In focus

Dialogue of Cultures | Intercultural Dialogue

Interview with the Moroccan thinker Hassan Aourid

Democracy cannot be stopped

Hassan Aourid is one of the most important political and intellectual figures in Morocco. In interview with Ismail Azzam for Qantara, Aourid outlines his vision of the decline of political Islam and the future of democracy and human rights in the MaghrebRead more

Indigenous rights in the Maghreb: An uphill struggle for Tunisiaʹs Amazigh Morocco′s Amazigh: The long road to recognition Unrest in the Arab world: The genie is out of the bottle

Islamophobia debate in France

"I only have to turn on the TV and there’s someone explaining how dangerous I am"

France is locked in a row over Islam, Islamophobia and the headscarf. But one key voice is almost completely missing from the debate – that of the women who wear the veil. By Nadia PantelRead more

Thousands join French march against Islamophobia Qantara dossier: "The headscarf controversy"Islamophobia and racism in France: Shocking indifference

Interview with Hamid Dabashi

Europe’s coloniality persists after the fall of empire

An interview with the Iranian-American historian and cultural philosopher Hamid Dabashi about writing, Europe's past and present, right-wing populism and the Arab uprisings. By Tugrul MendeRead more

Interview with Hamid Dabashi: ''Another people now Is re-defining the Idea of democracy''Iran and Saudi Arabia: A plea for Islamic tolerance Father of post-colonial studies: Edward Said – exiled between cultures

Film review: Hossein Pourseifi's "Morgen sind wir frei"

Love in the time of revolution

"Morgen sind wir frei" – Tomorrow we'll be free – charts a love story under the baleful glare of a face painted on the side of a building in Tehran. It is a film about the hopes of a German-Iranian family during and after the revolution in Iran with all the pain of terror, oppression and separation. By Maryam AnsariRead more

Interview with award-winning Iranian film director Sadaf Foroughi: Ava, my adolescent self Film review: Jafar Panahi's "Three Faces": Road movie against patriarchy Ali Soozandeh's film "Tehran Taboo": Nothing but taboos

Politics

Moroccan political scientist Hassan Aourid (photo: private)

Interview with the Moroccan thinker Hassan Aourid

Democracy cannot be stopped

Indigenous rights in the Maghreb: An uphill struggle for Tunisiaʹs Amazigh Morocco′s Amazigh: The long road to recognition Unrest in the Arab world: The genie is out of the bottle

Protest march in Pakistani Kashmir (photo: picture-alliance/AP Photo)

India and Pakistan

"If Germany can be reunified, so can Kashmir"

Calls for a free Kashmir are becoming louder on both sides of the divided region. Can the German reunification model be applied to the India- and Pakistan-ruled Kashmirs? And what can Kashmiris learn from it? By Shamil ShamsMore

Modi and the revocation of Article 370: Kashmirʹs tormented quest for freedom Kashmir, Xinjiang and Arab land in the Middle East: Victims of the civilizational agenda India, Modi and the Muslim minority: "Not yet a Hindu Pakistan"

Syria's dictator Bashar al-Assad visits military units in Habeet in the province Idlib (photo: picture-alliance/AP)

Syria's constitutional committee

Geneva is key to Assad's rehabilitation

Finding a lasting political solution to the Syrian conflict is the challenge facing the constitutional committee that has been meeting in Geneva since the end of October, under UN mediation. But achieving this goal is an illusion, since the Syrian regime has for years shown no willingness to surrender any of its power. By Kristin HelbergMore

The Kurdish YPG and the future of northeastern Syria: Assad smiles from the sidelines Syrian conflict: The war in Syria is not over EU refugee deal: Erdogan wants rid of the Syrian refugees

Anti-government protests

Is this Iraq's Arab Spring?

Iraq is currently facing such an alarming array of economic, political and social problems that many observers fear no-one will be up to the task of delivering the much-needed reforms. By Stasa SalacaninMore

Unrest in the Arab world: The genie is out of the bottle Protesting for reform and an end to corruption: Iraq's youth reject the dire status quo The Iraq War fifteen years on: "America destroyed my country"

Society

Anti-Islamophobia demonstration in Paris on 10.11.2019 (photo: Getty Images/AFP)

Islamophobia debate in France

"I only have to turn on the TV and there’s someone explaining how dangerous I am"

France is locked in a row over Islam, Islamophobia and the headscarf. But one key voice is almost completely missing from the debate – that of the women who wear the veil. By Nadia PantelMore

Thousands join French march against Islamophobia Qantara dossier: "The headscarf controversy"Islamophobia and racism in France: Shocking indifference

Hamid Dabashi, professor at Columbia University, New York (photo: hamiddabashi.com)

Interview with Hamid Dabashi

Europe’s coloniality persists after the fall of empire

An interview with the Iranian-American historian and cultural philosopher Hamid Dabashi about writing, Europe's past and present, right-wing populism and the Arab uprisings. By Tugrul MendeMore

Iraqi women protest in Basra, 7 September 2018 (photo: Reuters/A. Al-Marjani)

Patriarchy and governance

Iraq's token females

Since 2003, Iraq has achieved little in the way of gender equality within the political establishment. Not one woman has held an important executive or leadership position and to date all three presidential administrations and their representatives have comprised men. By Manar AlzubaidiMore

Women′s rights in the Arab world: The key to change Gender equality in the Middle East: To the benefit of all Interview with Iranian women's rights activist Mahboubeh Abbasgholizadeh: ″No woman can be worse than Ahmadinejad″Women′s rights in Islam: Can feminism be Islamic?

