferroukhi's recent film, a father and his son go on the Hadj, the pilgrimage to Mecca. In his contemplative road movie, the director emphatically portrays the conflict between generations and cultures. By Amin Farzanefar
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Obituary for Doris Kilias
Naguib Mahfouz's German Voice
Doris Kilias was the translator of Nobel laureate Naguib Mahfouz. With her pitch-perfect translations, she introduced his novels to a broad German audience – contributing toward his worldwide recognition. Doris Kilias died on June 1. An appreciation by Loay Mudhoon
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A Portrait of Sherko Fatah
Reality Is an Adventure
The German-Iraqi writer Sherko Fatah spent his first childhood years in the GDR. The son of a Kurd from Iraq and a German mother learned early on to step back from his experiences and reflect on his own point of view. A portrait by Volker Kaminski
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Interview with Salah Stétié
"The Arabic Language Is Outmoded"
The Lebanese poet Salah Stétié writes in French, because he believes the Arabic language is out of date. That is why he is appealing to Arab intellectuals to take an active role in modernizing the Arabic language. Interview by Saleh Diyab
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The Iraqi Artist Rafa Al-Nasiri
Creativity as Resistance
Rafa Al-Nasiri is one of the best-known contemporary Iraqi artists on the international stage. His work is deeply influenced by the culture of Arabic script, and also by his intensive encounters with artists in China and Europe. Martina Sabra interviewed the artist at his home in Amman, Jordan
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Ibrahim Maalouf
Golden Boy between Paris and Beirut
The young Lebanese musician Ibrahim Maalouf has played trumpet for Amadou & Mariam, Lhasa and Bumcello, and has also enjoyed a brilliant classical career. On his debut album, Maalouf fuses oriental and electronic sounds into a unique musical language. Stefan Franzen met him in Marseille
750th anniversary of Rumi's death
750th anniversary of Rumi's death - Qantara.de
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