Musica Sequenza Chamber Music Ensemble
Spanning times and cultures
The killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh
The face of a generation
Lebanon's chronic medicine shortage
Zero state support, much Lebanese solidarity
Repression in Sisi's Egypt
Egyptian media workers – systematically intimidated

Musica Sequenza Chamber Music Ensemble

Spanning times and cultures

Berlin-based international chamber music ensemble Musica Sequenza is known for its modern interpretation of baroque music. With his latest project, the opera "Kassia", composer and ensemble director Burak Ozdemir transcends temporal, cultural and geographical boundaries. By Ceyda NurtschRead more

Musica Sequenza and Burak Ozdemir: "Rameau a la Turque": Orientalising OrientalismHindol Deb's "Essence of duality": Beyond the exotic – for a new East-West dialogueElektro Hafiz: A musical maverick

The killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh

The face of a generation

Dalia Hatuqa is an experienced journalist who has reported on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from Ramallah, Washington DC and Amman. A writer for Time Magazine, Foreign Affairs, the Washington Post, CNN, and others, she first met Shireen Abu Akleh ten years ago in Washington. Most recently, they were colleagues at Al-Jazeera. Interview by Rene WildangelRead more

Photo Essay: Mourning Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh Middle East conflict: "Palestinian refugees have a right to the truth"Interview with Sarit Michaeli from B′Tselem: Creeping annexation"Al-Aqsa oder Tempelberg": Zeroing in on the Middle East conflict

Lebanon's chronic medicine shortage

Zero state support, much Lebanese solidarity

As the Lebanese economy has collapsed, so has the country's health system. Many medicines have become scarce or unaffordable. Confronted with a failing state, the Lebanese are helping each other. Zeinab Othman reports from BeirutRead more

Lebanon in crisis: Support lacking for trauma victimsLebanon after the explosion: Beirut's aftermath – shattering as 15 years of civil warLebanese thinker Martin Accad: "Lebanon's tragedy is political sectarianism"

Repression in Sisi's Egypt

Egyptian media workers – systematically intimidated

Since President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi seized power in Egypt in 2013, he has ruled the country with an iron fist. Civil society, opposition and free press struggle to survive. Tens of thousands of political prisoners, including at least 24 media professionals, are behind bars. Sofian Philip Naceur reportsRead more

Arabic Network for Human Rights: Egypt's leading rights group forced to close Egypt's National Human Rights Strategy: Propaganda tailored to the U.S.?Egypt – Dollars to despots. Abdul Fattah al-Sisi's international patronsEgypt’s new cybercrime law: What Sisi sees

Politics

Syrian refugees stand in front of their snack bar in Istanbul (photo: AFP)

Turkey's Syrian problem

Refugees – a hot topic in Turkish politics

With tensions rising dangerously amid a burgeoning economic crisis, the Turkish government’s refugee policy – ad hoc, miscalculated and unclear – is making Syrians an easy target for the opposition. Ayse Karabat reports from IstanbulMore

Turkish opposition: Courting Turkey’s disenchanted electorateTurkey: Anti-Syrian sentiment boils over in Ankara riotsEU refugee deal: Erdogan wants rid of the Syrian refugees
3 July 2021, London, United Kingdom: Protesters stage a demonstration in Whitehall against the the military coup in Egypt in its 8th anniversary (photo: Tayfun Salci/ZUMA Wire)

Repression in Sisi's Egypt

Egyptian media workers – systematically intimidated

Since President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi seized power in Egypt in 2013, he has ruled the country with an iron fist. Civil society, opposition and free press struggle to survive. Tens of thousands of political prisoners, including at least 24 media professionals, are behind bars. Sofian Philip Naceur reportsMore

Arabic Network for Human Rights: Egypt's leading rights group forced to close Egypt's National Human Rights Strategy: Propaganda tailored to the U.S.?Egypt – Dollars to despots. Abdul Fattah al-Sisi's international patronsEgypt’s new cybercrime law: What Sisi sees
An Egyptian boy with a handful of wheat grains (photo: AFP/Getty/ImaMohamed El Shahedges)

Egypt's food crisis

Wheat from the desert?

