The Turkish Publisher Ragıp Zarakolu
For almost 40 years now the Turkish publisher, author and human rights activist Ragıp Zarakolu has been a thorn in the side of the Turkish state. He has been jailed several times and there are numerous indictments against him going through the courts. But Zarakolu has never lost his faith in the power of the word. Profile by Ceyda Nurtsch More »
Mouhanad Khorchide's Reformist Theology
Mouhanad Khorchide aims to reconcile Islam with the modern world. His aim is to liberate the Koran from all outward trappings and return to the religion's spiritual core Claudia Mende introduces the man and his work More »
Living out of Wedlock in Iran
More and more couples in Iran are living together despite the fact that they are not married - in the face of law and tradition. Conservative Islamic groups are trying to push the government to reverse this trend. By Yalda Zarbakhch More »
Israelis and Palestinians
Back home, they only know about each other from checkpoints and through the media. At the University of Düsseldorf in Germany, students from the Middle East can talk to each other in person about culture, politics, and peace. Antje Hollunder reports More »
Women in Afghanistan
The NATO mandate in Afghanistan is drawing to a close. But the western forces will leave unfinished business behind when they pull out in 2014. Many promises were made to Afghan people a decade ago, and many remain unfulfilled – for instance, in regard to women's rights. By Sheila Mysorekar More »
Islamic Religion Classes in German schools
After years of discussion and debate, the first German states are now introducing Islamic religion classes in public schools. However, because there are many different branches of Islam and no central authority to offer guidance, the question as to who should be allowed to decide on teachers and lesson content is leading to serious conflict. By Claudia Mende More »
Interview with Hossein Mousavian
Seyed Hossein Mousavian, spokesman for the former nuclear negotiator Hassan Rowhani and once the Iranian ambassador to Germany, sees a realistic chance for a resolution of the nuclear crisis despite the escalation of the conflict. Direct talks with the USA are both possible and necessary, says the former diplomat. An interview by Silke Mertins More »
Interview with the New Secretary-General of AI Germany
Arms exports, support for foreign projects that do not meet human rights standards, too much red tape when it comes to Syrian refugees and police brutality in Munich: Selmin Çalışkan, the new Secretary-General of Amnesty International in Germany, is volleying some harsh criticism at the German federal government. An interview by Victoria Großmann and Oliver Das Gupta More »
Commentary by Aryeh Neier
According human rights organisations, there were never as many journalists in prison in Turkey since the end of the military regime in 1983 as during the past year. Aryeh Neier, founding member of "Human Rights Watch", criticizes the state of media freedom of Turkey, which in his view conflicts with the nation's general human rights situation More »
Pope Benedict XVI and Turkey's Muslims
Pope Benedict XVI was only just in the process of becoming a Pope. He will be remembered by the Turks as someone who got lost in this process. How Turkish Muslims viewed Benedict XVI. By Kerim Balci More »
