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Political scientist Scott Straus on Sudan"All the fundamentals of genocide are present"
Genocide scholar Scott Straus has spent decades studying the causes of mass violence. He examines the dynamics of violence in Darfur, arguing that international inaction on Sudan highlights a broader crisis in genocide prevention.
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Language politicsCan English replace French in Algeria?
English is gaining ground in Algeria's education system, challenging the long-standing dominance of French, a remnant of colonial rule. But the shift is far from straightforward, testing the ability of schools and universities to adapt.
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Lebanese writer Hazem Saghieh"Hezbollah has never protected Lebanon from Israel"
Hazem Saghieh says that the renewed war between Israel and Hezbollah has revealed deep divisions within Lebanese society rather than fostering unity. He warns that Israel's intervention to disarm Hezbollah risks paving the way for a new occupation.
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Displacement in LebanonWhen war reached our building in Beirut
In Lebanon, war is felt differently across society, and displacement is a test of social cohesion. Manal Khader recounts how it reached her Beirut apartment block, and the responses of the residents' WhatsApp group in the Christian neighbourhood of Badaro.
Politics
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Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-SudaniIraq's economic reform experiment
Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani is banking on hands-on reforms and new infrastructure projects to restore trust in the state. His approach has delivered short-term stability and popularity. But Iraq's oil dependence and economic weaknesses remain.
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Opposition figure Behrouz Farahani"The war has frozen Iran's protest movements"
The Iran war stems from two reactionary forces, the hegemonic ambitions of Iran’s Shia establishment and the Israeli vision of reshaping the Middle East, says Behrouz Farahani. A ceasefire is urgent, he argues, and real change must come from within.
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Book review: Narges Bajoghli's "Iran Reframed"Glossy nationalism to win over Iran's youth
A new book offers a deep insight into Iran's state media apparatus. It gives a first-hand account of the debates around the how the system positions itself – and shows how a new approach is being used in an attempt to win over young people to the Islamic Republic. By Daniel Walter
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Interview with Iranian activist Taghi Rahmani"A robust civil society is the essence of democracy"
The execution of wrestler Navid Afkari triggered an international outcry, as well as protests against the Iranian justice system. At the same time, it has highlighted the persistently precarious situation of many human rights activists in the Islamic Republic. Azadeh Fathi spoke to the journalist and activist Taghi Rahmani
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A sacred site in JerusalemThe new Saladin
Now that he has converted Hagia Sophia back into a mosque, Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is setting his sights on the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Joseph Croitoru explains why the call to "liberate Al-Aqsa" is being elevated to a state ideology in Turkey
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Protests in LibyaViolence and corruption: young people say enough's enough
Just as in Lebanon and Iraq, civil war-torn Libya is also experiencing a wave of protests against corruption and undignified living conditions. The difference here is that demonstrators in Libya are confronted with two governments at once. By Kersten Knipp and Khaled Salameh
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COVID-19 in IranPower, identity and the coronavirus
The coronavirus is changing everything, forcing cancellation of the usual shows of force and mass religious events seen as indispensable to the rulers of the Islamic Republic. A new age is dawning in Iran: a virtual age. By Ali Sadrzadeh
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Afghanistan's decline and long search for peaceA slide into war and chaos
The Soviet Union's 1979 invasion and 10-year domination of Afghanistan started the country's descent into poverty and lawlessness. The country still has not found peace. People have lost faith in institutions, tend to only trust persons from their own tribe, and the nation's attitude is now more xenophobic than in the past. By Nawid Paigham
Society
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War and memoryGaza's lost photographs
Through years of war, many people in Gaza have lost their personal photo albums. Palestinian journalist Asmaa al-Ghoul reflects on her family's vanished images and what their absence means for personal and collective memory.
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Ralph Ghadban on Iran"The Islamic Republic is rooted in society"
Whether through appeasement or escalation, the West keeps making the same mistake with Iran, argues Islamic studies scholar Ralph Ghadban: it fails to recognise the regime's radical Shia ideological foundations.
