Islam and Democracy

Topic: Islam and Democracy

The ''Tahrir Lounge'' in Cairo

Grassroots Democracy

In a project funded by Germany, a team of young Egyptians in Cairo is trying to boost civil participation and create political awareness without subscribing to any particular ideology. By Matthias SailerMore

Intercultural Dialogue: Goethe Institute Supports Post-Arab Spring Cultural Work Start of the Trial against NGO Staff in Egypt: A Bizarre and Legally Controversial Case

Ragip Zarakolu (photo: AP Photo/Muard Sezer)

The Turkish Publisher Ragıp Zarakolu

The Power of the Word

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 NurtschMore

Repression of Journalists in Turkey: Fighting Press Freedom with Anti-Terrorism Laws Commentary by Aryeh Neier: Turkey's Imprisoned Press Interview with Pınar Selek''The Old Mindset Is Still in Place in Turkey''

The inner courtyard of Al-Azhar University (photo: picture alliance/Bibliographisches Institut/Prof. Dr. H. Wilhelmy)

Al-Azhar and Pan-Islamic Rationalism

The Demise of Islamic Centres of Moderation

The spread of extremism in Muslim societies in the past century can be attributed to a largely overlooked trend: the demise of religious institutions that once had global reach. Focusing on Egypt's Al-Azhar university, Hassan Hassan takes a look into the matterMore

Niqab Debate in Egypt: Divided Scholars Societal Change in Egypt: A Riveting Wave of Political and Religious Soul Searching New Grand Sheikh at Al-Azhar University: Fighting Extremism in A Suit and Tie

Syrian anti-regime protesters wave pre-Baath Syrian flags, now used by the Free Syrian Army, during a demonstration after the weekly Friday prayers in the Bustan al-Qasr district of the northern city of Aleppo on February 8, 2013 (photo: Aamir Qureishi/AFP/Getty Images)

European Policy on Syria

The Time for Caution is Past

In view of the suffering and the destruction in Syria and the reticence of the US, the Europeans must assume more responsibility. They should expedite the reconstruction of liberated territories, bolster the National Coalition, finance rebels fighting for a democratic Syria and apply diplomatic pressure to pave the way for a political transition, says Kristin HelbergMore

The Syrian Conflict: Preparing for the Endgame ''Syria in the Firing Line'': Beyond the Violence Iran's Role in the Syrian Civil War: Masters and Servants

A general view shows, members of the Shoura Council during a meeting, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 25 September 2011 (photo: dpa)

Women in Saudi Arabia

Breaking Barriers

With the recent appointment of women to the Saudi Shura Council, journalist Maha Akeel delves into the growing advancements of women in Saudi ArabiaMore

Woman in Saudi Arabia: ''A Golden Age for Saudi Women''Interview with Abdul Aziz Al-Khamis: Saudi Arabia Doomed to Renewal Women's Rights in the Arab World: Are Saudi Women Next?

Promenade in and skyline of Doha, Qatara (photo: DW)

Islamic Jurisprudence in Qatar

Putting the Gulf on the Legal Education Map

The small emirate of Qatar is extremely ambitious – and wants to position itself as a motor for the region, also in the field of jurisprudence. Laura Overmeyer spoke to the German legal expert Günter Frankenberg, who is aiming to set up an innovative legal research institute in DohaMore

The Gulf States: A Hypermodern Centre of the Modern Global Economy Al Jazeera and Qatar: Accessories of the Arab Spring Qatar's Foreign Policy: Small Emirate, Potent Influence

Demonstration in Yemen (photo: dpa/picture alliance)

After the Arab Revolutions

Islamic Modernity

An enormous whirlwind of change has been unleashed by the upheavals in the Arab world and the long-term effects are unforeseeable. A middle course will have to be charted between the precepts of Islam and the demands of revolution. By Rainer HermannMore

The Arab Spring's Balance Sheet: The Grapes of Arab Wrath Political Prospects after the Arab Spring: At a Crossroads Interview with Tariq Ramadan: A Revolution in Suspense

The Egyptian Political Scientist Ammar Ali Hassan

''The Constitution Is a Catastrophe''

Egypt is becoming increasingly polarized under the leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood. The newly adopted constitution represents a huge problem in this respect, says Amar Ali Hassan. But the political scientist remains optimistic and predicts that the movement will not hold on to power for longMore

Egypt Expert Björn Bentlage: ''The Draft Constitution Is a Success''Impoverishment of the Egyptian Middle Class: A Frustrated People Interview with Mohamed Morsi: ''We Don't Want a Theocratic State''

Egypt's president Mohamed Morsi (photo: Reuters)

Interview with Mohamed Morsi

''We Don't Want a Theocratic State''

"We believe in a modern state, in which the transfer of power takes place peacefully and in which democracy and freedom prevail." With these words, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi expressed the sentiment that his country does not wish to become a theocratic state. Here is the full interview of President Morsi with Markus Bickel and Rainer HermannMore

Egypt and Its New Constitution: A National Unity Government for Egypt!Constitutional Referendum in Egypt: The Islamists' Pyrrhic Victory Mass Protests against Morsi: Egypt's Democratic Dictator?

