Canan Topçu

Author: Canan Topçu

Professor Ednan Aslan, professor for Islamic religious education theory at the Faculty of Philosophy and Educational Sciences at the University of Vienna (photo: dpa/picture-alliance)

Controversial study about Muslim kindergartens in Vienna

The unwelcome glare of publicity

According to a report in the Austrian weekly ′Falter′, Professor Ednan Aslan is said to have allowed civil servants working for the Austrian Foreign and Integration Minister Sebastian Kurz to manipulate his findings for political ends. Allegations he vehemently denies. A commission has now been set up to investigate. By Canan TopcuMore

Austria′s president and the Islamophobia debate: The courage of one man The Islam debate: The dual consciousness of Muslims Interview with the political scientist Farid Hafez: "An expression of institutional Islamophobia"

Interview with German Turkish author Deniz Utlu

Beyond a binary identity

The German-speaking author Deniz Utlu writes about migration and identity in a way that is at once to the point and poetical. In interview with Canan Topcu, he explains why his Turkish roots seem more important to others than they do to him and how he himself defines his identityMore

Post-migrant literature in Germany: ''The time has come to speak out very, very loudly''Germany and the semantics of exclusion: "We are not burka"The refugee debate: What makes us German?Daughters and Sons of Gastarbeiters writers′ collective: "When I go to Germany, I will buy a red tractor"

Islamic studies scholar Armina Omerika (photo: Goethe-Universitat Frankfurt am Main)

Interview with Islamic studies scholar Armina Omerika

"Muslims need new ways to approach their religious heritage"

The German Evangelical Church′s relationship with Luther shows Muslims that it′s possible to find and develop a way of engaging critically with your own religious tradition, says Islamic studies scholar Armina Omerika in interview with Canan TopcuMore

The Reform Islam debate: Islam doesn′t need a Martin Luther!Islam and religious freedom: Coercion leads to hypocrisy Interview with Maha El-Kaisy-Friemuth: "We urgently need reform within Islam"

Constantin Schreiber (right) during his research into German mosques (photo: ARD)

Constantin Schreiber′s controversial mosque report

Outside Islam

Constantin Schreiber, a German television journalist, conducted research on sermons given in Muslim houses of prayer and used it to produce a book and some TV reports. Now he has come under fire. Schreiber is accused of employing underhand methods and taking a biased approach to his subject. Is there anything in the criticism? Canan Topcu has the answersMore

Islam in Germany: A poor second Germany's Islam debate: For all our freedoms!Racism in Germany: The taint of PEGIDA journalism

American Muslim Hind Makki (photo: Canan Topcu)

Muslims in the USA

Anything but lethargic

The American Muslim Hind Makki works to promote interfaith dialogue in her neighbourhood Bridgeview, known as the "Little Palestine" of Chicago. She observes that in recent times, the Islamic minority's interest in politics has risen sharply – thanks to Trump. By Canan TopcuMore

Islamophobia in the USA: Standing up for Muslim rights US presidential elections: Huma Abedin – the woman in the shadows Right-wing populism in Europe and the USA: The politics of Islamophobia

Islamic theologian Hamideh Mohagheghi (photo: Christian Thuermann)

Interview with the Islamic theologian Hamideh Mohagheghi

We need to talk

With the recent rise in Islamophobia across German – and the wider European – society, the Islamic theologian Hamideh Mohagheghi warns against retreating from the debate. Now is the time for Muslims to practise their faith in confidence, step forward and speak out. Interview by Canan Topcu

Interview with Mouhanad Khorchide: ''God is not a dictator''Islamic theology: Turning over a new page Education in the Arab world: Stop corrupting the next generation!Qantara dossier: Reform Islam

Mosque congregation member distributes food to refugees (photo: picture-alliance/dpa/H. Neubauer)

Germany′s Muslims and the refugees

Integrating a new generation

What do Muslim migrants who have already lived in Germany for many years think about the recent arrivals and the European refugee crisis? Canan Topcu found out what Afghan, Turkish, Arab and Bosnian migrants in Hesse have to sayMore

