Author: Jan Tomes

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Traditional Palestinian "tatreez" (photo: Fatima Abbadi)

Traditional Palestinian "tatreez"

Sewing with a message

Once practiced by village women across Palestine, "tatreez" has become a symbol of women's resistance, identity and heritage. However, as Abbadi points out in an interview with Jan Tomes, this unique piece of Palestinian cultural heritage is now in danger of dying outMore

Protest and culture in Palestine: Make art, not warMohammad Sabaaneh′s "White and Black: Political Cartoons from Palestine": Punching through the glassInterview with Palestinian poet and artist Farid Bitar: ″I must either be the voice of sanity or justice″
Art installation by Nilbar Gures: shoe, rose and dildo (photo: CHROMA Istanbul)

Gay artists revisit Berlin-Istanbul relations

Queer forms migrate

While heightened political tensions between Turkey and Europe grab the world's attention, an exhibition at Berlin's Schwules Museum refreshingly highlights the gay community's links to Istanbul. Report by Jan TomesMore

Gay rights: Being Turkish and gay in GermanyLGBT asylum seekers: A silent revolutionInterview with the South African imam Muhsin Hendricks: "Islam does give us leeway to think"

In brief

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Most Recent Photo Essay

Rainbow wares: leather goods are a popular holiday souvenir from Morocco. In many of the narrow souks in the old town centres, there are alleys full of leather shops. But you can also buy the brightly coloured shoes, belts, bags and co. directly from the leather factories. There, animal skins are still processed according to traditional methods. Working conditions in the tanneries are correspondingly tough

A filthy occupation: leather-tanning in Morocco

Those looking to visit a leather factory In Morocco should visit the tanners' quarter in the town of Fez. For tourists the ancient craft may be fascinating, for the workers, however, it is extremely exhausting. By Stefanie Hoppner