Author: Paul Hockenos

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Abu Ibraheem in a video message threatening to kill people who allegedly denigrate prophet Muhammed (photo: picture-alliance/dpa)

Guido Steinberg on German Islamist Terrorism

Trend towards "Individual Jihad"

Guido Steinberg is Germany's foremost specialist on Islamist terrorism in Europe. In this interview with Paul Hockenos, he talks about the specifics of German Islamist terrorism and al-Qaeda's change of strategyMore

The Close and the Distant Enemy: Islamic Terrorist NetworksSalafists in Germany: Heavy on Populism, Light on Strategic ThinkingSalafists in Germany: Heading for ''Urban Terrorism''?
Anti-Assad protests in Idlib, 2012 (photo: picture-alliance/dpa)

The German NGO "Adopt a Revolution"

Planning for a Postwar Syria

In times of war and carnage, the German nonprofit organization "Adopt a Revolution" supports Syrian civil society groups and plans for a Postwar Syria. Paul Hockenos reportsMore

Internet Activists in Syria: Virtual (Counter-)RevolutionMalek Jandali: ''We are witnessing the fall of humanity''Civil War in Syria: The Time to Act is NowWebsite of "Adopt a Revolution"
Prayer time in the Eyüp Sultan Camii in Hamburg, Germany (photo: dpa)

John R. Bowen's ''Blaming Islam''

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Deconstructing Populism

John R. Bowen, anthropologist at Washington University in St. Louis, is fed up with the myths, misinformation and cheap populism surrounding the issue of Islam and Muslims in the West. In his book, he debunks the falsehoods that have crept into the everyday political discourse about the religion and its adherents. A review by Paul HockenosMore

German Human Rights Expert: ''The Hard Core of Islamophobia Is Racist''Interview with Gudrun Krämer: Fighting Islamophobia with Rational ArgumentsRadical Critics of Islam and Islamophobia: Denying the Individuality of Minority Members
A man celebrating after the elections in Libya (photo: Reuters)

Lin Noueihed and Alex Warren on the Arab Spring

Post-revolution Patchwork

In their book The Battle for the Arab Spring: Revolution, Counter-Revolution and the Making of a New Era, Lin Noueihed and Alex Warren show how differently the countries affected by the uprisings of 2011 are developing. They conclude that for a number of reasons, post-Arab Spring democracies will not turn out to be similar to those in the West. Paul Hockenos read the bookMore

Interview with Noam Chomsky: ''The West Is Terrified of Arabic Democracies''The Arab Spring and Political Change: Are Arabs Capable of Democracy?Democratisation Processes in Historic Comparison: Arab Nations Are No Longer Onlookers
Anders Behring Breivik on the first day of his trial in April 2012 (photo: REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch)

Anders Behring Breivik and Islamophobia in Europe

The Capitulation of Mainstream Politics

In this essay, Paul Hockenos writes that it would be a mistake to dismiss Breivik's hate-drenched tirades as the outpourings of a madman and points to the fact that Islamophobia has been a staple of political discourse in European politics and an inspiration for the extreme right since 9/11. He calls for greater vigilance on the part of intelligence and security forces and stronger resistance from democratic parties in EuropeMore

Radical Critics of Islam and Islamophobia: Denying the Individuality of Minority MembersIslamophobia in Europe: Breivik's Call to ArmsAfter the Massacre in Norway: Critics of Islam Face a DilemmaAftermath of the Attacks in Norway: Isolate the Intellectual Incendiaries!

In brief

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Most Recent Photo Essay

Favourite of the hardliners: Ebrahim Raisi, a 61-year-old cleric, is running for the second time; in 2017 he lost to incumbent President Rouhani. In 2019, he was appointed head of the judiciary by religious leader Ayatollah Khamenei and is being touted as a possible successor to Khamenei. In the 1980s, Raisi was part of the so-called "death committee" responsible for executing thousands of political prisoners

Iran's presidential election: Contest of losers

Iran's Guardian Council has selected seven candidates for the mid-July presidential election. Most have run in the past. By Shabnam von Hein