Qantara Startseite Englisch - Dialogue with the Islamic world
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Syria after AssadAl-Sharaa and the global jihad
Jihadist groups around the world are watching Syria's transitional government closely. Al-Sharaa's takeover and moderate strategy are inspiring for some. Others view his pragmatism as betrayal and opt for violence.
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"Christ in the Rubble" by Munther IsaacThe Christian case against the war on Gaza
Munther Isaac, a pastor in the West Bank, objects to Bible-based justifications for war and describes Gaza as a "moral compass". In a new book, "Christ in the Rubble", he offers views that are polarising without being destructive.
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GazaCaught between starvation and deadly aid centres
In Gaza, survival now means facing not only bombs but also starvation. As some Palestinians risk their lives to receive aid from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, others turn to desperate measures to feed their children.
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Moroccan Gnawa festivalA Sufi tradition on the world stage
A festival in Morocco is bringing Gnawa music to the mainstream. Shaped by migration, slavery and a long struggle for recognition, the once marginalised Sufi tradition is now internationally renowned.
Politics
More about Politics-
Morocco-Algeria arms race"The solution requires political courage"
Tensions between Morocco and Algeria are fuelling a frantic arms race. Moroccan researcher Hicham Mouatadid traces the roots of the rivalry and calls for a solution that goes beyond the Western Sahara conflict to address regional security as a whole.
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Lebanese Civil WarThe postwar that never was
Fifty years since its outbreak, Lebanon's Civil War continues to shape its society and political system. The postwar era has been marked by violence, foreign occupation, political paralysis and economic crisis—raising the question: did the war ever truly end?
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Hezbollah in LebanonInfiltrated but strategically undefeated
Hezbollah may have been infiltrated by Israel, but it is far from defeated. Its most powerful missiles are yet to be deployed. To prevent the situation from spiralling completely out of control, look to Gaza.
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War in Sudan"It's all about power, not democracy"
Tensions have momentarily eased in Sudan. Following the Geneva talks, aid supplies are flowing into the country via two corridors. But an end to the war remains out of sight, says analyst Oman Mirghani, editor-in-chief of Sudanese newspaper Al-Tayar.
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Europe and GazaThe EU must regain its moral responsibility
Human rights are enshrined in the EU’s DNA, but in Gaza, the EU is complicit in blatant violations. Can the Union return to its moral principles and stop Israel and its own member states from trampling on international law?
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Impending arrest warrant for NetanyahuGermany’s dilemma at the ICC
The International Criminal Court could soon issue arrest warrants for Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defence Minister Gallant and two Hamas leaders. As several states attempt to influence the verdict, Germany is torn between solidarity with Israel and commitment to international law.
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General elections in JordanPosters as far as the eye can see
Jordanians are electing a new parliament, or at least they should be. Forecasts predict that two out of three eligible voters will stay at home, despite the king's encouragement and countless posters urging them to take part. Many remain sceptical about the new party system.
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Iranian parliament approves cabinetMoving forward into the past
The cabinet of new Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian has disappointed those who voted for change. Pezeshkian’s voters had only modest expectations – less oppression of women and easier access to the internet – but in the Islamic Republic, everything remains the same.
Society
More about Society-
German academiaWhen neutrality becomes complicity
German scholars of the Middle East often wear the mask of political neutrality. But both Western philosophy and the classical Islamic tradition insist that knowledge carries an ethical duty. A call for moral responsibility.
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Iran at warThe scapegoating of Afghan refugees
Amid conflict with Israel, Tehran's regime is fuelling mistrust of Afghan refugees. Yet they are among those most vulnerable to Israeli air strikes.
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Families in GazaEvery WhatsApp message could be your last
One year on from the Hamas attack and the subsequent war, nine out of ten people in Gaza are internally displaced. Many couples and entire families have been torn apart by the Israeli offensive. Doaa Shaheen reports from the scene.
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Palestinians in Germany since 7 October"This is no longer my country"
The Hamas attack on 7 October 2023 was a transformative experience for much of Germany's Palestinian diaspora. Many lost relatives in Gaza, along with their trust in the German media. Four Palestinians in Berlin share their experiences.
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Repression in AfghanistanHow women defy the Taliban
Afghan women are developing sophisticated forms of protest to defend themselves against intensifying Taliban repression. Fundamentalists can do little to stop the resistance.
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Nurses on strike in Iran"Strikers feel they have nothing left to lose"
In Iran, nurses are on strike to protest miserable living standards and stressful working conditions. Desperation is driving many abroad, and some to suicide.
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Reform of the Moroccan family codeA struggle over Quranic principles
Feminists in Morocco are eagerly awaiting a planned reform of the family code. Experts and the public have been consulted, but the king and the commission have yet to reveal the proposed amendments.
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+972 editor-in-chief Ghousoon Bisharat"Israeli media outlets have been recruited into the war effort"
Since the Hamas attacks on 7 October, the Israeli-Palestinian platform +972 Magazine has published a range of impactful investigations. Its Palestinian editor-in-chief Ghousoon Bisharat discusses the challenges independent journalism faces in Israel and Palestine.
Culture
More about Culture-
"Carmen" on the Egyptian stageRewritten to fit the patriarchal script
A stage production of "Carmen", adapted from Prosper Mérimée's French novella, has captured the attention of audiences and critics in Cairo. While the French novella portrayed Carmen as a free-spirited rebel, the Egyptian adaptation tells a different story.
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"Dis-orienting the Maghreb" by Sadik RddadPlural identities in colonial Morocco
In his new book, Moroccan scholar Sadik Rddad revisits colonial-era British and American travel writing, challenging Edward Said's view of Orientalism and its flattening of Maghrebi identities.
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30 essays trace a problem that affects society as a wholeEveryday Anti-Semitism in Turkey
What is the origin of anti-Semitic ideologies in politics, media and society in Turkey? And what impact does this have on today's politics? A new book provides answers.
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New Choukri translationThe absurdist frame
In Mohamed Choukri's varied and experimental collection "Tales of Tangier" the hyperreal meets the bizarre. The off-kilter stories put forward by the late author seem to be set spinning on their edges, so fast and wild they might just fly off the page
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The animals of Istanbul – a literary homageA dog barks, a seagull mews
Istanbul's kings and queens are its seagulls, the cats and dogs in its alleyways, the pigeons on Taksim Square. The city's animals are also an essential component of its literature. A new anthology of short stories by Turkish-language authors offers up a narrative tribute to the city's non-human inhabitants
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Nassir Djafari's "Der Großcousin"On the run
A man who has lost touch with his Iranian roots meets a distant relative fleeing to Germany at the height of the refugee crisis in 2015. "Der Großcousin", Nassir Djafari's third novel, makes for a thrilling and topical read
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The universal language of musicMusic dossier: Tuning in to the unfamiliar
An independent, modern music scene has long since developed in the Islamic world and Europe. Breaking with convention, it is a far cry from belly dance and folklore cliches. In this dossier, we present some of its leading protagonists, genres and events
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Grammy-winning producer Ian BrennanRecording Rohingyas' raw emotion
Brennan's "Once We Had A Home" is a searing document of the reality faced by Rohingya refugees squeezed into the massive Kutupalong refugee camp near Cox's Bazar on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border
750th anniversary of Rumi's death
750th anniversary of Rumi's death - Qantara.de
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Pakistan
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Syrien nach Assad
Ahmad al-Scharaa und der globale Dschihad
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Jafar Panahis Spielfilm "Drei Gesichter"
Ein antifeministisches Manifest
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Irakische Filmemacherinnen
Bewegte Bilder gegen erstarrte Strukturen