The Saudi Arabian Film ''Wadjda''
Wadjda is the first feature film from Saudi Arabia to be directed by a woman. Despite receiving support from the royal family, filming was very difficult for the German-Saudi film team. Nevertheless, the resulting film both tells a touching story and is a delicately nuanced critique of Saudi society. Jannis Hagmann watched the film More »
The Documentary Film ''In the Bazaar of Sexes''
The phenomenon of temporary marriage in the Islamic Republic of Iran is explored in the documentary In the Bazaar of Sexes. The film's female director, Sudabeh Morterzai, gives viewers a rare insight into a very complex society. Marian Brehmer watched the film More »
Book Review: ''The Daughters of Allah'' by Nedim Gürsel
In 2008, the renowned Turkish author Nedim Gürsel was charged with insulting Islam in his novel The Daughters of Allah. He was later acquitted. The novel has now been translated into German. Stefan Weidner read the book More »
Shereen El Feki's ''Sex and the Citadel''
Journalist Shereen El Feki feels that the taboo surrounding all subjects relating to sexuality in public discourse in the Arab world is not only an ideological deficit, but also dangerous, due to what she sees as a shocking lack of knowledge across the board. Claudia Kramatschek read her book More »
Interview with the Turkish Writer Mario Levi
In this interview with Ceyda Nurtsch, Turkish author and journalist Mario Levi speaks about anti-Semitism in Turkey, writing as an escape and how remembering can become a political act More »
Drama School in the West Bank
Students at the West Bank's first and only drama school talk about their struggle to establish a theatre in the West Bank and their desire to change society for the better through theatre. Ulrike Schleicher spoke to three of them More »
Interview with Amos Oz
The great Israeli writer Amos Oz on his early years in a kibbutz, the influence of the settlers movement on Israeli politics, and the prospects for the peace process. An interview by Inge Günther More »
The ''On Marche'' Festival in Marrakesh
The eighth contemporary dance festival "On Marche" is taking place in Marrakesh this year. In spite of the fact that there is still considerable resistance to the idea of dance, the festival still manages to turn public places into open stages which are enthusiastically received by the public. By Astrid Kaminski More »
Civil War and Cultural Protest in Syria
As the military conflict in Syria continues to escalate, the commitment of many peace activists and creative professionals in Syria is going more or less unnoticed by the media and in western public consciousness. An essay by Astrid Kaminski More »
Iran's International Fajr Festival
The organizers at this year's Fajr Festival appear to have been chiefly concerned with issuing the mandatory conclusion that in view of the countless protest movements, the West is at the end of its tether. But even at this state-sponsored cultural event, Iran's very own crisis is tangible. Amin Farzanefar reports More »
