Crimean Tatars in Ukraine
Deep-seated fears
Interview with Michael Kamber
The myths of war and war photography
Interview with Reza Dormishian
The rage of an entire generation on screen
Stefan Meister:
"The Syria crisis is legitimising Putin"

Crimean Tatars in Ukraine

Deep-seated fears

The Crimean Tatars, numbering some 250,000, are the third largest demographic group in Crimea. They fear that their rights will be sharply curtailed should the referendum on 16 March turn out in Russia's favour. Fear of Putin and his supporters is equally palpable amongst the millions of Crimean Tatars living in Turkish exile. By Luise SammannRead more

Photo gallery: The Lipka Tatars of Eastern EuropeEssay by Shireen Hunter: Islam in Russia Islam in Bosnia: Ground-Breaking Concepts of SecularizationInterview with Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu: Dialogue Should Not Legitimize Assad

Interview with American photojournalist Michael Kamber

Dispelling the myths of war and war photography

Michael Kamber is an American photojournalist and winner of the World Press Photo Award. Between 2003 and 2012 he covered the Iraq War extensively for the "New York Times". In 2013, he published the book "Photojournalists on war – The untold stories from Iraq", a mixture of photography and interviews with 39 photojournalists from different countries who worked in Iraq. Felix Koltermann spoke to him about his motivation for making this bookRead more

Iraq Ten Years after Saddam: Disenchanted NationIraq after the Withdrawal of US Troops: A ''Stable'' Country Teetering on the BrinkMichael Kamber's website

Interview with Iranian filmmaker Reza Dormishian

The rage of an entire generation on screen

The film "Asabani Nistam!" (I'm not angry!) was the only Iranian entry at this year's Berlinale film festival. On screen, young Iranians vent their anger and frustration at the day-to-day economic hardship and the general hopelessness of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's term as president. Igal Avidan spoke to the director and producer Reza DormishianRead more

Mehran Tamadon's documentary "Iranien": A bold experimentMohammed Rasoulof's ''Manuscripts Don't Burn'': Iranian Agents as KillersIranian Propaganda Cinema: Reversed Symbolism

Interview with Stefan Meister

"The Syria crisis is legitimising Putin"

Russia's backing of Bashar al-Assad and his regime is a geopolitical game, says Stefan Meister, expert in Russian foreign and security policy. Above all, however, Vladimir Putin is benefitting domestically from his Syria policy. The confrontation with the West is making him a key figure in world politics. Interview by Jannis HagmannRead more

Civil war in Syria: No peace with Assad and al-QaedaInternational policy on Syria: The rehabilitation of AssadRussia, the US and the Syrian Civil War: A Bloody Game of Chess

Politics

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (photo: picture-alliance/AP Photo)

Corruption scandal in Turkey

"The evaporation of the Turkish state as we know it"

A series of alleged telephone recordings between the Turkish prime minister and members of his family has escalated an ongoing political crisis to unprecedented levels, with many now fearing for the state of the country's democracy. By Dorian Jones in IstanbulMore

Turkish–Iranian relations: "Zero problems" with the Islamic RepublicInterview with Kerem Öktem: Farewell to the "Islamic Vatican"?The Erdogan administration: Turkey's paradigm shift
Crimean Tatars demonstrate against the possibility of Crimea becoming part of Russia (photo: dpa/picture-alliance)

Crimean Tatars in Ukraine

Deep-seated fears

The Crimean Tatars, numbering some 250,000, are the third largest demographic group in Crimea. They fear that their rights will be sharply curtailed should the referendum on 16 March turn out in Russia's favour. Fear of Putin and his supporters is equally palpable amongst the millions of Crimean Tatars living in Turkish exile. By Luise SammannMore

Photo gallery: The Lipka Tatars of Eastern EuropeEssay by Shireen Hunter: Islam in Russia Islam in Bosnia: Ground-Breaking Concepts of SecularizationInterview with Turkish Foreign Minister Davutoglu: Dialogue Should Not Legitimize Assad
Pictures of Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad leaning against a wall outside the Russian embassy in Damascus waiting to be used in a pro-Assad demonstration (photo: Muzaffar Salman/AP/dapd)

Interview with Stefan Meister

"The Syria crisis is legitimising Putin"

Russia's backing of Bashar al-Assad and his regime is a geopolitical game, says Stefan Meister, expert in Russian foreign and security policy. Above all, however, Vladimir Putin is benefitting domestically from his Syria policy. The confrontation with the West is making him a key figure in world politics. Interview by Jannis HagmannMore

Civil war in Syria: No peace with Assad and al-QaedaInternational policy on Syria: The rehabilitation of AssadRussia, the US and the Syrian Civil War: A Bloody Game of Chess
Members of the Syrian opposition (photo: Getty Images)

