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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Renewable Sources of Energy in the Middle EastSunshine Instead of Crude Oil
An increasing number of states in the Middle East are turning to renewable sources of energy. The emirate of Abu Dhabi is spearheading efforts to make the use of solar energy more widespread with an ambitious environmentally friendly energy project that seeks to make Masdar a zero-carbon city. Michaela Paul reports
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Parliamentary Elections in Indonesia
Election Carnival in the Island Republic
In the country with the largest Muslim population in the world, Islamic parties play a small but decisive role, as Christina Schott reports from Yogyakarta
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Interview with Gilbert Achcar
Turning Away from a Strategy of Confrontation
Gilbert Achcar, professor of International Relations at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, talks about the effects of the recent Israeli campaign in Gaza and the chances of reviving the peace process under the Obama administration. Interview by Ali Fathollah-Nejad
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Moroccan-Iranian Diplomatic Crisis
Shiite Activities in the Maghreb?
Sunni Morocco accuses Teheran of fostering Shi'a activities inside its borders. Other countries with a Sunni majority that also feel threatened by Iran have formed an alliance with Morocco. Alfred Hackensberger details the background from Rabat
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Sixty Years of Turkish-Israeli Relations
Partnership in the Shadow of a Threat
Turkey and Israel mark the sixtieth anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year. Theirs has been a fruitful if conflict-ridden relationship. But there has been more than just the desire to make peace between the Israelis and the Arabs. Jan Felix Engelhardt looks back at the start of the relationship
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USA – Iran Relations
"Charm Offensive" to End the Ice Age
Obama's video message to the Iranians contained an appeal for renewed dialogue with Teheran's political leaders. But who would be the most likely candidate for entering into such a dialogue with Washington from the Iranian perspective? Answers from Katajun Amirpur in Teheran
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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Commentary on the Founding of the Council of Ex-Muslims
Good Converts, Bad Converts
Although the right to renounce a religious affiliation must be protected, when people leave the faith as an organized campaign and turn their decision into a political issue, they foster neither dialogue nor coexistence, in the opinion of Peter Philipp
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The Founding of the Central Council of Ex-Muslims
Mission of the Reformed
The recently founded Central Council of Ex-Muslims sees itself as a platform for anyone who wishes to officially renounce their Islam faith. The initiators also reportedly want to increase society's awareness of certain taboo subjects. Abdul-Ahmad Rashid reports from Germany
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"Kanal Avrupa"
Television as a Bridge
"Kanal Avrupa" is a Turkish television station founded in Germany a few years ago offering a diverse program primarily for the Turkish community in Germany. Now the station will be adding a German-language program. Alexandra Jarecki reports
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Learning about Cultural Diversity
Mind the North-South Gap
In 2004, Traugott Schöfthaler was appointed to set up the Anna Lindh Foundation in Alexandria, Egypt, in order to create new forms of dialogue between North and South. In this article he takes a look at the lessons learnt during the past three years
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Maliha Zulfacar, Afghanistan's Ambassador to Germany
"People in Afghanistan Need More Tangible Changes"
Maliha Zulfacar is one of two female Afghan ambassadors. In this interview with Martin Gerner, she talks about her unusual career, as well as about NATO's military strategy, and the reconstruction process in Afghanistan
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First Female Governor in an Afghanistan Province
Enthusiastic Support, Heavy Criticism for Habiba Sorabi
President Karzai has named Habiba Sorabi Governor of the Province of Bamian. The appointment has been welcomed in the West, but in traditional Afghan society her appointment is highly controversial. By Said Musa Samimy
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.
750th anniversary of Rumi's death
750th anniversary of Rumi's death - Qantara.de
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