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Egyptian novel "The Passerby"Gender and society in transition
In Ibrahim Abdel Meguid's novel "The Passerby", the philosophy student Lamia becomes Hamza. His transition runs parallel to another: that of Egypt, caught between the brief freedom of 2011 and the grip of the security state.
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Hormuz and Bab al‑MandabCenturies of struggle for the Straits
Three colonial powers—the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British—gained, and then lost, control over the straits of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab. Today, as the US and Iran struggle over these vital chokepoints, history offers a warning.
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Anti-colonialism"Palestine reveals the limits of international solidarity"
Why do African publics stand so firmly with Palestine while many of their governments court Israel? Algerian researcher Raouf Farrah traces the answer to the continent's anti-colonial past, and to the gap between popular solidarity and state diplomacy.
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German state electionsMigrants face a shifting political reality
The far-right AfD made historic gains in September's state elections, while the Left Party came out on top in Berlin for the first time. Migrants across the country are now considering what the results could mean for their everyday lives and futures.
Politics
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Gilbert Achcar on the impact of 9/11"The Iraq War shattered the promise of a new world order"
The attacks of 11 September 2001 fundamentally altered US foreign policy and triggered a series of wars that have reshaped the Middle East. 25 years on, Gilbert Achcar reflects on the US response to 9/11 and its enduring impact on the region.
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Taliban in AfghanistanPower consolidated, society reshaped
In the five years since regaining power, the Taliban have cemented their rule in Afghanistan, bringing armed conflict in the country to a relative lull. Their ambitions go beyond maintaining control: they are seeking to transform the country from the bottom up.
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Nationalism over ReasonTurkey Fails Again on the Kurdish Issue
In response to the latest clashes between Kurds and police, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan poured oil on the fire when he gave security forces permission to act against Kurdish women and children. A commentary by Baha Güngör
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Afghan Convert Controversy
A Counter-Perspective on Apostasy in Islam
The controversy over the Afghan Muslim convert to Christianity has brought to the fore the issue of the Islamic law of apostasy. According to the dominant view of the Muslim scholars, the punishment for a Muslim apostate is death. By Yoginder Sikand
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Water Conflicts in the Middle East
"There Will Be No Solution without the Exchange of Ideas"
North Africa and the Middle East will have enough drinking water for generations – if resources are sparingly used and efficiently managed. Fathi Zereini, a Germany-based mineralogist from Palestine, elaborates on the outlook
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Parliamentary Elections in Israel
Arab Israelis Lose Trust in the Political Process
Every four years, extreme right-wing Jewish politicians try to boost their election chances with anti-Arab publicity stunts. What's more, a large number of political parties have long since embraced the idea of expatriating Arab Israelis. Igal Avidan reports
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The Release of Abdul Rahman
Afghan Legal Principles under Examination
After having been threatened with a death sentence as a punishment for his conversion from Islam to Christianity, Abdul Rahman has been set free. Peter Philipp argues that the case continues to raise fundamental questions about the "Afghanistan Project"
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European Migration Policy
Tighter EU Borders Forcing Refugees to Take Bigger Risks
With every new influx of refugees from Africa, the EU is under increased pressure. Help in containing the problem seems to follow swiftly, but mostly in the form of funding for increased policing and border security. Steffen Leidel reports
Society
More about Society-
Education and climate in YemenToo hot for class
In Houthi-controlled Yemen, the decision to schedule the school year by the Hijri calendar has pushed classes earlier into the harshest heat of summer. For students this has compounded the impact of climate change, posing health risks and driving up dropout rates.
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Turkish women's association Havle"White secular women do not have a monopoly on feminism"
The Muslim queer-feminist group Havle uses religious arguments to challenge discrimination. Facing growing hostility and, most recently, arrests, two members speak about the struggle for LGBTQ rights in the country.
Culture
More about Culture-
Arthouse film in MoroccoKeeping Tangier's cinematic history alive
20 years ago, the historic Cinema Rif in Tangier was renovated and reopened as the Cinémathèque de Tanger, one of the few arthouse cinemas in North Africa today. Elisa Pierandrei traces its history and place in Morocco's vibrant film culture.
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Remembering Sliman MansourThe artist behind a Palestinian icon
"Camel of Hardship" by Sliman Mansour, who died on 24 August, is one of the most recognisable images in Palestinian art. Asmaa al-Ghoul tells how it came to appear on walls across the country and why it remains deeply embedded in collective memory.
750th anniversary of Rumi's death
750th anniversary of Rumi's death - Qantara.de
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