Bernhard Falk is no stranger to prisons. A convicted left-wing terrorist, he spent 12 years behind bars. Now he looks out for imprisoned Islamists. Germany's domestic intelligence agency considers him a danger to society. By Matthias von Hein and Esther FeldenRead more
Despite global media coverage and condemnation by governments and human-rights activists, Saudi officialsʹ murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi has not led to any meaningful sanctions. And such impunity is an important reason why the murder happened in the first place. By Leon WillemsRead more
Researcher Linda Hyokki – herself a convert to Islam – discusses the causes of discrimination, ways of combatting Islamophobia, the divisive topic of veiling and how to debunk the common narrative. Interview by Marian BrehmerRead more
Muslims who grant themselves the right to adopt a human rights declaration based on their own religion need to allow followers of other religions to do the same, argues Iranian Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Shirin Ebadi in her essayRead more
Despite global media coverage and condemnation by governments and human-rights activists, Saudi officialsʹ murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi has not led to any meaningful sanctions. And such impunity is an important reason why the murder happened in the first place. By Leon WillemsMore
The problem with peace negotiations is always that the perpetrators of war represent the only hope for a resolution. In the case of Yemen, the talks are being conducted by the very same warring parties that led the nation into what is currently the world′s greatest humanitarian crisis. Commentary by Karim El-GawharyMore
Muslims who grant themselves the right to adopt a human rights declaration based on their own religion need to allow followers of other religions to do the same, argues Iranian Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Shirin Ebadi in her essayMore
With the latest round of peace talks aimed at ending the war in Yemen underway in Sweden, Karl-Otto Zentel, General Secretary of CARE Deutschland, gives his own assessment of the civil war and the chances for peace. Interview by Carsten GruenMore
Researcher Linda Hyokki – herself a convert to Islam – discusses the causes of discrimination, ways of combatting Islamophobia, the divisive topic of veiling and how to debunk the common narrative. Interview by Marian BrehmerMore
Bernhard Falk is no stranger to prisons. A convicted left-wing terrorist, he spent 12 years behind bars. Now he looks out for imprisoned Islamists. Germany's domestic intelligence agency considers him a danger to society. By Matthias von Hein and Esther FeldenMore
A new project launched by the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg is working out key concepts from Judaism, Christianity and Islam with the aim of promoting interreligious dialogue. Presenting solid academic findings on similarities and differences, scholars will attempt to disarm agitators on all sides. Claudia Mende spoke to its director Professor Georges TamerMore
Headlines about Iran usually focus on its nuclear deal with the global powers, its controversial missile programme, not to mention international sanctions. The deep-rooted domestic challenges that the country faces get less attention. One of them is a drastic rise in narcotics consumption in the past ten years. By Mitra ShahraniMore
Mehdi "Peter" Pirhosseinlou lives and works as an artist in Tehran. He regularly organises concerts and festivals in Iran with the artist collective "House No. 4", which he founded. "Gate of Tehran" is an electronic sound spectacle currently showcasing in Berlin. Interview by Laura OvermeyerMore
Drawing on her Laz and Turkish heritage, the German-born singer Ayca Mirac has just released her first album – "Lazjazz" – a fascinating blend of ancient melodies, spellbinding dance rhythms and intimate jazz. Review by Stefan FranzenMore
At the Goethe-Institutʹs Tashweesh Festival, artists and intellectuals from North Africa, Europe and the Middle East meet to discuss stereotypical gender images. By Caren MiesenbergerMore
Nada El Shabrawi was the first Egyptian to create her own professional BookTubing channel in 2017. In her videos she talks about books that have struck a nerve with her. Shady also produces shows online that offer tips on literature. In interview, the two discuss this new trend, their passion for literature and the Arab public's responseMore
The people in the remote Toraja region on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi are predominantly Christians, but they are sticking to the old animistic traditions of their ancestors. This also includes the fact that death does not mean the end of a human being. By Darren Whiteside
Bethlehem church mosaics sparkle in time for Christmas
Masked for centuries by the soot of candles and lately by scaffolding, the mosaics of Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity have been restored to their original splendour in time for Christmas.More
Egypt's silent killer: Bad food
In this feature for Mada Masr, Madison Sawle argues that increasing rates of diabetes are an inevitable consequence of Egypt's broken food and health system.More
Al Jazeera's "My Tunisia"
Al Jazeera's intimate portrait series "My Tunisia" follows the life and personal stories of six Tunisians – beyond the headlines and the cliches.More
Zero tolerance: Islamist intolerance on the rise in Bangladesh
Violence dominates the headlines when it comes to Bangladesh. Extremists murder religious critics, government opponents disappear, members of the Hindu minority are attacked. Why is it becoming less and less possible to unite democracy and Islam?More
Shady Lewis Botros: "What's it like to be a Christian in Egypt?"
Shady Lewis Botros' recently published novel – "Ways of the Lord" – is a rare example of an Egyptian work of fiction whose primary characters are Christian. Beyond entrenched discrimination, the Arabic-language novel explores what the author says is the victimisation of Egypt's Christians by a "politically engineered harmony" between the state and their own church, seeking to control their lives.More
SWP: Myanmar, the Rohingya crisis and further EU sanctions
The EU's threat of imposing additional trade sanctions on Myanmar is unlikely to have the desired impact. Felix Heiduk recommends alternative measures.More
Qantara's Arab Spring dossier
Civil war in Syria, bloody conflicts in Libya, unstable political conditions in Tunisia and an autocratic system on the Nile: it seems that everything went wrong during the Arab Spring. But is that really the case? We present contributions by prominent Arab authors that shed light on the perspectives of the Arabellion.More
West Bank: Bed & Breakfast in the Occupied Territories?
Airbnb's decision to stop listing properties in illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank is a positive step that other global tourism companies should follow, says Human Rights Watch.More
The German Islam Scholar Lamya Kaddor
Why I as a Muslim Woman Don't Wear a Headscarf
Jordan and the influx of refugees
The true Samaritans
Muslims in Liberal Democracies
Why the West Fears Islam
The decline of Islamic scientific thought
Don't blame it on al-Ghazali
The Media and ''The Innocence of Muslims''
Against the Islamisation of Muslims
Junaid Jamshed
"I Was a Sinner for Years"