Author: Bettina David

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Laksmi Pamuntjak (photo: National Committee Indonesia (Pulau Imaji)

Laksmi Pamuntjak′s novel "The Question of Red"

The silence is broken

In her novel "The Question of Red", Indonesian author Laksmi Pamuntjak effectively combines the multi-faceted nature of the island state′s sociopolitical system and its bloody recent history with the fate of her fictional protagonists. Bettina David read the bookMore

Joshua Oppenheimer's documentary film "The Look of Silence": "I expected to meet monsters"Frankfurt Book Fair 2015: guest of honour Indonesia: Seven must-know authors from IndonesiaDemocracy and human rights in Indonesia: A blocked constitutional state
Indonesian Muslim women sit reading in a circle (photo: picture-alliance/ZUMA Press)

Islamic popular literature: ″Sastra Islami″

″God′s gift to Indonesia″

Sastra Islami is seen by its representatives as a corrective to the increasing ″Westernisation″ and ″secularisation″ of Indonesia. It presents itself as a religious counter-movement to the firmly secular literature published since the fall of Suharto in 1998. By Bettina DavidMore

Andrea Hirata's novel "The Rainbow Troops": One novel; two very different versionsIndonesia: Guest of Honour of the Frankfurt Book Fair 2015Integrated Islamic schools in Indonesia: Secular subjects within a religious framework
Abdelwahab Meddeb (photo: picture-alliance/dpa/Emmanuel Marchadour)

The death of Abdelwahab Meddeb

A proponent of disloyal loyalty

The renowned Tunisian-French writer and Islam expert Abdelwahab Meddeb died of cancer in Paris on 6 November 2014. He was 68. Obituary by Bettina DavidMore

Interview with Abdelwahab Meddeb: ''The Islamists are not ready for a democratic culture''Constructive criticism of Islam: Abdelwahab Meddeb's "Counter-Sermons" break taboosPerspectives of radical Islam: Neutralising violence
The Indonesian writer Andrea Hirata poses with the German translation of his book "The Rainbow Troops" (photo: picture-alliance/dpa)

Andrea Hirata's novel "The Rainbow Troops"

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One novel; two very different versions

Andrea Hirata's novel "The Rainbow Troops" is the first Indonesian novel to become an international bestseller. Interestingly, the version available outside Indonesia is very different to the one familiar to Indonesian readers. Bettina David explores whyMore

Integrated Islamic Schools in Indonesia: Secular Subjects within a Religious Framework Popular Culture in Indonesia: Comic Heyday!Biennale Jogja XII Equator #2: Indonesia's arts scene explores the Arab world