Qantara Startseite Englisch - Dialogue with the Islamic world
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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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"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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The "New Middle East"Pax Israelia or bellum aeternum?
With the support of the USA, Israel is reshaping the Middle East. Though framed as a path to stability, their strategy risks locking the region into a permanent conflict.
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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.
Politics
More about Politics-
Iran and Israel"A war of extremisms"
Both Israel and Iran are driven by dangerous forms of fundamentalism, says former IAEA analyst Behrooz Bayat. He explains how close Tehran is to developing a nuclear bomb and the logic behind Israel's attacks.
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Ismail Küpeli's "Graue Wölfe"A danger left unchecked
Thousands of right-wing extremists of Turkish origin live in Germany. Violent and deeply embedded, they remain largely ignored by politicians. In his book "Graue Wölfe" (Grey Wolves), Ismail Küpeli takes a closer look at the movement.
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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.
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Pakistan and the war on GazaCommitment to pan-Islamic solidarity
With a population of 235 million, Pakistan is one of the most populous Islamic countries. There is great solidarity with Palestine among the population. The government views the war on Gaza primarily against the backdrop of the Kashmir conflict.
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India and the Middle East conflictIndia’s arm sales to Israel are a political statement
The ammunition supplies to Israel may bring more support for India within Western capitals. However, the Arab-Israeli crisis continues to shape the future balance of power in the Middle East, mainly against the Western countries and their Gulf allies, states the Indian Middle-East expert Omair Anas.
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Iran and IsraelThe spiral of violence escalates
The assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyah is a drastic event. The Islamic Republic seems determined to take revenge, and a new armed conflict against Israel cannot be ruled out. In addition, everything the new president had promised is obsolete for the time being.
Society
More about Society-
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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Syria after AssadTo stay, to leave, to return
As many refugees return to Syria, queues are forming outside passport offices as people try to leave. Four personal stories reflect the hopes, fears and unresolved questions of a country in transition.
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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.
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Deportations to Afghanistan and SyriaThe rule of law and its careless enemies
Those who turn to Assad or the Taliban instead of the German constitutional state when it comes to questions of security, fail to understand what makes those regimes tick.
Culture
More about Culture-
"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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Al-Hafiz Tarjok's "Friday of Death"A survivor's account of the Melilla massacre
In "Friday of Death", Sudanese activist al-Hafiz Tarjok recounts his survival of the deadly 2022 events at the Melilla border between Morocco and Spain. His book sheds light on the tragedy faced by thousands of Sudanese risking their lives to cross the desert in search of safety in Europe.
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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
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Kuzey Topuz and "Der Freund"The human as board game
In her debut novel, "Der Freund" (The Friend), Kuzey Topuz has created a complex weave of fragments and perspectives. The book is all about power and influence in interpersonal relations and at a societal level. It's a masterstroke
750th anniversary of Rumi's death
750th anniversary of Rumi's death - Qantara.de
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Ägyptisches Theater
„Carmen“ als patriarchale Erzählung
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