Morocco is launching a charm offensive as the kingdom seeks to expand its influence in West Africa. Membership of the economic union ECOWAS is also on the agenda. Yet not everyone welcomes the idea. By Gwendolin HilseRead more
She fought for renewal and lost her illusions. In a very personal text, Egyptian writer Mansoura Ez-Eldin explains how literature accompanied her through a time of radical change Read more
Muslims in the West need to shoulder some of the burden when it comes to combatting extremism, otherwise they themselves may well fall under the wheels of the proverbial bus. Commentary by Mousa BarhoumaRead more
Turkey′s armed forces chief is due to visit Tehran this week, the trip is the latest by the region′s top generals in and out of Ankara. This military traffic is being seen as evidence of a foreign policy increasingly dictated by security concerns, last seen in the 1990′s. Dorian Jones reports from IstanbulRead more
Turkey′s armed forces chief is due to visit Tehran this week, the trip is the latest by the region′s top generals in and out of Ankara. This military traffic is being seen as evidence of a foreign policy increasingly dictated by security concerns, last seen in the 1990′s. Dorian Jones reports from IstanbulMore
Morocco is launching a charm offensive as the kingdom seeks to expand its influence in West Africa. Membership of the economic union ECOWAS is also on the agenda. Yet not everyone welcomes the idea. By Gwendolin HilseMore
Formerly Egypt′s strongest and most organised opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood is now banned. It has also lost its function as a role model for Egypt′s youth, who no longer believe in the non-violent tactics preached by the Brotherhood′s exiled former leadership. By Paolo GonzagaMore
"What′s the Turk doing up there?" a caller to the Green party complained when he saw Cem Ozdemir in the Bundestag in 1994. Today 37 MPs and one in ten voters have a migrant background. Could they swing the election? By Andrea GrunauMore
Muslims in the West need to shoulder some of the burden when it comes to combatting extremism, otherwise they themselves may well fall under the wheels of the proverbial bus. Commentary by Mousa BarhoumaMore
Iran is frequently at odds with Israel, despite having the second biggest Jewish community in the Middle East. For the director of Tehran's Jewish Committee, Siamek Morsadegh, that′s not necessarily a contradiction. Interview by Theresa TropperMore
Posing as guardians of the faith, many Arabic regimes abuse their religious power in order to compensate for their states′ lack of democratic legitimacy. Hardly surprising, then, that they regard as atheism as an existential danger. Essay by Brian WhitakerMore
Faced with war and death in my home country I fled to Germany, no longer a writer but a refugee. For me it′s the chance to start over and find my way in this wonderful country. Essay by Widad NabiMore
She fought for renewal and lost her illusions. In a very personal text, Egyptian writer Mansoura Ez-Eldin explains how literature accompanied her through a time of radical change More
″In the Last Days of the City″ is Egyptian director Tamer El Said′s debut film. Although it premiered to great acclaim at the 2016 Berlinale and has gone on to win more than ten awards, it is still hasn't been released in Egypt. Tugrul von Mende spoke to El Said as the film opened in GermanyMore
Described as the "conscience of India" in Time's 2014 list of 100 most influential people, author Arundhati Roy has a voice that counts. Speaking in Berlin, she introduced her long-awaited second work of fiction. By Sabine PeschelMore
Ostinato Records recently released an amazing compilation of Somali music, ″Sweet as broken dates″, which reminds listeners that – despite the prevalent images of a land torn apart by civil war – Somalia was once a country with a thriving cultural tradition. Review by Richard Marcus More
In the week preceding Germany's general election, we take a look at how integrated Muslims are in Europe. By Aasim Saleem
Civil rights in Turkey under the spotlight
Turkeypurge.com is a small group of young Turkish journalists – the voice of a people currently suffering under an oppressive regime. The website tells the stories of those affected by Erdogan′s draconian crackdown. Some are imprisoned. Some are being tortured. And the arrests continue.More
German Institute for International and Security Affairs: »Shrinking spaces« in Israel
The contraction of democratic space, consolidation of occupation and ongoing human rights violations call for a paradigm shift in Europe′s policies More
Lebanon's revival of Arab music traditions
In the mountains above Beirut, one organisation is breathing life back into a treasured period of Arab music history.More
Buddhism and state power in Myanmar
Extreme Buddhist nationalist positions including hate speech and violence are on the rise in Myanmar. Rather than ineffective bans on broad-based groups like the Association for the Protection of Race and Religion (MaBaTha), the government should address underlying causes and reframe the debate on Buddhism’s place in society and politics.More
Human Rights Watch blocked in Egypt
Egypt has blocked the website of Human Rights Watch just one day after the organisation released a report on systematic torture in the country′s jails.More
Online magazine Jadaliyya
Featuring contributions by writers from the Islamic world, the independent online magazine "Jadaliyya" is published by the Arab Studies Institute.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"