Author: Mey Dudin

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Rebetiko performance by singer Manolis Dimitrianakis in the Hamam Club, Petralona, Athens (photo: Mey Dudin)

Rebetiko between East and West

Melancholy makes a comeback

The music traces its origins back to a refugee tragedy and is a melange of Orient and Occident. The Greek blues known as rebetiko has experienced a comeback since the country's economic crisis. Mey Dudin reports from AthensMore

Portrait: the singer Cigdem Aslan: Songs of the outcastsThe Tabadoul Orchestra: Worldwide "Wahab"World music from Istanbul: Light in Babylon: Ambassadors of peace
What remains of the al-Hadba minaret belonging to Mosul′s 12th century Great Al-Nuri Mosque (photo: Reuters)

Cultural heritage in Syria and Iraq

Casualties of war

The wealth of cultural sites strewn throughout present day Syria and Iraq bear ample witness to the fact that this area was once revered as the cradle of civilisation – sadly, many of these sites have fallen victim to war, violence and looting. By Mey DudinMore

Islamic State′s destruction of Mosul: Razed to the ground Between Tigris and Euphrates: Mesopotamia: the cradle of civilisation Destruction of historic sites: Syria is losing its history
Muslims praying during Eid ul-Adha celebrations at the Al-Huda Islamic Centre in Athens (photo: picture-alliance/AP)

Islam in Greece

A mosque for Athens

Until now, Muslims living in the Greek capital have had to pray on private premises. The first official mosque is due to open in May – after decades of stalling tactics by the Orthodox Christian nation. Mey Dudin reports from AthensMore

Qantara dossier: "Islam in Europe"The Pomaks: Caught in a three-way tug-of-warSyriac Orthodox Christians in Turkey: ''This is simply our home''
Hassan Nasrallah′s tattoo in Beirut (photo: Marwan Tahtah/DW)

Tattoo trends from Beirut to Baghdad

In the spirit of rebellion

For some it's about following a trend; for others, tattoos are a symbol of their faith, but whatever the reason, the fashion for stylish tattoos is fuelling a growing subculture across the Arab world. By Mey Dudin More

Islamic streetwear from the German ''Styleislam'' label: Modern, rebellious, and pleasing in the sight of GodPunks and Sharia law in Indonesia: The mohawk crusadeIslam 2.0: Hajj pilgrimage enters digital age
Stacks of Aleppo soap in a factory in Aleppo′s Old Town (photo: Reuters)

Aleppo soap

Balsam from a war zone

Although the mere mention of the city of Aleppo conjures up images of war and destruction, Aleppo soap is flying off the shelves in Germany's organic shops and supermarkets. But how does this popular product get from war-torn Syria to Germany? And is it really made in Aleppo? By Mey DudinMore

Reconstruction of Aleppo: ″Others destroy and we rebuild″Churches in Syria after the fall of East Aleppo: Time for a new beginningSyria's cultural heritage under threat: "Virtually nothing is left"
Huma Abedin (photo: Mike Blake/Reuters)

US presidential elections

Huma Abedin – the woman in the shadows

Huma Abedin, long-time aide to Hillary Clinton, is someone who prefers to remain in the background. The current election campaign has seen her dragged reluctantly into the limelight however – and confronted her with sex scandals and terror threats. By Mey Dudin

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Snowden revelations: NSA spied on prominent US MuslimsUS presidential election: Ever the aliensNoam Chomsky in interview: Obama's sangfroid
Egyptian democracy activists on Tahrir Square in Cairo, December 2011 (photo: DW/Hebatallah Ismail Hafez)

Tahrir Square's democracy activists

The forgotten heroes

Egypt's activists were once the heroes of Tahrir Square. Then the world forgot them – and all other Arab democrats along with them. Authoritarian states and Salafists are not giving them any leeway. By Mey DudinMore

Egypt's economic and fiscal crisis: Rescuing the sinking shipAl-Sisi, Raba′a and al-Nahda: Egypt′s grim harvestSisi and the European Union: The long arm of the dictator
Dubai′s Crown Prince, Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (photo: Getty Images/AFP/M. Naamani)

Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum

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Dubai′s fairytale prince

Dubai's Crown Prince is a star on Instagram. With some 3.5 million subscribers, he has long since overtaken royals such as Prince William and Kate. Moreover he emphasises Islamic values. Yet for all the glamour and posturing, there′s no denying that the Emirate keeps a tight rein on freedom of speech. By Mey DudinMore

Dubai feels the effects of the financial crisis: Winds of change on Dubai's cultural scenePanama Paper revelations: The Emirs of PanamaGlobal strategies for combating Islamic State: The intellectual battle against IS

In brief

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Most Recent Photo Essay

How successful is linguistic integration? Three quarters of German-born Muslims grow up with German as a first language. Among immigrants, only one fifth claim that German is their first language. The trend of language skills improving with successive generations is apparent across Europe. In Germany 46 percent of all Muslims say that their national language is their first language. In Austria this is 37 percent, Switzerland 34 percent

Muslims in Europe: Integrated or not?

In the week preceding Germany's general election, we take a look at how integrated Muslims are in Europe. By Aasim Saleem