Qantara Startseite Englisch - Dialogue with the Islamic world
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Syria's missing detainees"We did not expect so few had survived"
The search for the missing is seen by many Syrians as crucial to rebuilding the nation. Mazin al-Balkhi of the International Commission on Missing Persons warns that the scale and arbitrary nature of the killings under Assad pose major challenges.
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Jan Dost on writing in Arabic and Kurdish"Like being caught between two magnets"
"Safe Corridor" is Jan Dost's first novel translated into English. The prolific Syrian writer explores the hardening impact of war on children and discusses the key differences between writing in Kurdish and Arabic.
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Sectarian massacre on Syrian coast"I am the sole survivor of my family"
Survivors of the violence unleashed in Syrian coastal cities in early March tell Qantara their stories. Warning: the testimonies contain details of the indiscriminate killings of Alawite civilians and may be disturbing.
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"Fighting the Flow" by Algerian author Saïd KhatibiThe weight of colonial memory
Saïd Khatibi's "Fighting the Flow" explores French colonialism's violent legacy in Algerian society after the War of Liberation. The novel poses the question: can individuals liberate themselves from their past?
Politics
More about Politics-
Civil society since the Arab SpringEurope must support the agents of change
Civil society organisations in West Asia and North Africa face widespread repression. But instead of supporting activists on the ground, European policymakers continue to prop up autocratic regimes.
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Erdoğan rival Ekrem İmamoğluDetained but defiant
Days before he was set to secure his official presidential candidacy, Ekrem İmamoğlu was arrested on corruption and terrorism charges. A relative unknown until he won Istanbul's mayoralty in 2019, how did he become Erdoğan's greatest rival?
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A new phase in the Middle East conflictHistory and the war on Gaza
According to the Palestinian-American historian Rashid Khalidi, the Middle East conflict and the war in Gaza are in many ways a consequence of imperial interventions. “Resolution can only be based on dismantling entrenched structures of supremacy and discrimination”, he asserts. Only in this way a two-state solution can be realised.
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Relations with the Middle EastEurope can still make a difference
The European Union is faced with the challenge of finding a common line towards the Middle East that both takes into account the different national positions and promotes a coherent foreign policy. How can this be realized?
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What is anti-Semitism?How do you differentiate?
A new anthology sheds light on the various forms of anti-Semitism and the academic debate surrounding it in the light of current controversial debates
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The rise of Israel's religious nationalist sectPolitical Islam, political Judaism
The 7 October Hamas attacks fanned the flames of a movement already virulent in Israel. Ever since, religious nationalists have been consolidating their influence. In Germany, where politicians prefer to focus solely on the dangers of Islamism, it is easier to ignore such developments
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Iraq's autonomous KurdistanKurds drifting away from democracy
In Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan, regional elections are being repeatedly postponed, institutions weakened and structures are becoming more autocratic
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War in GazaWhen children are seen as the enemy
A racist view of Palestinian children contributes to an acceptance of the fact that they are dying in their thousands in Gaza
Society
More about Society-
Muslims in GermanyIn search of a political voice
Trust in politics has plummeted among German Muslims, as seen in recent voter turnout. While some online preachers argue voting is haram, imams in Berlin are actively campaigning for political participation.
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Women in SyriaCrafting independence
In Syria, women are reclaiming their independence through creative initiatives, from traditional crafts to community workshops. Four stories of perseverance and hope.