Debate on Muslim identity in the West: Constructing the self, constructing the other The emotional wounds of refugee children: Talking about the unspeakable Integration in Germany: On the right track - one refugee's story

The Munster-based Islamic Studies expert Mouhanad Khorchide (photo: dpa)

Interview with Mouhanad Khorchide

"Religion seeks to touch people′s hearts"

The new book by Islamic Studies scholar Mouhanad Khorchide argues for a modern understanding of the Koran and considers the relationship between God and humanity. "The Koran aims to bring up mature human beings, who develop their own religious nature", says Khorchide. Interview by Canan TopcuMore

Dispute about Professor Mouhanad Khorchide: A conflict of many layers Mouhanad Khorchide's reformist theology: De-politicising the Koran Interview with Mouhanad Khorchide: ''God is not a dictator''

A female student wearing a headscarf (photo: picture-alliance/Joker)

The headscarf ruling from Germany's Consitutional Court

Heated debate on all sides

The headscarf ruling handed down by the Karlsruhe judges on 13 March met with divided reactions. While some are calling it a landmark decision, others see it not as a solution but as a potential source of further problems. Canan Topcu outlines the various positionsMore

Women's dress code in Islam: No compulsion to wear the headscarf Study on attitudes in "Post-migrant Germany": Do you love Germany?The perception of Islam as the enemy: When fear creeps in Book review: Emel Zeynelabidin's "You grow up only in this life": The headscarf is not a gauge of devoutness

Canan Topcu (centre) speaking during a discussion at the Herbert Quandt Foundation (photo: private)

Muslims and the Paris attacks

"I distance myself from these murderers – not as a Muslim, but as a human being"

Canan Topcu is a freelance journalist with a Muslim background. Following the Paris attacks, she experienced the same knee-jerk reaction that comes after every Islamist act of terrorism: Muslims are called upon to distance themselves from the perpetrators. She finds this irritating and hurtful, especially as Muslims are also victims of Islamist terrorismMore

"Extremist groups want to impose on us a clash of civilisations"Attack on the French satirical magazine "Charlie Hebdo": Do not be deceived!Reactions to the Paris attacks: Religiousness is not the problem French reactions to IS terror: "What next? Will we ask Muslims to kneel?"

Daughter and mother: Nadia and Rabia Bechari (photo: Canan Topcu)

Women's dress code in Islam

No compulsion to wear the headscarf

The Becharis, a Moroccan family from Frankfurt am Main, place great emphasis on respect and tolerance, an attitude that is illustrated by the fact that mother and daughter each accept that the other has chosen a different path when it comes to the issue of the headscarf. By Canan TopcuMore

Book review: Emel Zeynelabidin's "You grow up only in this life": The headscarf is not a gauge of devoutness Who is hidden beneath the burqa?: An appeal to the West Qantara dossier: The headscarf controversy

Mouhanad Khorchide (photo: dpa/picture-alliance)

Dispute about Prof Mouhanad Khorchide

A conflict of many layers

The dispute about Mouhanad Khorchide, director of the Centre for Islamic Theology at the University of Münster, is heating up. Although the conflict is ostensibly about the "correct" interpretation of Islam, it is also an attempt by the Islamic associations in Germany to make a show of strength to politicians. The dispute has dire consequences for the discipline of Islamic theology, which is still in its infancy in Germany. By Canan TopçuMore

Mouhanad Khorchide's Reformist Theology: De-politicizing the Koran Interview with Mouhanad Khorchide: ''God Is Not A Dictator''Qantara dossier: Islam in Germany

symbol image Muslim blogger (photo: Fotolia/Gina Sanders)

Muslim Bloggers in Germany

Creating a Counter-public to Traditional Media

Germany's Muslim bloggers offer alternative opinions and perspectives on Muslim life. In so doing, they correct the image of Muslims that is portrayed in traditional media. Canan Topçu reportsMore

Interview with Neco Celik: "I Am an Integration Objector"Islamic Streetwear from the Germany: Modern, Rebellious, and Pleasing in the Sight of God Muslims and Stereotypes: Addressing the Problem of Islam's Image Qantara Dossier: Integration in Germany