Europe
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Interview with Omid Nouripour on the protests in Iran
"The Europeans lack courage"
Iran's President Rouhani has declared the violent protests in the country, which have lasted for days, to be over. Omid Nouripour, foreign policy spokesman of the German Green party, regards the USA, but also the Europeans, as being partially responsible for the current situation. Interview by Christoph Hasselbach
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Greece and the asylum-seekers
How do you solve a problem like Moria?
The Greek government has vowed to do something about its overcrowded island migrant camps. Transfers and stricter asylum legislation were meant to provide the answer. But things are not getting much better, as Max Zander reports from the island of Lesbos
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Anti-Muslim racism
Merkel and "the danger of self-Islamisation"
Anti-Muslim racism means more than just discriminating against Muslims. It is an ideological worldview that pleads for the restructuring of society and more control in the view of the "Islamic threat". Those who do not bow to right-wing demands are deemed guilty of Islamisation. By Ozan Zakariya Keskinkilic
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Islamophobia in France
Muslim women excluded from the headscarf debate
France is locked in a row over Islam, Islamophobia and the headscarf. But one key voice is almost completely missing from the debate – that of the women who wear the veil. By Nadia Pantel
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Interview with Hamid Dabashi
Europe’s coloniality persists after the fall of empire
An interview with the Iranian-American historian and cultural philosopher Hamid Dabashi about writing, Europe's past and present, right-wing populism and the Arab uprisings. By Tugrul Mende
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A safe haven in northern Syria?
Turkey's plan to 'resettle' Syrian refugees
Turkey is seeking to create a "safe zone" for refugees in Syria, to which they should only return "voluntarily". But how realistic is the project and to what extent can Turkey's intentions be trusted? By Seda Serdar
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British-Bahraini trumpeter Yazz Ahmed
Diving for pearls
Yazz Ahmed is one of the most exciting personalities on the lively London jazz scene. Her complex musical suites combine the traditions of her Bahraini roots and jazz improvisation. On her new album, she honours outstanding women, including those from the Muslim culture. By Stefan Franzen
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Charlotte Wiedemann: "Now is the time for utopias"
The end of white dominance
In her latest book – "Der lange Abschied von der weissen Dominanz" – recently published in German, journalist Charlotte Wiedemann describes the upheaval in our changing, multi-polar world with startling clarity. By Christopher Resch
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Turkey isolated amid international pressure
Erdogan's captive audience
Most Turkish citizens approve – to a greater or lesser extent – of their countryˈs incursion into Syria and are deeply irritated by the Westˈs apparent incomprehension of the situation on Turkeyˈs southern border. By Ayse Karabat
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Book review: Stefan Weidner's ʺ1001 Books. The Literatures of the Orientʺ
The Middle East – a rich vein of world literature
Recently published in German, Stefan Weidner's new book issues an invitation to all those who would like to be better acquainted with the literature of the Middle East – a profoundly fascinating journey through the works of Arab, Persian and Turkish authors. By Gerrit Wustmann
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Maximum pressure and asymmetrical tactics
Dangerous shifts in the U.S.-Iranian stand-off
As the United States and Iran face off in the Persian Gulf, their asymmetric conflict risks spiralling out of control. Unless the rest of the world gets involved, the dangerous game both countries are playing could end in direct confrontation. Analysis by Volker Perthes
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Father of post-colonial studies
Edward Said – exiled between cultures
When people think of Edward Said, the first thing that generally comes to mind is his criticism of Orientalism. As a result, the theme of exile – which played no less significant a role in Said's writing and life – is often overlooked. By Tarek Azizeh