Syria and Ukraine
Humanitarian aid is Russia's political football
Cem Kaya on Turkish pop culture
As multi-faceted as Asia Minor
Vladmir Putin’s war in Ukraine
Why the public support in the Arab world?
Climate change in Middle East
Weathering sandstorms, Iraqis grit their teeth
Millions in Idlib depend on aid coming through a northern border crossing. On 10 July, the UN Security Council votes whether to keep it open. The decision may hinge not only on Syria, but also on the Ukraine war.

Syria and Ukraine

Humanitarian aid is Russia's political football

Millions in Idlib depend on aid coming through a northern border crossing. On 10 July, the UN Security Council votes whether to keep it open. The decision may hinge not only on Syria, but also on the Ukraine war. Diana Hodali reportsRead more

Syrians and the Ukraine war: "We share a similar suffering"Russia's interventions in Ukraine and Syria: What drives Putin is evident from SyriaTurkey's Syrian problem: Refugees – a hot topic in Turkish politics
. In his latest work "Liebe, D-Mark und Tod" (Love, D-Mark and Death), film director Cem Kaya turns his attentions to the musical culture of Turkish migrants in Germany.

Cem Kaya on Turkish pop culture

As multi-faceted as Asia Minor

Known for his documentary films about Turkish pop culture, German-born director Cem Kaya's latest work "Liebe, D-Mark und Tod" (Love, Deutschmarks and Death) focuses on the musical culture of Turkish migrants in Germany. He talks to Schayan Riaz about his creative processes, German-Turkish relations and of course, about the musicRead more

60 years German-Turkish Recruitment Agreement: German-Turks take the arts by stormTurkish Arabesque songs: Sensitive machosMuhabbet: Rehabilitated crooner
The Russian war in Ukraine has provoked a debate among Arab populations. Although many Arabs intuitively empathise with the Ukrainian people, social media reveals significant support for Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Vladmir Putin’s war in Ukraine

Why the public support in the Arab world?

Although many Arabs express sympathy for the Ukrainian people, social media reveals a current of support for Russian President Vladimir Putin that is rooted in polarisation, writes Amr SalahRead more

Russia's interventions in Ukraine and Syria: What drives Putin is evident from SyriaUkraine war: Iran – at Putin's beck and call?Egypt's food crisis: Wheat from the desert?
People ride during a sandstorm in the town of Khalis in Iraq's Diyala province on 3 July: the country of 41 million, despite the mighty Tigris and Euphrates rivers, is suffering from water shortages and declining rainfall.

Climate change in Middle East

Weathering sandstorms, Iraqis grit their teeth

Another sandstorm has darkened Iraqi skies and it's hard to breathe, but Baghdad motorcycle delivery rider Milad Mitti doesn't have the luxury of missing a day's work. Like most people in the now blistering hot desert country, the 30-year-old battles on in frustration, wearing goggles and a grey neck warmer over his mouth and nose "so I can breatheRead more

Climate heroes in Iraq: A life for the treesReform in Iraq: Muqtada al-Sadr must court the political eliteAlgeria‘s gas reserves: Is defending the environment terrorism?

Politics

A convoy transporting humnanitarian aid passes the Bab al-Hawa border crossing from Turkey into Syria (photo: AFP/Getty Images)

Syria and Ukraine

Humanitarian aid is Russia's political football

Millions in Idlib depend on aid coming through a northern border crossing. On 10 July, the UN Security Council votes whether to keep it open. The decision may hinge not only on Syria, but also on the Ukraine war. Diana Hodali reportsMore

Syrians and the Ukraine war: "We share a similar suffering"Russia's interventions in Ukraine and Syria: What drives Putin is evident from SyriaTurkey's Syrian problem: Refugees – a hot topic in Turkish politics
Poster marking Vladimir Putin's state visit to Egypt to meet with Abdul Fattah al-Sisi (photo: Reuters/file)

Vladmir Putin’s war in Ukraine

Why the public support in the Arab world?

Although many Arabs express sympathy for the Ukrainian people, social media reveals a current of support for Russian President Vladimir Putin that is rooted in polarisation, writes Amr SalahMore

Russia's interventions in Ukraine and Syria: What drives Putin is evident from SyriaUkraine war: Iran – at Putin's beck and call?Egypt's food crisis: Wheat from the desert?
Gas production plant in Algeria (photo: picture-alliance/dpa/R.Kramm)

Algeria‘s gas reserves

Is defending the environment terrorism?