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Palliative care for migrants in GermanySupport at the end of a long journey
Germany is home to 21 million people with a migrant background. Hospices and providers of palliative care are adapting their practices to make them more inclusive. By Christoph Strack
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Farewell to a Saudi animal rights activist"You see me in the eyes of cats, and I see you"
In late August, Twitter was awash with grief and disbelief at the gut-wrenching news of the passing of a man known only by the pseudonym Barg ou Ra'd ("Lightning & Thunder"). Reem Kelani says farewell to a popular Saudi animal rights activist whose identity was revealed only after his passing
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Women's rights in YemenMaking the most of the space available
Yemen's modern history has never seen a coherent and consistent women's movement, but rather temporary and fragmented movements with different priorities, such as women's struggle against human rights violations, and feminists' focus on combating patriarchal tribal structures that discriminated against women. But, writes Afrah Nasser, they all stemmed from genuine concerns for human rights and democracy
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After the fire in MoriaFor many migrants, the dream of freedom ends in Lesbos
After the devastating fires in the Moria migrant camp on Lesbos, Muhammad spent days on a sealed-off section of road with thousands of others. His most fervent wish is to leave the island, as Max Zander reports
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Sexual violence in EgyptBattling against a culture of silence
Two prominent cases concerning gender-based violence – that of Ahmed Zaki, who has been accused by more than 100 women of extortion, sexual harassment, coercion and rape, and that of the gang rape at the Fairmont Hotel in 2014 – have given rise to a new movement fighting sexual violence in Egypt. Paula Al-Bahari has the details
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One month after the Beirut port explosion"We sweep trauma under the carpet and carry on"
You can see the port of Beirut from Mounir al-Khodr's roof terrace. His family's home, belongings and memories were damaged in the explosion. Julia Neumann reports from Beirut on what life has been like for him and his family since the catastrophic events of 4 August
Culture
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Ramadan TV specialsSyrian drama after Assad
Television dramas are a Ramadan staple in Syria. This year, for the first time, viewers watched series written in a post-Assad era, some confronting past trauma, others offering satirical critique, sparking fierce debate over how the country's stories should be told.
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Syed Muhammad Naquib al-AttasA life rethinking the foundations of knowledge
Malaysian philosopher and polymath Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas has died aged 94. A lifelong critic of Western intellectual dominance, his work has shaped debates on modernity and education across the Muslim world.
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Syrian-Philippino rapper Nasser ShorbajiHip-hopping between generations
Nasser Shorbaji, aka Chyno, has been active on the Lebanese hip-hop scene for more than eight years now. His trademark sound is anti-war, against the dispossession and enforced exile of people in the region. It is a message that has influenced many younger generation musicians – a group he is particularly keen to encourage. Interview by Tugrul von Mende
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Legendary oud player and singer Sheikh ImamEgypt's musical rebel
2 July 2018 marked the centenary of the birth of Egyptian protest singer Sheikh Imam. Martina Sabra visited the legendary artist several times in the 1990s and has observed that many years after his death, Sheikh Imam's music is still very much alive on the streets of Egypt
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Album review: Mitra Sumaraʹs "Tahdig"Taking chances for change
Founded by lead singer Yvette Saatchi Perez, Mitra Sumara aims to present positive aspects of Iranian culture to the West. While the American government might be making attempts to vilify Iran as a country, the band are doing their best to enlighten people about this country's unique music heritage. By Richard Marcus
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Book review: Marwan Hisham and Molly Crabappleʹs "Brothers of the Gun"Immortal art and immortal words
Tracing his own coming-of-age and the fateful changes that take place in Raqqa between 2011 and 2016, Syrian journalist Marwan Hisham’s memoir – deftly complimented by Molly Crabappleʹs moody illustrations – explores timeless issues: growing up, teenage rebellion and the inevitable moral quandaries. Marcia Lynx Qualey read the book
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"Future Lab Tunisia"It all comes down to music
The idea of becoming a musician was beyond the wildest dreams of the children at one Tunisian school. Until, that is, "Future Lab Tunisia" arrived – and with it the realisation that dreams might just come true. By Myriel Desgranges
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Portrait of the Orientalist Friedrich SchraderOne of Turkey's Germans
The orientalist and journalist Friedrich Schrader was one of the first and most active cultural mediators between Germany and Turkey. Today, the founder of the "Osmanischer Lloyd" has been largely forgotten. By Ceyda Nurtsch
750th anniversary of Rumi's death
750th anniversary of Rumi's death - Qantara.de
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