Qantara Startseite Englisch - Dialogue with the Islamic world
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"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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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".
Politics
More about Politics-
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.
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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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After Bin Laden's DeathTime to Talk to the Taliban?
The killing of al Qaeda's leader dealt a major blow to the terrorist network. Now the time is ripe, a leading Afghanistan expert and Germany's diplomatic point man agree, for the West to talk to the Taliban. Jefferson Chase reports
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Salafists and the Arab SpringFears of Rising Extremism in Egypt's Power Vacuum
As secular and Islamic groups prepare for Egypt's first free elections later this year, the unchecked rise of the Islamist Salafi sect is causing concern among Egyptians who fear its violent extremist agenda. Nick Amies reports
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Minorities in the Islamic RepublicFear of Separatists
In the multi-ethnic nation that is Iran, religious and ethnic minorities suffer discrimination at the hands of the regime. In his essay, Faraj Sarkohi describes the tense relationship between representatives of minorities and the Shia-dominated state
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Gaddafi's LibyaAn All-time Low
With support for him on the wane in Libya, Muammar Gaddafi sees the division of his country as his best chance of holding on to power – cost his people what it may. An analysis from Tripoli by Stefan Buchen
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Interview with Christian Wagner''Pakistan is Certainly Not a Terrorist State''
Since the targeted raid that killed Osama Bin Laden, a growing number of people in the US have been calling for a freeze on all financial aid for Pakistan. In this interview, Christian Wagner, an expert on South Asian affairs, speaks of the dangers of taking such a step
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Reactions to the Death of Bin Laden from the Arab WorldAn End to the Confrontation?
The killing of Bin Laden has been met with great relief primarily in Islamic countries with Shia populations, where it has also given rise to the hope that the rift between Sunni and Shia Muslims could now be diminished. Birgit Svensson reports
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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Mohamed Talbi''Religious Dogmas Terrorize the Spirit''
The Tunisian intellectual Mohamed Talbi is regarded as one of the most critical leading thinkers in the Arab world. In his most recently published book, he denounces traditional Islamic religious scholars and argues for a contemporary reading of the Koran. Rachid Boutayeb introduces Mohamed Talbi
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Lebanon
One Woman's Fight to Preserve Beirut's Architectural Heritage
During the reconstruction phase that followed the Lebanese civil war, many important buildings were torn down. Conservationists were, however, able to save a number of individual structures. One of the most important of these buildings is the so-called "Yellow House". Martina Sabra reports
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The Arab Music Channel 4Shbab
Music for the Young That Is Pleasing to God
4Shbab, the first commercial Islamic music channel in the Arab world, has set itself the task of providing young people with information and entertainment that are in line with Islamic values. Amira El Ahl visited the broadcaster in Cairo to find out more
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Refugees in Pakistan
Incapable Government
Pakistan has to cope with more refugees and internally displaced persons than any member of the European Union. State authorities have proven unable to support them adequately. Popular suffering, however, compounds the Islamist militancy that is threatening the country's security. Mohammad Ali Khan reports from Peshawar
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Koran Translations
Precise or Poetic?
Two new German translations of the Koran are set to appear on book shelves just in time for the Frankfurt Book Fair. But why do we need more translations of the Koran, when there are already so many available? And: what are the key issues that arise when rendering the Koran into another language? By Peter Philipp
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The Human Rights Organisation 'Droits des Gens'
Close to the People
Most NGOs working in Morocco are based in the capital Rabat or the finance metropolis Casablanca. One important human rights organisation "Droits des Gens" deliberately based itself in Fez in order to be closer to the people it supports. Beat Stauffer was there
Culture
More about Culture-
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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Jafar Panahi's film "It Was Just an Accident"Humanism and humour
In the Iranian director's most critical film yet, Jafar Panahi presents a cross-section of society, takes aim at the practice of torture and shows fearless women claiming space. But there's still room for comedy.
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Rasem Badran's Architecture
Building in Context
An architecture exhibition in Germany shows works by Rasem Badran, one of the most influential architects in the Arab world. Youssef Hijazi introduces the artist
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Turkish Literature in Germany
The Failings of Turkish Intellectuals and Writers
With a few exceptions, Turkish literature is virtually unknown in Germany. Uli Rothfuss and Achim Martin Wensien ask whether this is due to the function of literature in Turkey or to the subject matter.
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Afghan Cinema
"We Were Lacking Just about Everything"
At 25, Roya Sadat is Afghanistan's youngest filmmaker. During the years of the Taliban regime, she sat alone in a small room in Herat and learned about directing by reading American handbooks on filmmaking. Interview by Fahime Farsaie
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Beirut - Casablanca - Paris
Arab Fashion Scene Is Lively and Creative
The Institute for Foreign Affairs introduces fashion as well as fashion designers from the Arab world. The fascinating garments dispel a great many widespread myths and provide evidence of a lively fashion scene. By Florian Wagner
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Arab Cinema
Cinematic Migration to the "West" in Egyptian Film
Contemporary Egyptian film reflects the distrust of the Egyptian intellectuals towards American policies; migrants to West, however, are also portrayed in a negative light – they gain freedom but lose their identity. By Ala Al-Hamarneh
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Samuel Shimon's "An Iraqi in Paris"
A Modern-Day Odysseus on the Way to Hollywood
Samuel Shimon, a London-based Iraqi author, has written a book that draws upon the rich traditions of Arab story-telling, but is also rich with allusions to classic European literature. Review by Fadhil al-Azzawi
750th anniversary of Rumi's death
750th anniversary of Rumi's death - Qantara.de
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Expertin über Aufstand im Iran
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Folgen des Kriegs
Das Schweigen der Kinder von Gaza
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Wut im politischen Vakuum
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Islamische Geschichte
Wie ein Sufi-Gegner die Mystik bewahrte
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Neue Filme über den Sudan
Aus der Ferne erzählt
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"Die Bücherschmuggler von Timbuktu"
Von Helden und Mythen