Qantara Startseite Englisch - Dialogue with the Islamic world
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Migrant exploitation in LibyaLandmark trafficking trial nears verdict
Judges are set to deliver a verdict in the case of an Eritrean man accused of extorting migrants in Libya. The first alleged leader of such a network to appear in a European court, the case reveals the inner workings of transnational trafficking.
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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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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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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.
Politics
More about Politics-
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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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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The Role of the Military in the Egyptian Power StruggleTipping the Scales?
President Mubarak tried to restore public order in Egypt with the military. However, soldiers were reluctant and in some places were greeted with enthusiasm. Loay Mudhoon analyses the role of the military in the ongoing power struggle
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Arab Protest Movements and the West
The Spectre of the Muslim Brotherhood
Faced with popular uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, Western politicians are having trouble ridding themselves of their black-and-white view of the Arab-Islamic world. Michael Lüders sends us this analysis
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Unrest in Bahrain
"We are all Bahrainis; Not Sunnis, Not Shiites!"
Relations between the opposition and the government, which is under the control of the Sunni royal family, continue to deteriorate. There have even been some calls for the overthrow of the monarchy. By Sabine Damir-Geilsdorf
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European Arms Exports to North Africa and the Middle East
Doing Big Business with Gaddafi & Co.
Could Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi be using weapons produced in Europe to crush the revolt against his regime? As governments grapple with this uncomfortable question, a new report details brisk weapons sales by EU states to Libya. By Sonia Phalnikar
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Interview with the Moroccan Blogger Zineb El Rhazoui
The Sweet Illusion of Democratic Change
Zineb El Rhazoui is one of the coordinators of the movement that mobilised large numbers of demonstrators on 20 February. Chanting 'I am Moroccan!', they took to the streets, marching for democracy and social justice. An interview
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Political Upheaval in EgyptThe Mubarak System without Mubarak
Mubarak may be gone, but the remaining elites will try to use his structural and political heritage to suit themselves, ensuring that Egypt's road to democracy will be a difficult and open-ended one. By Thomas Demmelhuber
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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Mosque Construction in Germany
Staying in Dialogue
The construction of mosques has increasingly become a political issue in Germany. It is no different in Frankfurt. Recently, however, the foundation stone was laid for the Hazrat Fatima Mosque. Critics of the construction project were also present. Nilüfer Parasiz reports
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Portrait Dalia Mogahed
"Every Deed Begins with a Word"
Dalia Mogahed is a member of US President Obama's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. The devout Muslim counters criticism of Obama's Cairo speech by pointing out that it represents only the first stage in what will be a long dialogue process. By Amira El Ahl
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Women in Iran
The Daughters of Khomeini's Silent Revolution
Women in Iran do not enjoy the same freedoms as men in public. Yet resistance is stirring under the veil. Young women are well educated, confident, and are fighting for their place in a patriarchal society. Claudia Hennen reports
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Mesut Özil
The polite boy with the faux-hawk
Despite a turbulent winter at Werder Bremen, the 20-year-old midfielder Mesut Özil is one of this season's biggest up-and-coming football players. His winning goal in the German cup final proved that this young man is already much more than a hopeful. By André Tucic
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Interview with Jumana Odeh
"The Children Give My Life Meaning"
The Palestinian doctor Jumana Odeh has been named winner of the "World of Children Health Award 2008" in recognition of her efforts to improve the lives of disabled children. Muhanad Hamed spoke to her about the award and her work
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Interview with Corry Guttstadt
Turkey, the Jews and the Holocaust
Turkologist Corry Guttstadt has published a comprehensive study of the behaviour of the Turkish government towards its Jewish citizens during the Holocaust. In doing so, she has investigated a chapter of twentieth-century history that has thus far been all but neglected by international Holocaust research. Sonja Galler spoke to her about her findings
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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Portrait Badou Jobe
The Rediscovery of African Values
Following the postcolonial need for traditional identity, Badou Jobe reinvented Africa's musical heritage, initiating the immensely popular and influential "Afro Manding" Sound. Peter Zimmermann met the political artist 30 years down the road.
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Portrait Ayse Polat
An Unprejudiced View beyond Cultural Borders
With her sensitive portrait of a young outsider in the film "En Garde," Hamburg director Ayse Polat won the Silver Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival. Since then, she has realized that the German media are often more interested in her Kurdish origins than in the film itself. Ariana Mirza reports.
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Daniel Barenboim
Musical Diplomacy in the Middle East
Daniel Barenboim uses his music to cross all political and religious boundaries, e.g. by initiating the Israeli-Palestinian music workshop "West-Eastern Divan". By Petra Tabeling
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Ciné Rail Project Morocco
Cultural Activities for Children
In Morocco, cultural activities for children are sparse. Now the Goethe Institute has initiated a project which gives children the opportunity to watch films made especially for children audiences. Mary Fowles reports
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Lahore World Performing Arts Festival
At the Banks of Annemarie Schimmel Bay
The Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop has been organising Lahore's International Theater and Dance Festival since 1992. Inspired by his stay in Germany 75 years ago, Peer had then introduced modern drama to the subcontinent. Elisabeth Einecke-Klövekorn reports
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Radio for Iraqis
Germany Funds Election Radio in Iraq
A new radio program is about to hit the airwaves in Iraq focusing on the upcoming elections scheduled for the end of January. It's radio for Iraqis, by Iraqis, with a little help from German organizations.
750th anniversary of Rumi's death
750th anniversary of Rumi's death - Qantara.de
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