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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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Saudi poetry todayBetween nomadic past and digital present
The new poetry anthology "Tracing the Ether" brings together 26 poets responding to a rapidly changing Saudi Arabia. It offers a rare glimpse of a literary scene whose breadth has yet to be fully reflected in English translation.
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Club culture in GermanySounds of the "Stadtbild"
In Hamburg, Berlin and Cologne, "SWANA"-focused events are filling clubs. DJs and organisers are forging hybrid sounds drawn from South-West Asian and North African musical traditions, asserting identity in the face of exclusionary political rhetoric on migration.
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Language politicsCan English replace French in Algeria?
English is gaining ground in Algeria's education system, challenging the long-standing dominance of French, a remnant of colonial rule. But the shift is far from straightforward, testing the ability of schools and universities to adapt.
Politics
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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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Lebanese writer Hazem Saghieh"Hezbollah has never protected Lebanon from Israel"
Hazem Saghieh says that the renewed war between Israel and Hezbollah has revealed deep divisions within Lebanese society rather than fostering unity. He warns that Israel's intervention to disarm Hezbollah risks paving the way for a new occupation.
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Interview with Sari NusseibehPlea for Radical Pragmatism
Sari Nusseibeh, a prominent Palestinian philosopher, says that the two-state solution is no longer viable. In this interview with Naima El Moussaoui, he argues that a single Jewish state on the whole territory in exchange for second-class Palestinian status could help move the situation out of gridlock
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South Sudan One Year after IndependenceUnresolved Conflicting Issues
One year after South Sudan's independence hostilities with its northern neighbour continue. But due to the high degree of interdependence between North and South even after their separation, the two countries are forced to resolve their conflicting issues. An analysis by Stefan Wolff
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Interview with Muriel AsseburgSyrian Opposition Plans 'The Day After' in Berlin
Syrian opposition activists have been discussing in Berlin how to reconstruct post-Assad Syria. Muriel Asseburg of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs explains the aims of the workshop
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Syrians in GermanyThe Hopes and Fears of the Exile
Syrians at home and abroad are divided in their attitudes to the Assad regime. In many cases, exile is a kind of microcosm of rivalling religious denominations and interest groups. Fabian Schmidmeier spoke to some exiled Syrians in Germany
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Egyptian Writer Alaa al-AswaniDemocracy Is the Solution!
The well-known Egyptian writer and activist Alaa al-Aswani praises the President for his decision to replace the country's two top military generals. But, he says, Mohammed Mursi must now prove that he is really serious about establishing democracy in Egypt
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The Gulf Monarchies and the Arab SpringCounter-revolution in the Gulf
Far away from the attention of Western media, the oil-rich Gulf monarchies are currently trying to avoid being hit by the wave of uprisings and revolutions in North Africa and the Middle East. So far, they have not only been successful in doing so, they've even managed to exploit the uprisings for their own purposes. Matthias Sailer reports
Society
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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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War and memoryGaza's lost photographs
Through years of war, many people in Gaza have lost their personal photo albums. Palestinian journalist Asmaa al-Ghoul reflects on her family's vanished images and what their absence means for personal and collective memory.
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Cologne's New Central MosqueOpen to All
Just a few months before the completion of Cologne's new central mosque, the debate about the building continues unabated, although the debate now circles more around its architecture and location than around political or social issues. Zulfikar Abbany has the details
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Stefan Meining's Book on the History of the Islamist Scene in GermanyA Mosque in Munich
In his book Eine Moschee in Deutschland (A Mosque in Germany), Stefan Meining claims that the Islamist scene in Germany was systematically nurtured by the intelligence services. At the centre of the story is a mosque in Munich. But is there any truth behind the alleged connections to al-Qaeda and the terrorist attacks of 11 September? A review by Claudia Mende
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British Women's Jihad against Violenceجهاد المرأة البريطانية ضد العنف
Open any newspaper in the UK today and the two topics that govern any discussion on Muslims are women and extremism. Unsurprisingly, writes Sara Khan, Muslim women feel these topics are inadequately addressed by Muslims themselves. Two British organisations recently decided that the time had come to take action
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Interview with Rana Husseini''Arabs Were Never Passive – They Were Oppressed!''
The Jordanian journalist and human rights activist Rana Husseini has made a significant contribution to fundamentally changing the way Jordanian society deals with the issue of honour crimes. In this interview, she talks about her work and the impact of the Arab Spring
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Syria: The Opposition and the ChurchA Slap in the Face for the Pro-Democracy Movement
While church leaders pledge their support for the Assad regime, Christians in Syria are backing the protest movement for democratic change. The endorsement of the regime's propaganda slogans by the representatives of the churches puts them in an increasingly precarious position, as Claudia Mende reports
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German-Turkish Professionals in IstanbulHighly Prized in Turkey, Ignored in Germany
Many well-educated German-Turks emigrate to Turkey. In Germany, where there is a shortage of qualified personnel, the effects of this loss are making themselves felt. But the trend is the consequence of a disregard that has been practised for decades. Semiran Kaya reports from Istanbul
Culture
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Ramadan TV specialsSyrian drama after Assad
Television dramas are a Ramadan staple in Syria. This year, for the first time, viewers watched series written in a post-Assad era, some confronting past trauma, others offering satirical critique, sparking fierce debate over how the country's stories should be told.
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Syed Muhammad Naquib al-AttasA life rethinking the foundations of knowledge
Malaysian philosopher and polymath Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas has died aged 94. A lifelong critic of Western intellectual dominance, his work has shaped debates on modernity and education across the Muslim world.
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Egyptian-German World MusicMohammed Mounir and the Schäl Sick Brass Band
The Egytpian musician Mohammed Mounir gave a concert in Cairo with the Schäl Sick Brass Band from Cologne. Frederick Richter reports on the audience's reaction
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Interview with Rafael Alcántara
Cairo's Music Scene between Censorship and Awakening
Last fall, the Munich saxophonist and singer Rafael Alcántara was invited to Cairo by the Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations. In this interview with Stefan Franzen, he talks about his impressions of Cairo's music scene and the influence of the state
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Elif Shafak: "The Bastard of Istanbul"
A Reproach for the Historical Amnesia
With her new novel "The Bastard of Istanbul," Elif Shafak has dared to broach a topic that is still an absolute taboo in Turkey: the processing of the so-called genocide of Armenians in 1915. By Claudia Kramatschek
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Interview with Haitham Hakki
"Every Year We Become a Little More Daring"
Thanks to directors like Haitham Hakki, Syrian TV series have become a favourite of Arab audiences from Marrakesh to Mecca. For more than 20 years he has been shooting TV dramas with high technical quality and politically sensitive content. By Gabriela M. Keller
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Contemporary Art in Iran
A Taste for Controversy
Subtle, many-facetted and not without scathing humor – contemporary Iranian art uses a wide range of media and undermines stereotypes, as shown by the example of the art magazine Treibsand. By Amin Farzanefar
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Interview with Fatih Cevikkollu
Life in Stand-by Mode
An increasing number of young German-born Turks are exploring their origins and identity as stand-up comedians and finding a large public in the process. Fatih Cevikkollu is one of them. Petra Tabeling met up with him
750th anniversary of Rumi's death
750th anniversary of Rumi's death - Qantara.de
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