Europe
All countries-
Interfaith dialogue
Religions responsible for helping create a better world
People these days are seeking orientation in a rapidly changing world. In response, all religions – each unique in their customs and traditions – need to pull together, says Chief Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt
-
The Longest War – 20 years of the "War on Terror"
Afghanistan: Emran Feroz' chronology of a disaster
The "War on Terror" has not only failed in Afghanistan, it has exacerbated insecurity and generated more terrorism. This is the main thrust of journalist Emran Feroz in his book, which was published, appropriately enough, 20 years after the attacks of 11 September 2001 and the subsequent invasion of Afghanistan by the USA and NATO. Behnam Said read the book for Qantara.de
-
Book review: Hassan Blasim's "God 99"
A different sort of sacred
Reading Hassan Blasim's God 99 is an immersive experience of grief and exaltation, anger and disgust, writes Marcia Lynx Qualey. We join the Iraqi narrator as he sits around in seedy Finnish bars and plays slot machines; as he meets refugees and listens to their stories; as he exchanges letters with a dying friend; and as he crosses a kaleidoscopic series of borders
-
Abdulrazak Gurnah and Tsitsi Dangarembga
Can the Nobel Prize "revitalise" African literature?
Abdulrazak Gurnah is the fourth author from sub-Saharan Africa to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature. Is the tide turning for African writers? By Annabelle Steffes-Halmer
-
Military coup in Sudan
Is the Arab Spring about to die in Khartoum?
General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan has declared a state of emergency in Sudan and dissolved the Sovereign Council, which was made up of military personnel and civilians. What will now happen in Khartoum is anyone's guess. The Sudanese experiment of peacefully wresting power from the military is facing its toughest test yet. An analysis by Karim El-Gawhary, reporting from Cairo
-
Turkey: the Osman Kavala case
A crucial test for EU–Turkey relations
The long detention of philanthropist Osman Kavala and Turkey's refusal to acknowledge an ECHR ruling could cost the country its membership or voting rights in the Council of Europe at the end of November. By Pelin Ünker
-
Migrants and the EU
Is Europe ready for a post-COVID migration wave?
Unauthorised immigration to Europe went down at the peak of the pandemic. As EU countries re-open, migrant flows are back up. What does it mean for the EU – and for migrants? By Sonya Angelica Diehn
-
Berlin's Human Rights Film Festival
"Yemen's Banksy" – Murad Subay creates art against war
Yemen remains the world's worst humanitarian crisis, say humanitarian organisations. At the recent Human Rights Film Festival in Berlin, street artist Murad Subay commented on the horrors of war. Elizabeth Grenier reports
-
Religions for Peace conference in Lindau
Fighting hate speech, climate change and COVID-19 together
Religions are often a source of conflict. But the worldwide Religions for Peace movement seeks to change that by galvanising interreligious dialogue. Delegates from 90 countries are meeting this week in Germany. The involvement and commitment of young women at this year's conference is striking. By Christoph Strack
-
Berlin's Human Rights Film Festival
"Captains of Zaatari" – the unshakeable power of dreams
Berlin's annual Human Rights Film Festival closed at the weekend. One entry to the festival was the documentary "Captains of Zaatari". Its Egyptian director Ali El Arabi focuses on young refugees from Syria, who dream of escaping their dismal life in the Zaatari refugee camp with the help of football. Rene Wildangel reports for Qantara.de
-
Taliban takeover
Afghanistan crisis looms as West cuts aid lifelines
The world must take action now to prevent a deep and lasting humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. But what, if anything, can be done? The one billion dollars pledged by international donors is merely a short term fix, argues Rashmee Roshan Lall
-
Arab world
Germany and the Middle East – a tale of morals and markets
Germany's foreign policy is explicitly values-based. But what happens, Ralf Bosen asks, when democracy, the rule of law and human rights collide with the logic of trade and business?