Qantara Startseite Englisch - Dialogue with the Islamic world
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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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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".
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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.
Politics
More about Politics-
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.
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Religion in the armed forcesMilitary imams to be introduced in Germany
From 2026, Germany's Bundeswehr will recruit chaplains for Muslim soldiers, responding to calls from Islamic associations that go back over two decades.
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The Arab Spring and Political ChangeAre Arabs Capable of Democracy?
The Arab states currently undergoing democratic change will most certainly encounter setbacks. Democracy is not something that can be practiced beforehand, such as under the protective care of a monarchy. Jan Kuhlmann argues why we should give the people in the Arab world the benefit of the doubt
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After the Veto of the UN ResolutionSyria on the Brink of Civil War
Following Russia and China's veto of the UN resolution on Syria, the outlook for Syria is bleak. According to Andreas Zumach, both the harmful confrontation in the UN Security Council and the escalation of violence in Syria itself makes it seem highly unlikely that any effective help will come from outside the country
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The Port Said Soccer TragedyViolence Was Not Accidental
More than 70 people dead; a thousand injured. That was the bloody outcome of riots in Egypt following a soccer game in Port Said. The violence was not an accident, says Loay Mudhoon
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Political Prospects after the Arab SpringAt a Crossroads
In the opinion of the acclaimed Lebanese author Elias Khoury, after the toppling of the old regimes, Arab societies are now heading towards either lasting democratic change or a return to dictatorship by another name
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Interview with George Ishak''We Need a New Revolution''
George Ishak, founder of the ‘Kifaya’ movement against former President Hosni Mubarak, is confident that the Egyptian people will not allow themselves to be dictated by the military in the long term. Joseph Mayton spoke to him
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After the Egyptian Parliamentary ElectionsReligion Rules Victorious
The elections to the lower house of Egypt's new parliament ended in mid-January. The result was a faith-based landslide that will leave its mark on the country's yet-to-be-drafted constitution. According to Ronald Meinardus, it remains to be seen what role the military will play in the country's future
Society
More about Society-
Education in SyriaReturning pupils face language barrier
Eleven-year-old Ali spent six years in Germany. Now back in Syria, he is struggling with Arabic, his native language, as the new government appears overwhelmed by the task of reintegrating returning schoolchildren.
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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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MoroccoActivists Fight for Right to Eat during Ramadan
As Muslims around the world celebrate Ramadan, rights activists in Morocco are battling what they call the "religious radicalization" of the month of fasting, exposing conflicts between tradition, power and modernity. By Alexander Goebel
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Obituary for Ghazi Abdul Rahman Algosaibi
Saudi Man of Letters and Cautious Reformer
Last Sunday Ghazi Algosaibi, Saudi Arabian Minister and author, died. Only two weeks ago his literary works were taken off the index. Algosaibi's life and works are proof of the fine line politicians and liberal thinkers are walking in Saudi Arabia. By Hanna Labonté
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German–Turkish University in Istanbul
Academic Bridge-Building on the Bosporus
The first German-Turkish university in Istanbul is an ambitious project. The university is due to open its doors in the autumn of 2011. However, quite a number of questions remain to be answered. By Jürgen Gottschlich
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Islam in Granada
The Mellow Voice of the Muezzin
Seven years ago, the Great Mosque of Granada was opened, more than 500 years after the Muslim Moors were expelled by the Catholic 'Reconquista'. Many people feel uncomfortable hearing the Muslim call to prayer. By Troy Nahumko
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Islamic Studies in Germany
Fostering Intellectual Islam
In future, centres for Islamic Studies are to be set up at German universities to train Muslim religious scholars. Eren Güvercin spoke with Peter Strohschneider, chairman of the German Council of Science and Humanities, about these plans
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Ramadan in Germany
A Test of Faith and Strength of Character
The Islamic month of fasting begins on Wednesday. Most Muslims in Germany observe the holy month – but in an environment where the majority is not Muslim, fasting is something many find difficult. Ulrike Hummel reports
Culture
More about Culture-
"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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The murder of Ben BarkaNew revelations from Israel's archives
The book "L'Affaire Ben Barka" reveals new details about the assassination of Moroccan opposition leader Mehdi Ben Barka. Long-secret Israeli documents show the role of Mossad in one of the 20th century's most mysterious murders.
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Interview with Ilija Trojanow
"What Is the Other?"
The subject of Ilija Trojanow's acclaimed novel "The Collector of Worlds" is about real-life British adventurer Sir Richard Francis Burton, a polyglot colonial captain, who apparently converted to Islam to facilitate his entry into the inner circles of Muslims. Interview by Ulrike Sárkány
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Portrait Reem Kelani
Palestinian Blues
Reem Kelani, Palestinian multi-talent, sings traditional Palestinian Songs, as well as Jazz and Blues. Although she's got a doctorate in Coastal Marine Biology, she always wanted to be a singer. A portrait by Martina Sabra
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Interview with Wahid Hamed
The Egyptian Film "The Yacoubian Building" Breaks Every Taboo
It has been years since an Egyptian film aroused as wide-ranging public interest as "The Yacoubian Building". In this interview, screenwriter Wahid Hamed talks about the legal proceedings threatening the film, its sex scenes, and freedom of opinion in Egypt
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The Palestinian Oud Virtuoso Adel Salameh
"Arabic Music Can Be Universal"
The Palestinian oud player and composer Adel Salmeh has performed for the first time in Germany. He spoke with Saleh Diab on the unique nature of the Arabic lute and on the opportunities for musical dialogue
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Veit Helmer's Absurdistan
Lysistrata in Azerbaijan
German director Veit Helmer is currently working on a new film. The romantic comedy is being shot in a remote village in Azerbaijan and is about, among other things, a "sex strike." Vladimir Müller reports
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German-Iranian Theater Exchange Program
Talking in Difficult Times
Despite ongoing tension between Iranian and European leaders, a new theater exchange program aims to bring Iranians and Germans closer together. Arian Fariborz reports
750th anniversary of Rumi's death
750th anniversary of Rumi's death - Qantara.de
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