Country: Austria

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Young people in the Arab world (image: Getty Images/AFP/F. Belaid)

Philosophy, Arab world trend

Erich Fromm's advice for troubled times

The writings of German-American philosopher Erich Fromm (1900-1980) are trending in the Arab world. Claudia Mende asked Hamid Lechhab, translator of Fromm's works into Arabic, what might be behind thisMore

″Religious criticism around 1900″: Middle Eastern philosophy's take on IslamIslamic thinker Fehmi Jadaane: What is the essence of Islam, and does it need reforming?Islam and enlightenment: Beware of the myth Egyptian philosopher Hassan Hanafi: "Globalisation is Western gegemony"
Iranian singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Golnar Shahyar (source: golnarshahyar.com

Golnar Shahyar's 'Tear Drop' and the Iran protests

"A revolution of culture and thought"

Raised in Iran, Golnar Shahyar studied in Canada and has lived in Vienna since 2008. The singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist combines jazz, song-writing and Persian roots with strong lyrics. She talks to Stefan Franzen about her debut solo album "Tear Drop" and the Woman, Life, Freedom movementMore

How feminist are the protests in Iran? The struggle for self-determination Liraz Charhi’s "Roya": An Israeli-Iranian act of rebellionKioomars Musayyebi's "A voice keeps calling me": The nights speak to meMusic and power in Iran: An instrument of propaganda and control
The lobby of Spinzar Hotel in downtown Kabul (photo: Emran Feroz)

The fate of Europe's unwanted Afghans

"Deportee Central" – a seedy hotel in downtown Kabul

Even in times of war and pandemic, refugees are still being deported to Afghanistan. Several deportation flights have taken place in recent weeks alone. Since those affected often have nothing to go back to, many of them end up in a seedy hotel in downtown Kabul. Emran Feroz reports from the Afghan capitalMore

Press killings in Afghanistan: Afghan journalists forced to run a murderous gauntletAfghanistan’s academics under fire: Must young Afghans be willing to die for an education?Deportations to Afghanistan: No safe country of originFighting the Taliban in Afghanistan: Where the warlords still hold sway
Protest again the burka ban in Denmark (photo: picture-alliance/AP Photo/Ritzau Scanpix/M. C. Rasmussen)

Burka bans in Europe

Why the burka is so important for right-wing populists

On 7 March, Switzerland became the latest European country to vote in favour of a so-called "burka" ban. It was yet another feather in the cap of the right-wing populist Swiss People's Party (SVP) on an issue that remains a perennial favourite with the Right across Europe. Essay by Daniel BaxMore

Swiss voters back proposal to ban full-face veils in public places Regional 'burka ban' up for vote in Switzerland France's burka ban: Excluding the wrong peopleThe rise of right-wing populism in Europe: A continent divided
Symbolic image of terror attacks on Europe (source: DW)

De-radicalising young people

Is there a way to stop jihadists in Europe?

What drives young men into the arms of Islamist extremists – and how can they be re-integrated into society? Five years after the deadly attacks in Paris, urgent questions remain. By Matthias von HeinMore

Essay by Islam expert Gilles Kepel: The new jihad and its mentorsCountering radicalisation with '180° Turn': Together we are strongInterview with French extremism researcher Olivier Roy: They love death as we love life – jihad and the roots of terror
Germany's Open Mosque Day: here in Cologne (photo: Henning Kaiser/dpa/picture-alliance)

Radicalisation debate

The exclusion of European Muslims nurtures Islamists

Austria's chancellor is seeking to criminalise "political Islam". The move would put non-violent, non-radical Muslims under blanket suspicion and is hardly helpful in the fight against Islamism. In her commentary, Waslat Hasrat-Nazimi says that Islamism is easier to counter if you work together with Muslims on equal termsMore

After the Islamist attacks in France and Austria: "Placing Muslims under general suspicion is not the solution"After the Islamist attack in Vienna: Europeans must not fall into the Islamic State trapQantara dossier: Enlightenment
Candles in Vienna mark the terrorist attack on 02.11.2020 (photo: picture-alliance/picturedesk.com/APA/Georg Hochmuth)

After the Islamist attacks in France and Austria

"Placing Muslims under general suspicion is not the solution"

Rather than suspecting Muslims in general, we need to co-operate more with Islamic scholars, Muslim congregations and associations, writes Muhammad Sameer Murtaza in his commentary, invoking the power of selfless love – charity – that unites Christians, Jews and MuslimsMore

After the Islamist attack in Vienna: Europeans must not fall into the Islamic State trapThe scourge of sectarianism: Obstinate mass suicideIslam and violence: Conservative Muslims refute the violence of ISOffener Brief an al-Baghdadi und ISIS
Project House of One – foundation trustees (photo: Klemens Renner)

Jews, Christians and Muslims

"We are in dire need of a culture of dialogue"

Berlin's "House of One" project, instigated by Jews, Christians and Muslims, will finally begin to take physical shape in early 2021, following a lengthy period of preparation. With the terrorist attack in Vienna fresh in their minds, the representatives of the three world religions feel uniquely challenged. By Christoph StrackMore