Journalist, blogger and human rights activist Esraa Abdel-Fattah (photo: Getty Images/AFP)

Human rights in Egypt

Free Esraa Abdel-Fattah!

More than 4,300 people have been arrested in Egypt amid anti-government protests. One of them is Esraa Abdel-Fattah. Human rights groups and even a U.S. diplomat are calling for her release. By Sarah SalamaMore

Egypt arrests blogger and journalist Esraa Abdel Fattah Egypt's presidential election: The defamation game Human rights under Sisi: Egypt's open-air prison

Culture

"Morgen sind wir frei" – Tomorrow we'll be free (distributed by Little Dream Pictures)

Film review: Hossein Pourseifi's "Morgen sind wir frei"

Love in the time of revolution

Released from prison

Turkish author Ahmet Altan and the power of words

The Turkish writer and journalist Ahmet Altan was imprisoned for three years and four months. He had always been outspoken and he remained outspoken in prison, where he wrote a collection of essays and a novel. He has now been awarded the Geschwister-Scholl-Preis for his tireless dedication. By Gerrit WustmannMore

Journalists Ahmet Altan and Nazli Ilicak freed in Turkey Book review: Ahmet Altanʹs "Like a Sword Wound": The rotten Empire Interview with Sanem Altan, daughter of Turkish detainee Ahmet Altan: ″The rule of law is disappearing″

Iranian-American poet Kaveh Akbar (photo: Gantschi)

Interview with Iranian-American poet Kaveh Akbar

Bridging the gap between outrage and fear

The renowned Iranian-American poet Kaveh Akbar writes in his poems about origin, religion – especially Islam, spirituality, the American dream and much more. Interview by Schayan RiazMore

Interview with the poet SAID: "I have defended my piety against the Islamic Republic"Book review: "I'm Probably Lost" by Sara Salar: Silent rebellion Artistic freedom and cultural policy in Iran: Art under divine dictatorship

British-Bahraini trumpeter Yazz Ahmed

Diving for pearls

Yazz Ahmed is one of the most exciting personalities on the lively London jazz scene. Her complex musical suites combine the traditions of her Bahraini roots and jazz improvisation. On her new album, she honours outstanding women, including those from the Muslim culture. By Stefan FranzenMore

Yazz Ahmed's website Gaye Su Akyolʹs "Istikrarl Hayal Hakikattir": Singing the revolution Qantara dossier: Musical worlds

Unrest in Iraq explained

Despite Iraq's president saying he would hold early elections, large crowds of protesters gathered in central Baghdad once again on Thursday night.More

"Smile": The Joker as a new protest figure?

Moustache masks of the British conspirator Guy Fawkes are worn by demonstrators all over the world. Now, inspired by the new feature film, the comic book villain Joker is to be found among protesters in Lebanon and elsewhere. Psychogram of a green-haired anti-hero with a clown face. By Johannes Schmitt-TeggeMore

France's ongoing hijab debate

France's on-off row over the Muslim headscarf is on again. With March municipal elections on the way, President Macron told MPs from his own party not to let the far-right own the conversation on secularism, radicalisation and sectarianism. We ask what the law says and what the French want.More

Building bridges with Islam in Japan

Interior of Tokyo Camii mosque (photo: Guilhelm Vellut; licence to reproduce as per "Attribution 2.0 Generic" (CC BY 2.0))

With hoodies and scarves covering their heads, a group of Japanese high school students point and whisper in awe upon entering the main hall of Tokyo Camii, as Muslim worshippers prostrate beneath a glittering dome set against a bright sky.More

BBC Radio 4: Islam and science - Part 1

An Iranian student operating a robot during the International Iran Robocup 2016 (photo: picture-alliance/dpa)

Writer and journalist Ehsan Masood explores the status of science in the modern Islamic world, and asks whether measures taken to promote science are having an impact on the working lives of Muslim scientists.More

CNN's Amanpour interviews 2019 Man Booker International prizewinner Jokha Alharthi

"Celestial Bodies" is the first Arabic novel to win the Man Booker International Prize. Amanpour speaks with Omani author Jokha Alharthi and translator Marilyn Booth.More

In focus

Interview with the Moroccan thinker Hassan Aourid

Islamophobia debate in France

Interview with Hamid Dabashi

Film review: Hossein Pourseifi's "Morgen sind wir frei"

Politics

Society

Culture

In brief

Most Recent Photo Essay

Unrest in Iraq explained

"Smile": The Joker as a new protest figure?

France's ongoing hijab debate

Building bridges with Islam in Japan

BBC Radio 4: Islam and science - Part 1

CNN's Amanpour interviews 2019 Man Booker International prizewinner Jokha Alharthi