Naftali Bennett, leader of the Israeli religious Zionist Habayit Hayehudi party (photo: EPA)

Israel's Party Landscape

Annexation not Negotiation

Israel's party landscape has undergone reorganization yet again ahead of this week's elections, with a clear shift to the right still in evidence. The predicted success of a militant religious nationalist party openly advocating the annexation of most of the West Bank serves as a clear indication of this trend – which is bad news for the peace process. Analysis by Joseph CroitoruMore

Essay by Tony Klug: Two States – by Design or Disaster Interview with Sari Nusseibeh: A Virtual State Called Palestine Dossier: Israeli-Palestinian Dialogue

The Ibn Tulun Mosque in Cairo (photo: picture-alliance/Ellen Rooney/Robert Harding)

Alexander Flores's ''Civilization or Barbarism?''

Islam in the Historical Context

In his book, Alexander Flores confidently clears the decks of received wisdom on the Muslim faith. Flores limits his monograph to essential information and in doing so, avoids both apology and polemical discourse in equal measure. By Stefan WeidnerMore

Reza Aslan's "No God but God": Demonstrating the Modernity of Islam The Koran as a Text from Late Antiquity: Bridging the Gap between Orthodox Interpretation and New Research Interview with Gudrun Krämer: Fighting Islamophobia with Rational Arguments

The Tunisian-French author Abdelwahab Meddeb (photo: dpa/picture alliance)

Interview with Abdelwahab Meddeb

''The Islamists Are Not Ready for a Democratic Culture''

The Tunisian-French author Abdelwahab Meddeb is a critical observer of political developments in Tunisia and Egypt. In this interview with Ceyda Nurtsch, he explains why the Islamists are not creating a liberal culture of discussion and why he is sceptical about the concept of an Islamic democracyMore

The Arab Spring and Political Change: Are Arabs Capable of Democracy?Political Prospects after the Arab Spring: At a Crossroads Interview with Tariq Ramadan: A Revolution in Suspense

''Human Rights as an Alibi'' by Bahman Nirumand

The Colonial Era Is Long Gone

In his new book, the German-Iranian journalist Bahman Nirumand appeals to the West to adopt a new foreign policy approach. Western politics should not align itself with the principles of realpolitik, but place much more emphasis on individual values. He says this is the only way to contribute to a stabilisation of the Middle East region. By Laura OvermeyerMore

Syria and Iran: Two Lone Friends Interview with Georges Corm: Double Standards Interview with Noam Chomsky: ''The West Is Terrified of Arab Democracies''

A Turkish and a EU flag in front of a mosque in Istanbul in 2005 (photo: Osman Orsal/AP)

Orhan Pamuk on Europe

A Beacon of Civilisation

If religion delineates the borders of Europe, then we have taken a disastrous step backwards. In the current crisis, the continent must not be allowed to become a place ruled by fear. An essay by Orhan PamukMore

Interview with Orhan Pamuk: A Declaration of Love to the City of Istanbul Interview with Orhan Pamuk: ''Winning the Nobel Prize Made Everything Political''Qantara.de Dossier: Orhan Pamuk

Turkey's Prime Minister Erdogan (photo: Reuters)

Erdogan's Authoritarian Drift

Retreat from Democratic Achievements

In the past decade, there were three kinds of Islamist governments: absolute monarchies in the Gulf region, the Mullah dictatorship in Iran and the freely elected government of Prime Minister Erdogan in Turkey. How he is running his country is setting an example for the entire region. But experts believe that his authoritarian leanings are beginning to prevail. By Peter HauffMore

Women's Rights in Turkey: ''The Government Is Trying to Intrude into People's Private Lives''Repression of Journalists in Turkey: Fighting Press Freedom with Anti-Terrorism Laws Turkey's Military versus the Government: From Military Tutelage to Civilian Authoritarianism?

Interview with Nilufer Gole

From Secular Enlightenment to Secular Fanaticism

In the wake of the protests against the anti-Mohammed video, the West should be aware that the principle of freedom of opinion can be abused in order to attack Islam, says the Turkish sociologist Nilufer Gole. It is now more urgent than ever before that society takes greater responsibility in addressing religious values, she stresses. Alessandro Lanni spoke with the sociologistMore

Anti-Islam Film ''Innocence of Muslims'': Social Values, Not religion, at the Heart of Protests Anti-Islamic Film Riots: A Culture of Religious Fanaticism US Response to the Riots in the Muslim World: Don't Set the Wrong Example

Topic: Islam and Democracy

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