Algeria‘s regime is again cracking down on anti-fracking activists and the unemployed in the country‘s south. Yet EU countries remain keen to scale up their energy cooperation with Algiers, despite the reprisals faced by environmentalists. By Sofian Philip NaceurMore

Morocco and Algeria: A rivalry stretching back decadesWestern Sahara: Is a gas crisis with Algeria on the horizon for Spain?Anti-fracking protests in Algeria: Revolution rising up from the desert?
Demonstration by supporters of Turkey's pro-Kurdish HDP party (photo: Yasin Akgul/AFP)

The Turkish state and the Kurdish question

Turkey – a battle of narratives

For a century, the Kurds and other minorities in Turkey have been subject to state repression. With his dissertation "The Kurdish Question in Turkey", political analyst Ismail Kupeli presents a new research paper on the topic. Interview by Gerrit WustmannMore

Kurdistan's decline: Iraq's beacon shines no moreKurdish autonomy in northeast Syria: Between Assad and ErdoganThe fate of the Armenians: Vakifli: The last Armenian village in Turkey
more Politics »

Society

People ride during a sandstorm in the town of Khalis in Iraq's Diyala province on 3 July (photo: AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP)

Climate change in Middle East

Weathering sandstorms, Iraqis grit their teeth

Another sandstorm has darkened Iraqi skies and it's hard to breathe, but Baghdad motorcycle delivery rider Milad Mitti doesn't have the luxury of missing a day's work. Like most people in the now blistering hot desert country, the 30-year-old battles on in frustration, wearing goggles and a grey neck warmer over his mouth and nose "so I can breatheMore

Climate heroes in Iraq: A life for the treesReform in Iraq: Muqtada al-Sadr must court the political eliteAlgeria‘s gas reserves: Is defending the environment terrorism?
The family of murdered student Naira Ashraf at the trial of alleged killer Mohamed Adel (photo: Khaled Desouki/AFP)

Femicide in Egypt

"If you say no, you'll be in trouble"

The murder of a female student at Mansoura University in the Nile Delta has sparked a long overdue debate on femicide in Egypt. Karim El-Gawhary reports from CairoMore

Emancipation in the MENA region: The patriarchy is crumblingWomen in Egypt: Ongoing crackdown stokes solidarityWomen in Egypt: The long and bumpy road to gender equality
A Saudi man smokes a cigarette and reads something on his mobile phone in Riyadh (photo: AP Images/picture-alliance)

Middle East

How cybercrime laws are used to silence dissent

Syria, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are among those countries increasingly misusing cybercrime legislation to silence dissent and curb freedom of speech. Could a new global cybercrime framework under UN supervision save regime critics? Jennifer Holleis reportsMore

Activists fear increased cyber-surveillance: Will repression in UAE intensify under the Israel deal?Saudi Arabia's detainees: Speak your mind – face the consequencesEgypt's National Human Rights Strategy: Propaganda tailored to the U.S.?Syria's opposition writers: Fighting oppression and censorship
Photo montage: Cover of "This Arab is Queer" (published by Saki Books; background photo: picture-alliance)

LGBTQ+ Pride

Being queer and Arab

As Pride Month draws to a close, Richard Marcus delves into Saqi Books’ latest publication, "This Arab is Queer". Edited by Elias Jahshan, this anthology of essays is remarkable for its honesty in addressing what is still a dangerous and controversial subject in many of the writers’ countries of originMore

Egyptian LGBTQ activist Sarah Hegazy: "How can I survive in a society based on hate?"LGBT rights activist Arsham Parsi: ''Rights are never given; we have to fight for them''"I had suicidal thoughts": Gay Lebanese speak out against conversion therapy
more Society »

Culture

Screenshot of German-born director Cem Kaya (source: BR)

Cem Kaya on Turkish pop culture

As multi-faceted as Asia Minor

Known for his documentary films about Turkish pop culture, German-born director Cem Kaya's latest work "Liebe, D-Mark und Tod" (Love, Deutschmarks and Death) focuses on the musical culture of Turkish migrants in Germany. He talks to Schayan Riaz about his creative processes, German-Turkish relations and of course, about the musicMore

60 years German-Turkish Recruitment Agreement: German-Turks take the arts by stormTurkish Arabesque songs: Sensitive machosMuhabbet: Rehabilitated crooner
Kurdish author Bachtyar Ali (photo: KEYSTONE/picture-alliance)