The lack of grain supplies from Ukraine is forcing Egypt to act. Now even the Toshka project is being revived to grow grain in the desert. Birgit Svensson travelled to see itMore

"Toshka" irrigation project: How Egypt plans to make the desert bloomMiddle East: Water resources – another conflict trigger?Egypt's deepening economic crisis: Abdul Fattah al-Sisi’s vanity projects
Mural on a bombed street in Ukraine (photo: dpa/picture-alliance)

Ukraine and the West's selective values

Less 'clash of civilisations', more rift

Very different Western reactions to the suffering in Ukraine and the Arab world show that there is a profound rift among cultures. Essay by Michael YoungMore

Europe, Ukraine and refugees: Compassion, a sliding scale?When East meets West: Debunking the ʹclash of civilisationsʹ myth Naika Foroutan: A dialogue of the cultures instead of the clash of civilisations
more Politics »

Society

A Lebanese journalist holds a portrait of Al-Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh (photo: AP Photo/picture-alliance)

The killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh

The face of a generation

Dalia Hatuqa is an experienced journalist who has reported on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from Ramallah, Washington DC and Amman. A writer for Time Magazine, Foreign Affairs, the Washington Post, CNN, and others, she first met Shireen Abu Akleh ten years ago in Washington. Most recently, they were colleagues at Al-Jazeera. Interview by Rene WildangelMore

Photo Essay: Mourning Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh Middle East conflict: "Palestinian refugees have a right to the truth"Interview with Sarit Michaeli from B′Tselem: Creeping annexation"Al-Aqsa oder Tempelberg": Zeroing in on the Middle East conflict
A pharmacy in Beirut (photo: Goethe-Institut/Ruya, Zeinab Othman)

Lebanon's chronic medicine shortage

Zero state support, much Lebanese solidarity

As the Lebanese economy has collapsed, so has the country's health system. Many medicines have become scarce or unaffordable. Confronted with a failing state, the Lebanese are helping each other. Zeinab Othman reports from BeirutMore

Lebanon in crisis: Support lacking for trauma victimsLebanon after the explosion: Beirut's aftermath – shattering as 15 years of civil warLebanese thinker Martin Accad: "Lebanon's tragedy is political sectarianism"
Iranians gather on the iconic Khaju Bridge over the Zayandeh Rud river in Isfahan, on 16 May 2022 (photo: ATTA KENARE/AFP)

Water mismanagement in Iran

Drought and diversions – pulling the plug on Isfahan

Drought and upstream water diversions have seen the Zayandeh Rood, "fertile river" in Persian, run dry since 2000, with only rare exceptions. The famed river bridges of the Iranian city of Isfahan are a beloved tourist draw – but much of the time their stone arches span just sand and rocks, not waterMore

Water shortage in the Maghreb: Climate change and Tunisia's water management challengeMiddle East: Water resources – another conflict trigger?Arab world: Conflict and climate change drive Syria's water crisis
Egyptians harvesting wheat (photo: AA/picture-alliance)

Ukraine war and the Middle East

Will the wheat crisis bring more food independence?

Middle Eastern countries are boosting their food independence to counter the coming wheat shortfall. But despite some encouraging initiatives, existing challenges make food sovereignty almost impossible – for now. Jennifer Holleis reportsMore

Middle East: A new Arab Spring, thanks to the Ukraine war?Russia's invasion of Ukraine: What impact on the Arab world?Ukraine and Tunisia's looming wheat crisis: Becoming toast?
more Society »

Culture

The chamber music ensemble Musica Sequenza (photo: Musica Sequenza/Daniel Mulder)

Musica Sequenza Chamber Music Ensemble

Spanning times and cultures

Berlin-based international chamber music ensemble Musica Sequenza is known for its modern interpretation of baroque music. With his latest project, the opera "Kassia", composer and ensemble director Burak Ozdemir transcends temporal, cultural and geographical boundaries. By Ceyda NurtschMore

Musica Sequenza and Burak Ozdemir: "Rameau a la Turque": Orientalising OrientalismHindol Deb's "Essence of duality": Beyond the exotic – for a new East-West dialogueElektro Hafiz: A musical maverick
Palestinian novelist Adania Shibli (photo: DW)

Adania Shibli's "Minor Detail"

What is Palestinian literature exactly?