Berlinʹs House of One: Offering a triune solutionThe Berlin Project "House of One": Three religions under one roofQantara dossier: Dialogue of religions
Vienna the day after the attack: the search for possible further perpetrators is in full swing (photo: Alex Halada/AFP/Getty Images)

After the Islamist attack in Vienna

Europeans must not fall into the Islamic State trap

The Islamist attacks in France and Austria aim to divide European societies. The jihadists want to destroy the grey area of lived co-existence between Muslims and non-Muslims in Europe. By Karim El-GawharyMore

Debate on religion and terrorism: Who is responsible for the violence?Islamic State: Down but not necessarily outIS attacks in Brussels: No more shades of greyIslamic State (IS): A totalitarian, expansive and hegemonic project
Journalist Melisa Erkurt (photo: Vedran Pilipovic)

Interview with Melisa Erkurt on her book "Generation haram"

"Teachers must be taught not to become racists in class"

Melisa Erkurt came to Austria from Bosnia as a child with her parents. As a journalist, she now writes about education, which is also the subject of her latest book “Generation haram”, which focuses on education’s so-called losers. Interview by Schayan RiazMore

Interview with journalist and performance artist Michel Abdollahi: "People with dark hair always have to go the extra mile"Non-fiction: Kubra Gumusay's "Sprache und Sein": Beyond the linguistic pigeonholeThe integration litmus test: Success for some means failure for others
The German-language picture book market still struggles with dark-skinned protagonists. One way to boost diversity is to publish translations (photo (detail): Baobab Books)

Reflecting cultural diversity in publishing

German kidsʹ books need more dark-skinned protagonists

Children’s books shape the way we see the world as we grow up. In recent years calls have been growing for European publishers to reflect the increasing diversity. By Sonja MathesonMore

Interview with migration researcher Naika Foroutan: "We need a debate about ourselves"Germany's Literaturkfestival: Dissecting the toxic concept of HeimatGermany's new cabinet: Where's the ethnic diversity?
A star of David and a crescent moon cut-out against a blue sky (photo: picture-alliance/Godong)

Jewish-Muslim dialogue

Rabbis and imams together

In an innovative move for both religions, European Jews and Muslims have committed to standing up in solidarity more often. The aim is to combat the resurgence of right-wing extremists in Europe. By Christoph StrackMore

Qantara dossier: "Dialogue of Religions"Jews and Muslims in dialogue: "Jews are being used to create anti-Muslim feeling" Abrahamic Teams in the MENA: Interfaith dialogue – a painstaking process
Symbolic image for headscarf debate: Primary schoolgirl with headscarves in Berlin (photo: picture-alliance/dpa)

The headscarf debate

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Don't ban – educate and emancipate!

Why resort to bans on specific religious practices, when we live in an age and a form of society where one can open oneself to permanent processes of education? If piety and self-determination are to be brought into line with a liberal, democratic society, argues Emel Zeynelabidin, then other measures must be appliedMore

Women and Islam: On Muslim women and the Islamic dress codeBook review: Emel Zeynelabidin's "You grow up only in this life": The headscarf is not a gauge of devoutnessThe German Islam scholar Lamya Kaddor: Why I as a Muslim woman don't wear a headscarf
Italyʹs right-wing Minister of the Interior Matteo Salvini (left) and German Minister of the Interior Horst Seehofer (photo: DW/B. Riegert)

The axis of the right

Europeʹs new isolationist front

Europe is shifting to the right. Border security and isolation increasingly dominate the migration policies of the European Union. At a national level, right-wing parties are peddling a symbolic identity policy to distract from cuts that undermine the very fabric of society, says political scientist Farid HafezMore

Refugee crisis in Europe: The price of European indifferenceMigration and human rights: Refugee versus migrant: what's in a name?Migrating across the Mediterranean: Escape at all costs
Muslim women read the Koran (photo: Reuters)

Controversial manifesto against "new anti-Semitism" in France

Cutting Suras to suit

In France, the publication of a manifesto that calls among other things for the removal of certain verses from the Koran and seeks to pave the way for state intervention in religious matters has triggered heated debate. Farid Hafez has the detailsMore

Muslim anti-Semitism: Pointing the fingerGermany’s anti-Semitism problem: Jew, Israeli, ZionistQantara dossier: Anti-Semitism
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz (left) and Heinz-Christian Strache (photo: dpa)

Austria's new programme for government

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En route to a restrictive policy on Islam?

This week, Austria's new centre-right and right-wing coalition published its programme for government. This programme does not view Muslims through the lens of human rights and freedom of religion as people to be protected and people who are particularly affected by racism. Instead, they are very obviously cast in the role of a potential threat, writes Farid HafezMore

Muslims in Austria: October elections – Beware of IslamophobesAustria's president and the Islamophobia debate: The courage of one manControversial study about Muslim kindergartens in Vienna: The unwelcome glare of publicity

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