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Israeli activist Yuli Novak"The system is based on violence"
In this interview, the head of Israeli NGO B’Tselem discusses the increasingly boundless violence in the region and argues that defending Palestinian rights is defending human rights worldwide. She urges Germany to lead in upholding international law.
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Jewish community in Syria"One day we’ll drive from Damascus to Jerusalem"
The fall of Assad has prompted the return of millions of Syrians, including a small Jewish minority. Under Henry Hamra, son of the country’s last chief rabbi, they are asking whether a lasting return is possible.
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Opposition figure Behrouz Farahani"The war has frozen Iran’s protest movements"
The Iran war stems from two reactionary forces, the hegemonic ambitions of Iran’s Shia establishment and the Israeli vision of reshaping the Middle East, says Behrouz Farahani. A ceasefire is urgent, he argues, and real change must come from within.
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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.
Politics
More about Politics-
Iran WarWill the Gulf states stand together?
Hard hit by Iranian attacks, the business model of the Gulf states is under attack. Yet they are far from defenceless: with coordination—and unity—they could establish themselves as powerful agents of change.
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Attacks on IranDid the Saudis want this war?
Saudi Arabia's calculations in the Iran war may be different from what many assume. Rockets and drones are flying towards Doha, Dubai and even Riyadh—yet the kingdom could still see opportunities in the conflict.
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Environmental Awareness in EgyptAll the World's a Rubbish Bin
Egypt faces severe environmental challenges – but there is little environmental awareness among the public. Even leading intellectuals are interpreting news of global warming as a chimera created by "the West". Joseph Mayton reports
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"The Arabs and the Holocaust"
War of Narratives
"The Arabs and the Holocaust" is the first comprehensive study in Arabic of the complex relationship of the Arabs to the Holocaust. Lebanese historian Gilbert Achcar set out with his research to shed light on the Holocaust above all for the benefit of the Arab World. Samir Grees read the study and spoke with the author
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Bismarck's Egypt Policy
The Ulcer of the Orient
Germany was and is a welcome political and economic partner in the Arab world. But many political observers believe that German involvement in this region is inadequate. Could contemporary approaches learn from the example of Bismarck's policy on Egypt? Answers from Christian Horbach
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Turkish-Israeli Relations
Turks to Gaza!
An appraisal of Turkey's geopolitical situation makes the alienation between the former Kemalist state and Israel comprehensible. But it is exactly this situation that now requires Turkey to assume fresh political responsibility in the Middle East, writes Dan Diner, Professor of History at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem
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Gaza Blockade
A "Jewish Ship" for Gaza
Since the storming of the Mavi Marmara at the end of May, a growing number of aid flotillas is being sent to Gaza from all around the world. A group of German Jews also wants to demonstrate solidarity with the people in the Gaza Strip. Bettina Marx reports
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Afghanistan's Mineral Reserves
A Treacherous Blessing
Last week, the US Military reported that Afghanistan's mineral resources are worth the equivalent of one to three trillion US dollars. How realistic is to expect the rapid commencement of mining operations? What opportunities and risks might the new race for Afghanistan's resources bring? Martin Gerner reports
Society
More about Society-
Palestinians in EgyptTime to return to Gaza?
In Egypt, Palestinians displaced by war in Gaza face a painful dilemma: return to their families and a devastated homeland or remain in limbo without residency. Medical needs, financial hardship and border fears make the decision fraught.
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Culture in GermanyThe politics of neutrality
This year’s Berlinale highlighted the tensions between art and supposedly neutral institutions. But state-funded cultural bodies don't operate outside politics; they set the terms of debate. Greater transparency about how boundaries are drawn could strengthen trust.
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Christians in the Middle East
Between Coexistence and Suppression
Christians and Muslims have a long history of coexistence in the Middle East. Martin Tamcke, theologian, describes the history and the variety of Christian communities in the Orient in his recently published book. Claudia Mende read it
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Interview with Photojournalist Ursula Meissner
Afghanistan: Hope and Beauty in a War-torn Land
Since the mid-1980s, acclaimed German photojournalist Ursula Meissner has been regularly traveling to Afghanistan. Her photographs go beyond the war to show people's daily lives. Interview conducted by Petra Tabeling
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The Intellectual Legacy of Islam
Koran Studies under Scrutiny
Contemporary methods of interpreting the Koran are increasingly subject to critical discussion. Erhard Brunn was at a scholarly symposium in Germany, where participants doggedly argued over authoritative interpretations of the Koran
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Interview with Mohammad Mojtahed Shabestari (Part 2)
"Muslims Can Have Democracy without Having to Leave Islam"
Mohammad Mojtahed Shabestari is one of the world's most significant contemporary Shia clerics. In the second part of this interview with Fatma Sagir, Shabestari speaks about the compatibility of Islam and Democracy, and about how the Iranian revolution affected his philosophy
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Interview with Mohammad Mojtahed Shabestari (Part 1)
"Islam Is a Religion, Not a Political Agenda"
Mohammad Mojtahed Shabestari is one of the world's most important contemporary Shia clerics. In the first part of this lengthy interview with Fatma Sagir, the Iranian philosopher and theologian speaks about the complex relationship between state and religion, and about the effects of coercion and regulation in matters relating to faith
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Alevis in France
Striking a Balance between Old and New
The Alevis in France have been celebrating in style. The occasion, the tenth anniversary of their federation, makes one thing clear, however: the balancing act between France and Turkey is a difficult one for members of the immigrant Turkish religious community to master. Andreas Gorzewski reports from Strasbourg
Culture
More about Culture-
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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Author Taleb AlrefaiA window into the Kuwaiti soul
Does the German literary scene have a blind spot when it comes to Arabic literature? Abdulrahman Afif makes the case for the works of Kuwaiti writer Taleb Alrefai, whose socially critical literature deftly side-steps orientalist expectations.
750th anniversary of Rumi's death
750th anniversary of Rumi's death - Qantara.de
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Taliban-Strafrecht in Afghanistan
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Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas
Er wollte die Grundlagen des Wissens neu denken
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Sex-Tourismus in Ägypten
Braut für einen Sommer
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Israelische Menschenrechtlerin Yuli Novak
„Das System basiert auf Gewalt“
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Prostitution in Tunesien
Das Verdeckte offenlegen