Is Iran part of the problem or part of the solution to the conflicts in the Near and Middle East? There are actually good arguments for both points of view. By Bahman NirumandRead more
An ambitious international mosque-building programme is seen as the latest step in the Turkish president's ambitious bid to put Turkey at the centre of Muslim world. During his visit to Cuba in February, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan requested that his country be allowed to build a mosque in Havana. At present, 18 major mosques are being built by the Turkish state across the globe from Somalia to Kazakhstan. By Dorian JonesRead more
With "Everyday Rebellion", Iranian-born filmmakers Arash and Arman T. Riahi have created a multimedia project that celebrates civil disobedience and connects peaceful forms of protest in Islamic countries and around the globe. Nahid Fallahi spoke to Arash T. Riahi about the filmRead more
Never before in the history of Israel have there been such empty and unnecessary elections. The elections of 2015 are about nothing; no real issues are being discussed. Most of the parties are not even bothering to present an agenda, and very few Israelis understand why they have to go to the polls on 17 March, two years after they last did so. By Gideon LevyRead more
Is Iran part of the problem or part of the solution to the conflicts in the Near and Middle East? There are actually good arguments for both points of view. By Bahman NirumandMore
An ambitious international mosque-building programme is seen as the latest step in the Turkish president's ambitious bid to put Turkey at the centre of Muslim world. During his visit to Cuba in February, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan requested that his country be allowed to build a mosque in Havana. At present, 18 major mosques are being built by the Turkish state across the globe from Somalia to Kazakhstan. By Dorian JonesMore
With their keen fighting spirit, the Shia militias may well be an effective weapon in the fight against Islamic State in Iraq. However, this is quite literally a case of casting out the devil that is IS with the Beelzebub that is the Shia militias, says Karim El-GawharyMore
Never before in the history of Israel have there been such empty and unnecessary elections. The elections of 2015 are about nothing; no real issues are being discussed. Most of the parties are not even bothering to present an agenda, and very few Israelis understand why they have to go to the polls on 17 March, two years after they last did so. By Gideon LevyMore
Pakistan, Afghanistan, Yemen and Somalia are known to be hotbeds of Islamist activity. For some time now, many young, radicalised Muslims have been leaving their homes in Europe and northern Africa to join the ranks of radical Islamist groups such as IS. However, little attention has thus far been paid to the number of jihadis coming out of the Russian Republic of Dagestan. By Kiran Nazish in AfghanistanMore
North America has seen an alarming number of anti-Muslim attacks in recent months. With elections coming up in both Canada and the US in the next two years, Richard Marcus takes a look at the context of these attacks and the reactions to themMore
Terrorist attacks, the rise of hate-crimes and extremism threaten the cohesion of European societies. All of these events underline the need for a "third way", one that neither strives for isolation nor promotes animosity. Yet a "third way" must not turn a blind eye to the impact of hate-speech and hate-crimes on the collective conscience of a targeted group. And it has to resist the temptation to exaggerate reality for the sake of its mission. By David NeuwirthMore
Muslim intellectuals have called on their fellow believers to indentify the failures of Muslim societies and develop an Islam for the twenty-first century. Loay Mudhoon believes that Europe should unreservedly support this effortMore
With "Everyday Rebellion", Iranian-born filmmakers Arash and Arman T. Riahi have created a multimedia project that celebrates civil disobedience and connects peaceful forms of protest in Islamic countries and around the globe. Nahid Fallahi spoke to Arash T. Riahi about the filmMore
The renowned Algerian essayist, literary scholar and poet Malek Alloula died in February at the age of 78. His ex-wife, the writer Assia Djebar, had died in exile in Paris only a few weeks previously. By Suleman TaufiqMore
Sara Salar's novel was published in Tehran in 2009. It was reprinted four times that year and won several literary awards. However, after 16,000 copies had been sold, the book was banned by the censor. Volker Kaminski read the German translationMore
Ibrahim El Batout's new film "El Ott" is both shocking and disturbing. The gangster epic documents the harsh reality of life in Cairo's slums and tells of the trafficking of organs and humans in the Egyptian capital. By Sofian Philip NaceurMore
The earthen fortified city of Ait-Ben-Haddou is regarded as an important part of Morocco's cultural heritage. Severe storms have damaged the site, however, and repairing it is difficult and expensive. Impressions from Anne Allmeling
DW Freedom of Speech Award goes to Raif Badawi
The Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, who was sentenced by Saudi authorities in May 2014 to 1,000 lashes, 10 years in prison and a major fine for openly expressing his opinions on his website, has been announced as the recipient of Deutsche Welle's first Freedom of Speech award. DW is awarding the prize as part of its international online awards "The Bobs." More
The Bobs 2015: honouring freedom of expression
Since 2004, The Bobs have been honouring bloggers, activists, and journalists in 14 languages who champion the open exchange of ideas, freedom of expression and human rights on the Internet. For the eleventh time, Deutsche Welle will be rewarding outstanding international online activists and Internet projects in 2015. This year, Deutsche Welle will also be presenting its inaugural Freedom of Speech Award. More
Fikrun wa Fann: Psychology
When Sigmund Freud invented psychoanalysis at the end of the nineteenth century, psychology became a science and theory which, like medicine, laid claim to universality. But is this claim legitimate? The new edition of Art&Thought explores the role of psychology in a globalised world and for intercultural exchange.More
Interview with Karen Armstrong
Karen Armstrong, British scholar of comparative religion, finds that there is a long and inglorious tradition of distorting Islam in Europe. She criticises the notion that Islam is essentially more violent than Christianity and speaks about the genesis of Western disdain for the Arab world. Interview by Claudia MendeMore
Video: What is Pegida?
For three months now, a movement known as Pegida has been demonstrating against the alleged Islamisation of the West and against immigration in Germany. But is their any truth in its claims that Germany is being flooded by Muslims and migrants? And even if it is, are the consequences for Germany as catastrophic as Pegida claims? This video presents some of the facts about immigration in Germany. More
The German Islam Scholar Lamya Kaddor
Why I as a Muslim Woman Don't Wear a Headscarf
The Media and ''The Innocence of Muslims''
Against the Islamisation of Muslims
Muslims in Liberal Democracies
Why the West Fears Islam
The Decline of Islamic Scientific Thought
Don't Blame It on al-Ghazali
Junaid Jamshed
"I Was a Sinner for Years"
Western Sahara conflict
The curse of resources