Iran
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Middle East policy under Donald Trump
Return of the dictators
Just how the Trump administration will handle the thorny issue of the Middle East remains to be seen. Trump's policy of non-intervention and "pragmatic" alliances with authoritarian rulers is, however, likely to encourage the return of repressive dictatorships, lending them apparent respectability in exchange for guarantees of stability. By Rene Wildangel
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Persian singer Mamak Khadem
Open to new influences
Since the 1990s, the exiled Iranian singer Mamak Khadem has been combining Persian classical music with world music. For her new album, "The Road," she has discovered unusual Eastern European soundscapes. Marian Brehmer talked to the musician and listened to her latest CD
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Women's rights in Iran
Freedom by stealth – and its public impact
The "My Stealthy Freedom" Internet campaign is designed to make Iranians aware of women’s rights in their homeland. The project’s aim is to free women from their often passive victim roles and inspire them to start their own initiatives. By Iman Aslani
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″Deportation Regime″ at Copenhagen′s CAMP art gallery
The right of blood
CAMP describes itself as a exhibition venue ″for art discussing questions of displacement, migration, immigration and asylum.″ Changiz M. Varzi visited its latest exhibition – Deportation Regime
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Iran′s image in the West
Sheer incredulity
Journalists, business people, tourists, artists and culture professionals – in 2016 many more foreigners travelled to Iran than in previous years. The visitors often remark on how inspiring the "desire for freedom" and "cosmopolitanism" of young Iranians in particular is, leading to a host of superficial observations. By Stefan Buchen
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Syrian conflict
The price of acceptance
Allied to the Assad regime in the Syrian conflict, Iran has been luring its Afghan refugee population to sign up for the war with promises of high wages and residence permits for their families. By Shabnam von Hein
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Islam and enlightenment
Beware of the myth
Anyone in Europe calling for Islam to finally go through a phase of enlightenment should first pause for critical reflection on our own concept of Enlightenment, writes the prominent Islamic studies expert Ulrich Rudolph
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Iranian scholars in exile
The Shia shakedown
Religious scholars in exile are challenging the basic tenets of Shia Islam. Their professional authority is indisputable. And they are in close contact with Shia teaching activities in their homeland via the Internet. One of the heretical questions they are asking: is the Koran the word of God or a dream told by the Prophet? By Ali Sadrzadeh
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Book review: Mathias Enard′s ″Boussole″
In love with the Orient
Mathias Enard has written a magnificent novel about Europe’s fascination with the Orient. Awarded France’s prestigious Prix Goncourt, the multi-layered and astounding book is the story of a great unfulfilled love, but above all a plea for cultural dialogue. Ulrich von Schwerin read the book
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US-Iranian relations following the presidential election
It's a chill wind
How will the outcome of the U.S. presidential election impact Iran? Experts predict that regardless of the election result, the new US presidency will mark a worsening of ties with the Islamic Republic. By Shahram Ahadi and Mitra Shodjaie
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Climate change consequences for the Islamic world
Of infernal proportions
The countries attending the Climate Change Conference in Marrakesh are ready to commit themselves to the fight against global warming. Even if greenhouse gas emissions do begin to decrease, however, the climate change already underway will have devastating consequences for the host country and for the rest of the Arab-Islamic world. By Stefan Buchen
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Ramita Navai: ″City of lies. Love, sex, death and the search for truth in Tehran″
Where nothing is allowed, yet anything is possible
Survival in Tehran is a matter of lying and bending the rules. In the Iranian theocracy, real life is conducted in secret. Nadja Schluter reports on what else we can learn from the wonderful book on Iran, "City of Lies"