What do we mean when we talk about Palestinian literature: an exploration using the example of Adania Shibli’s slender novel "Minor Detail". By Miryam SchellbachMore

Recreating Palestine in literature: A nation crafted from wordsProfessor Timothy Brennan: Why Edward Said still mattersPalestinian American writer Susan Abulhawa: ″Literature is a facet of society″Palestinian-Israeli writer and artist Aida Nasrallah: "We have to re-think the concept of identity"
Nadia Nadim was 12 years old when her family fled Afghanistan (photo: federation entertainment/echo studio)

Afghan soccer star "Nadia"

From child refugee to professional footballer

The documentary "Nadia" tells the incredible story of Nadia Nadim, who was forced to flee from the Taliban as a child and became a football star. By Annabelle Steffes-HalmerMore

The future of Afghan cinema: "The best revenge is to keep making films"Afghanistan documentary "Melting Dreams": A tale of Afghan-European failureInterview with filmmaker Mariam Ghani: The power of propaganda
Kairo vor dem Hintergrund der Pyramiden; Foto: Getty Images/K.Desouki

Marianne Manda's "Der Atem Kairos"

Portraying Cairo's everyday heroes

In this unusually beautiful book of images and text, published in German and Arabic, artist Marianne Manda presents her own unique take on the megacity of Cairo. In over fifty portraits, she offers a touching insight into the lives of those who inhabit this metropolis of millions. By Volker KaminskiMore

Overpopulation and Sisi regime propaganda: Egypt's people – nothing but a burden and a nuisanceEgypt's New Administrative Capital: The sinister side of Sisi's urban developmentGentrification in Egypt: Urban counter-revolution in Cairo
more Culture »

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Destruction in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol (photo: dpa/TASS/picture-alliance)

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Palestinian probe finds Israel deliberately killed Al-Jazeera's Shireen Abu Akleh

Shireen Abu Akleh holding a microphone, while being filmed

The Palestinian Authority on Thursday announced the results of its investigation into the shooting death of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, saying it had proven she was deliberately killed by Israeli forces as she tried to flee.More

India's severe heat wave a risk to millions

A boy cools off while sitting in a water tub along the roadside on a hot summer day in New Delhi on 22.05.2022 (photo: AFP)

As the scorching sun beat down on his fruit cart, Mohammad Ikrar dreaded another day of tossing out dozens of rotting mangoes and melons – a regular practice now, as India grapples with an unprecedented heatwave.More

French mayor reignites burkini row

A Tunisian woman wearing a "burkini", a full-body swimsuit that covers everything except the face, feet and hands, walks in the sea with a young child at Ghar El Melh beach in Tunisia, on 16 August 2016 (photo: Fethi Belaid/AFP)

Burkinis have been a long-standing catalyst for dispute in France, calling societal attitudes towards Islam and feminism into question. Rule changes in Grenoble suggest opposition to the garment could be receding, writes Joanna YorkMore

Iran and Islamists a threat to Gulf safe haven

Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan arrives for a working lunch with French President Emmanuel Macron (not seen) at the Chateau de Fontainebleau in Fontainebleau near Paris, France, 15 September 2021 (photo: REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/File Photo)

United Arab Emirates strongman Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, who was formally elected president on 14 May, has led a realignment of the Middle East, creating a new anti-Iran axis with Israel while fighting a rising tide of political Islam in the regionMore

Ancient 'zar' ritual puts exorcism on stage

Umm Sameh peforms the music and dance ritual known as "zar", traditionally performed to ward off or exorcise jinn or evil spirits (photo: Khaled DESOUKI/AFP)

A stage, lights, a mesmerised audience: it looks like an Egyptian folkloric concert, but Umm Sameh is singing to heal the sick by driving out the demons that possess themMore

Amnesty International Report 2021/22

Amnesty International 2021/2022 annual report (source: amnesty.org)

The Amnesty International Report 2021/22 highlights the human rights situation in 154 countries in 2021. From a human rights perspective, 2021 was largely a story of betrayal and hypocrisy in the corridors of power.More