Society

The anchor woman, Judith Rakers, presenting the German news bulletin, "Tagesschau" (photo: dpa/Sebastian Widmann) Book Review: ''News - The Televised Revolution''

Mouths Issuing Silent Screams

The work of artist Monika Huber is a critical appraisal of how the media reported on the Arab Spring. Some of her pieces now appear in a book published in cooperation with the Middle East reporter Susanne Fischer. A review by Björn Zimprich More »


Mouhanad Khorchide (photo: University of Münster/Peter Grewer) Interview with Mouhanad Khorchide

''God Is Not A Dictator''

The Koran has thus far been subjected to erroneous interpretation, says Mouhanad Khorchide, professor of Islamic Religious Education at the University of Munster. Khorchide is calling for an emancipation of the faith. Interview by Arnfrid Schenk and Martin Spiewak More »


Shahenda Maklad (photo: DW) Interview with Shahenda Maklad

''The Revolutionary Forces Should Close Ranks''

Shahenda Maklad has been fighting for social justice in Egypt for decades. The left-wing political activist, who became known country-wide in the 1960s for championing the cause of peasants, has supported the Tahrir revolution of 2011 from the very beginning. In this interview with Christoph Dreyer, she calls on her fellow revolutionaries to unify and not to lose sight of their strategic goals More »


A class on Islam in a German primary school (photo: DW) Islamic Religious Education in Germany

Allah or the Advisory Council

A few weeks ago, a new school subject was introduced in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia: Islamic religious education. The new subject is a provisional arrangement and is not uncontroversial. By Ellen Hoffers More »


Cover of the magazine ''Ala'', first edition Islamic Fashion Magazine ''Ala'' from Turkey

Hijab and High Heels

Turkish public opinion is divided over the Islamic fashion magazine "Ala". Most of the objections emanate from the Islamist camp, which makes it all the more surprising to learn that most of the women who read the magazine are members of the new Turkish middle class, which is politically aligned with the Islamist-leaning AKP. By Marcel Malachowski More »


Students matriculate at the department for Islamic Studies in Sarajevo (photo: Charlotte Wiedemann) Islam in Bosnia

''We belong to the West, culturally and mentally''

Bosnia is entering a new phase in its history: the post-war era is over; communities and mosques have been rebuilt. But where are Bosnian Muslims heading in these turbulent times? Charlotte Wiedemann spoke to Ahmet Alibašić, lecturer at the Faculty of Islamic Studies in Sarajevo More »


Salafist rally in Tunis (photo: dapd) Inter-Islamic Cultural War

The Despondency of the Political Middle Ground

Despite their poor results in elections, the Salafi movements have succeeded in putting their stamp on the policies of the Islamic mainstream - and moderate Islamists continue to react towards the Salafis with a certain degree of despondency. Samir Farangiya reports on the phenomenon of the new inter-Islamic cultural war More »


Fisher boats on the beach at Rafah in the Southern Gaza Strip (photo: Bettina Marx/DW) Palestinian Territories

Fishermen from Gaza Risk Their Lives at Work

The fishermen from Gaza have a dangerous job. Israeli soldiers, often armed to the gills, obstruct their work. Last month, a 22-year-old fisherman was shot dead. Bettina Marx reports from Gaza City More »


December 2011: Demonstration in Cairo against police violence against women (photo: Hossam Ali/AP/dapd) Women during the ''Arabellion''

Neither Winners nor Losers

The women's movement in Egypt goes back a long way. But how has the situation of women changed in the 18 months since the start of the Arab Spring? The Egyptian-German political scientist and women's rights activist Hoda Salah takes stock More »


Young women at the University of Benghazi, Libya (photo: DW) Interview with Nader Hashemi

On the Compatibility of Islam and Democracy

In this interview with Lewis Gropp, Nader Hashemi, a leading scholar on Islam and secularism, says that the two are far from being incompatible – and that the West has to accept its share of responsibility for the revival of anti-democratic forces in the Islamic world More »