Syria after the Geneva II peace talks

In a political vacuum

The Syrian author Talal al-Maihani believes that the vicious circle of violence in Syria can only be broken by the emergence of a new opposition force that truly represents the political will of a majority of SyriansMore

Civil war in Syria: No peace with Assad and al-QaedaInternational policy on Syria: The rehabilitation of AssadRussia, the US and the Syrian Civil War: A Bloody Game of Chess
more Politics »

Society

American troops evacuating a badly wounded female American soldier on the hood of a Humvee from a Baghdad police station after the station was attacked by rockets fired from an apartment building across the street, 25 May 2004, Baghdad, Iraq (photo: Michael Kamber)

Interview with American photojournalist Michael Kamber

Dispelling the myths of war and war photography

Michael Kamber is an American photojournalist and winner of the World Press Photo Award. Between 2003 and 2012 he covered the Iraq War extensively for the "New York Times". In 2013, he published the book "Photojournalists on war – The untold stories from Iraq", a mixture of photography and interviews with 39 photojournalists from different countries who worked in Iraq. Felix Koltermann spoke to him about his motivation for making this bookMore

Iraq Ten Years after Saddam: Disenchanted NationIraq after the Withdrawal of US Troops: A ''Stable'' Country Teetering on the BrinkMichael Kamber's website
A girl holds up a poster of Amina al-Filali, victim of rape and forced marriage in Morocco (photo: Naqi Tbel)

Women in Morocco

Rape victims no longer forced to marry their aggressors

Although Morocco has done away with a controversial law allowing rapists of underage girls to escape prosecution if they marry their victims, the basic problem of rape remains. Activists say it's time to enact change in society to protect rape victims. By Monika GriebelerMore

Women's Rights in Morocco: Activists See Little Hope for Gender Policy ReformsWomen in Afghanistan: In Prison for Being RapedThe Muslim Brotherhood and Women's Rights in Egypt: A Project of Patriarchal ExtremismSexual Repression in the Arab World: Anguish, Love and Poetry
Turkish pupils in a German classroom (photo: dpa/picture-alliance)

Multicultural classrooms

An opportunity not a problem

It is increasingly the case that students from different nations, cultures and religions sit together in the same classroom. Experts at the University of Hildesheim in Germany are considering how teachers worldwide can better prepare themselves for this kind of diversity. Anke Martina Witt takes a look at how this issue is adressed in Germany, Canada, Norway and TurkeyMore

Integration in Germany: Finally growing upThe Avicenna scholarship programme: Fostering talented, socially committed Muslim studentsQantara dossier: Education
more Society »

Culture

Baran Kosari and Navid Mohammadzadeh in a still from the Iranian film "Asabani Nistam!" (I'm not angry!)

Interview with Iranian filmmaker Reza Dormishian

The rage of an entire generation on screen

The film "Asabani Nistam!" (I'm not angry!) was the only Iranian entry at this year's Berlinale film festival. On screen, young Iranians vent their anger and frustration at the day-to-day economic hardship and the general hopelessness of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's term as president. Igal Avidan spoke to the director and producer Reza DormishianMore

Mehran Tamadon's documentary "Iranien": A bold experimentMohammed Rasoulof's ''Manuscripts Don't Burn'': Iranian Agents as KillersIranian Propaganda Cinema: Reversed Symbolism
Ounsi el-Hage (photo: AFP/Getty Images)

Obituary: Lebanese poet Ounsi el-Hage

One of the founders of Arab surrealism

Last month, the Lebanese poet Ounsi el-Hage died at the age of 77. Alongside Adonis and Mahmoud Darwish, he was one of the pioneers of modern Arabic poetry. An obituary by Suleman TaufiqMore

Obituary for Fuad Rifka: The Advocate of Lyrical AttentivenessInterview with Fuad Rifka, Winner of the Goethe Medal: A Life Dedicated to the German LanguageInterview with Fuad Rifka: At Home in German Thought
Still from the documentary "Iranien" (photo: Berlinale)

Mehran Tamadon's documentary "Iranien"

A bold experiment

In Mehran Tamadon's new documentary, the director enters into a debate with four loyal supporters of the regime, who better him in every aspect of the discussion. Igal Avidan saw the film at the BerlinaleMore

Mohammed Rasoulof's ''Manuscripts Don't Burn'': Iranian Agents as KillersThe Documentary Film ''In the Bazaar of Sexes'': Temporary Marriage in IranDocumentary Feature ''The Iran Job'': US Basketball Player as Cultural Diplomat
more Culture »