Author: Elisabeth Lehmann

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Father Filtawos stands in front of the altar of his church in Ezbeth Raflah (photo: Flemming Weiss-Andersen)

Egypt′s Coptic Church

The cost of a cornerstone

Despite a new law aimed at facilitating the construction of Christian houses of worship, the situation on the ground looks somewhat different. By Flemming Weiss-Andersen, Eva Plesner and Elisabeth LehmannMore

Christians in Egypt: Persecuted and forgottenPolitical transformation in the Arab world: Forget the peopleChristian minorities in the Islamic World: No Arab Spring for Christians
Syrian refugees demonstrate against sexism in Cologne (photo: Deutsche Welle)

Cologne and sexualised violence worldwide

The groper in my home

Penning yet another article on Cologne can only make you unpopular. But our writer Elisabeth Lehmann has nevertheless given it a shot: her partner is "North African"More

Cologne: sexual assaults and the press code: Outrage reaches new heightsSexual assaults at Cologne′s main station: #KoelnHbf – An attack on my freedomCologne: New Year's Eve mob: Thinly veiled racismQantara dossier: Sexism and violence against women
The Pink Taxi Company in Cairo (photo: DW/E. Lehmann)

Egypt′s all-female taxi service

Playing it safe

Almost every woman in Egypt has experienced sexual harassment in public. A businesswoman is making the most of this sorry statistic: "Pink Taxi" is a service by women for women. Elisabeth Lehmann reports from CairoMore

Interview with Nawal El Saadawi: "They don't want any really courageous people!"The Muslim Brotherhood and women's rights in Egypt: A project of patriarchal extremismA backlash of patriarchy in Egypt: Hope for a proper revolution
Egyptian student Mariam Malak (photo: Getty Images/AFP/K. Desouki)

Corruption in Egypt

Model student becomes anti-corruption icon

One student’s fate is fuelling the public outcry against corruption within Egyptian society. Following the government's resignation on Saturday, hope is now pinned on the new premier-designate Sharif Ismail. By Elisabeth Lehmann in CairoMore

The Arab Spring and Demography: The Revolutionary Power of YouthArab World: No Arab Spring in EducationQantara dossier: Egypt
Poster advertising Abla Fahita's TV show in Cairo (photo: Elisabeth Lehmann)

Abla Fahita: an Egyptian media phenomenon

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The taboo-challenging puppet

The TV puppet Abla Fahita is causing a furore in Egypt. On her new show, "Live from the Duplex", she frequently and unashamedly addresses taboo topics – a fact that divides opinion in Egyptian society. Elisabeth Lehmann reports from CairoMore

Bassem Youssef: All the world's a stage for Egyptian satire starCulture and censorship in Egypt: Cairo's guardians of moralityInvestigations against a cloth puppet in Egypt: Theatre of the absurd
The Opera House in Cairo (photo: dpa/picture-alliance)

Culture and censorship in Egypt

Cairo's guardians of morality

Sex, religion and politics are like a red rag to a bull for Egyptian censors. This is particularly worrying for the country's creative artists, who have increasingly been subjected to censorship since President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi assumed power. By Elisabeth Lehmann in CairoMore

Media in Egypt: Fall into line or switch offInterview with the Egyptian theatre director Ahmed el-Attar: "Art changes thought in the long term"Interview with the Egyptian theatre director Laila Soliman: Revolutions past and presentBassem Youssef: All the world's a stage for Egyptian satire star
Graffiti in Cairo, Egypt (photo: DW/Reham Mokbel)

Restrictions on Egyptian NGOs

Silencing the voice of civil society

In recent months, Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has passed a number of laws that will weaken the country's civil society. Local NGOs and foreign foundations alike will suffer under the new laws. By Elisabeth LehmannMore

Verdict against NGO representatives in Egypt: Methodical political subjugationControversial NGO law in Egypt: Attack on the heart of civil societyMorsi's Islamist regime: Attacks on Egypt's opposition on the rise
Ahmed, Sherin and Samy (from left) play a variety of roles in their play about FGM (photo: Elisabeth Lehrmann)

Female genital mutilation in Egypt

Using comedy to combat a cruel tradition

The group "HaraTV" in Egypt uses theatre to try to enlighten people about female genital mutilation. Elisabeth Lehmann attended one of their performancesMore

Genital mutilation in Egypt: Control over female sexualityDebate about female genital mutilation in Egypt: The ongoing battle for the female bodyVirginity in Egypt: Double standards and hypocrisySwedish study on circumcision: The correlation of genital mutilation and infertility
Scene from the comic strip about Abu A and Abu B by Karl Sharro (source: karlremarks.com 2014)

Fighting Islamic State with satire and black humour

Terribly funny

Reports and videos of Islamic State's horrendous deeds have left many people around the world speechless with shock. But for many Arabs – both in the countries affected by IS and elsewhere around the globe – the only way to fight IS is to satirise and ridicule it. Elisabeth Lehmann has the detailsMore

Humour in the West Bank: "I laugh, therefore I am"Humour in the Islamic world: Digging at the despotsBassem Youssef: Satire in the Service of DemocracyThe Lebanese satirical magazine "Ad-Dabbour": Hornets' nest in BeirutCreative Protest against Syria's Regime: The Puppet Rebellion