Kurdish author Bachtyar Ali

Tackling the tornado of history

Bachtyar Ali sends the hero of his latest novel – "Mein Onkel den der Wind mitnahm" – literally flying. Jamshid is so thin after his years as a political prisoner that a gust of wind sweeps him through the bars of his prison cell and out to freedom. Volker Kaminski read the bookMore

Interview with Kurdish author Bachtyar Ali: "I only exist where my words take flight"James Joyce′ "Ulysses" in Kurdish: Across snotgrean seas"Min Dît – The Children of Diyarbakir": Fairytale and social Utopia
A woman holds up an Israel flag while the painting by Indonesian artist Taring is mounted (photo: Sven Pförtner/dpa/picture-alliance)

Anti-Semitism at documenta15

"The documenta is in ruins"

Anti-Semitic motifs have no place at Germany’s documenta art show or anywhere else in the world, stresses Meron Mendel, director of the Anne Frank Educational Centre in Frankfurt. But he also says: this is not an anti-Semitic documenta. Interview by Stefan DegeMore

Documenta 15 and anti-Semitism: Yazan Khalili – an artist misunderstood?The controversial Jerusalem Declaration: Why the world needs a new definition of anti-SemitismDebate about anti-Semitism and the Middle East conflict: Dissidence and the Jewish diaspora
Film poster "The Lady of Heaven" (source: imdb.com)

Cancelling "The Lady of Heaven"

Why the fuss over the Prophet's daughter?

Written by the controversial Kuwaiti Shia preacher, Yasser Habib, the film's plot pursues two threads: one from the Islamic past, the other from the present. The narratives meet when Islamic State seizes vast areas of Iraqi territory. By Shady Lewis BotrosMore

The Sunni-Shia debate: For clarity′s sakeQantara photo essay: Arbaeen, the world′s largest pilgrimageVisiting the Sufis in Sehwan Sharif: Defying the extremists
more Culture »

Editor's picks

Arsham Parsi on LGBTQ+: ''Rights are never given; we have to fight for them''

Climate heroes in Iraq: A life for the trees

The hidden treasures of Sufism: In the footsteps of Rumi

Women and Islam: On Muslim women and the Islamic dress code

Iran and the Ukraine war: Ali Khamenei prepares for the...More

Egypt calls for 'reality check' in UN climate talks

The world is facing overlapping conflict, food, energy and economic crises that have diverted political attention from climate change (photo: Khaled DESOUKI AFP/File)

Egypt hopes to jump-start the action needed to face a warming world when it takes the presidency of major UN climate talks in November, but warns that countries need a "reality check" as progress stallsMore

FIFA World Cup 2022: Qatar bans sex for unmarried couples

Qatar has banned sex-outside-marriage by players and fans during the forthcoming 2022 World Cup Tournament, failure to abide to the rule is equal to to a trial of seven years in prison.More

World Refugee Day: UNHCR's "The Colour of Flight"

1974: Greek Cypriot children in a refugee camp in Strovolos, a municipality of Nicosia, which at the time had a population of around 1,600 (photo: Jean Mohr; colourised by Marina Amaral)

For "The Colour of Flight", UNHCR collaborated with Brazilian artist Marina Amaral, 30, who specialises in colouring archival images. Building a bridge between past and present, she breathes life into images of the displaced.More

R.I.P. Abraham B. Yehoshua: "Championing peace and justice"

Israeli author and peace activist A. B. Yehoshua, 1936-2022 (photo: picture-alliance/dpa)

A.B. Yehoshua, a prominent Israeli author celebrated for his mastery of the Hebrew language and a leading peace activist, died last week. He was 85.More

From sensuality to puritanism: How Muslim cultures turned grey

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, Lightopia VIP Launch, Chiswick House and Gardens, London, UK, 21 January 2020 (photo: Richard Goldschmidt/picture-alliance)

In the first of two programmes, writer and broadcaster Yasmin Alibhai-Brown asks why the Islamic world that historically represented a vibrant, dazzling and even alluring cultural appeal to the more reserved and conservative West, is now reversing that perception.More

Litprom: Dialogue through literature

For 40 years Litprom has been promoting literature and authors from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Arab world.More

How Arab and Moorish culinary innovation reinvented Portuguese cuisine

Cover of Leandro Carreira's "Portugal: The Cookbook" (published by Phaidon Press)

Arab and Moorish contribution to the Iberian Peninsula remains evident through architectural and academic advancement. But what about the cuisine? "Portugal: The Cookbook" details the vast extent of Arab culinary innovation in the country.More