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Muslim month of pilgrimageHajj – a vision of interfaith solidarity
When Muslims turn to the Kaaba as a common centre point, they are reminded of their sacred bond with the entire human race and their special relationship with the other Abrahamic religions
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Women's movements in Turkey"We women have learned a lot from each other"
From the Kurdish women's movement to the labour movement and Muslim feminists: the German anthology "Women's Movements in Turkey" builds a bridge between activism and academia. A conversation with the editors Iclal Ayse Kucukkirca and Handan Caglayan
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Cinema in IranUnveiled women conquer the silver screen
More and more Iranian films are breaking taboos – the results are being met with amazement both in and outside Iran. "My Favourite Cake", which premiered at the Berlinale in February, is just the latest example
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Germany, the Holocaust and colonialismControversy over 'culture of remembrance' reform
Germany's coalition government wants to expand its remembrance culture to include the country's colonial history. Initial proposals have been met with criticism, in particular from heads of Holocaust memorial sites
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One family's flight from Gaza"We escaped hell"
Bombs, destruction, hunger: the situation of the people in the Gaza Strip is catastrophic. Those who can afford to flee to neighbouring Egypt. Mohamed Isbitah managed to do just that. He speaks to Qantara.de about his dramatic escape
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Press in PakistanStudents switch off from media careers
Journalism schools in Pakistan have been reporting low enrolment. Teachers say poor job prospects and industry issues are discouraging students from pursuing media careers
Culture
More about Culture-
TV series "Muawiya"Historical Ramadan drama fuels controversy
The Saudi-produced television series “Muawiya” emerged as a talking point during Ramadan, sparking debate throughout the Middle East. Both Iran and Iraq have banned the show which charts the life of one of the most controversial figures in Islamic history.
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Stefan Weidner on pre-Islamic poetry"Poetry in its true fullness"
Stefan Weidner has gathered pre-Islamic poems and translated them into German. His new book "The Arabic Divan" revisits these centuries-old works and explores how their verses serve as a vibrant predecessor to today's social media.
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Najat Abed Alsamad's "Kein Wasser stillt ihren Durst"Searching for life
Najat Abed Alsamad's award-winning novel, "La Ma'a Yarwiha", has been published in German translation as "Kein Wasser stillt ihren Durst" (No water quenches her thirst). In it, she tells the story of a young Druze woman who roundly rejects the traditional rules imposed on her by her parents and relatives and begins a long fight for her freedom
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Zakaria Tamer's "Sour Grapes"Always subversive
Playing with language in his short-short collection "Sour Grapes" – now in English translation – Syrian writer Zakaria Tamer doesn't hesitate to employ the winking humour, quick reversals and archetypes that are a part of his wide appeal
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Palestinian-Chilean singerElyanna poised to take Arabic pop global
Singing in Arabic wasn't part of Elyanna's original plan. Yet it's helping the 22-year-old Palestinian-Chilean singer make history, even as she walks a fine line against the backdrop of current events
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Iranian protest literatureEhtesham-Zadeh and the inner revolution
"Zan", Suzi Ehtesham-Zadeh's short story collection, tells of Iranian women during the uprising in Iran, and of women in exile grappling in diverse ways with their identity and roots. A book about women, life and freedom that has arrived at exactly the right moment
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German culture scene unites against far-right"The Many" against the AfD
Germany's right-wing AfD continues to gain ground in the polls. Many involved in the country's cultural scene fear the party will restrict artistic freedoms following the next election and have therefore launched their own campaign
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Arab Film Festival in BerlinSpotlighting Palestinian voices
As the Israel-Hamas war impacts Germany's cultural sector, the organisers of the ALFILM festival fear for the future of their event
750th anniversary of Rumi's death
750th anniversary of Rumi's death - Qantara.de
Most read articles
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Jan Dost über das Schreiben auf Arabisch und Kurdisch
„Wie ein Stück Eisen zwischen zwei Magneten“
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Sex-Tourismus in Ägypten
Braut für einen Sommer
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Atheismus in der arabischen Welt
Das Internet bietet Marokkos Atheisten eine Heimat
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Aicha 'Lella Saida' Manoubiya
Tunesiens Sufi-Ikone als frühe Frauenrechtlerin
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Interview mit dem israelischen Philosophen Omri Boehm
"Die Republik Haifa" - Ein Staat für alle
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Iranischer Film "Teheran Tabu"
Nichts als Tabus