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Freedom of Speech in Egypt
Belly Dancer Exposes Islamists' Double Standards
Tweaking the Islamists' noses: In her music videos, Egyptian belly dancer Sama al-Masri pours derision on the Muslim Brotherhood. Now she may face trial for insulting Islam. Markus Symank reports from Cairo
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The ''Women under Siege'' Website
Mapping Sexual Violence in Syria
"Women under Siege" is the name of a website gathering data on sexual violence in Syria. The use of open source software enables users to input their data directly. Many people are prepared to risk their own safety for the sake of being heard by the outside world. Johannes Thumfart has the details
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Muslim Art
The ''True'' Aesthetic of Islam
Does art have to be consonant with the religious dictates of Islam? In Egypt, orthodox and secular Muslims cannot agree on whether and what extent art should serve a moral purpose. By Joseph Croitoru
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Weapons Exports to Countries of the Arab Spring
Armed to the Teeth
The Middle East and North Africa region is the most militarised world region. It spends five percent of gross domestic product on arms on average. The global average is only two percent. In regard to military procurement, the revolutions have not made a difference. By Sheila Mysorekar
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Interview with Amel Grami
Political Stagnation in the Cradle of the Arab Spring
Tunisia's process of democratic transition has been stagnating since late 2012. The Tunisian people are still waiting for their new constitution. The situation has been exacerbated by the recent murder of opposition politician Chokri Belaid. Ute Schaeffer and Loay Mudhoon spoke to the renowned academic Amel Grami about Tunisia's political crisis
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Interview with Matenia Sirseloudi
What Drives Young People to Jihad?
What is behind the Islamicisation and radicalisation of young people in Europe? To what extent do European foreign policies and military interventions abroad play a role in this? Albrecht Metzger spoke to sociologist Dr Matenia Sirseloudi about politically motivated violence and radicalisation processes
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The ''Tahrir Lounge'' in Cairo
Grassroots Democracy
In a project funded by Germany, a team of young Egyptians in Cairo is trying to boost civil participation and create political awareness without subscribing to any particular ideology. By Matthias Sailer
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Commentary by Moha Ennaji
Arab Women's Unfinished Revolution
Though women across the Middle East participated actively in the Arab Spring protests that began in late 2010, they remain second-class citizens, even where popular uprisings managed to topple autocratic regimes. A Commentary by Moha Ennaji
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Civil War and Cultural Protest in Syria
''The Revolution Has Become an Orphan''
As the military conflict in Syria continues to escalate, the commitment of many peace activists and creative professionals in Syria is going more or less unnoticed by the media and in western public consciousness. An essay by Astrid Kaminski
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Jurji Zaidan's Arabic Historical Novels
Educating and Entertaining the Public
By writing historical novels, Jurji Zaidan wanted to provide the common Arabic people with an accurate sense of their own history in an accessible, entertaining way. His novels were unavailable in English for nearly a century. But now, in the last two years, six English translations have appeared. Marcia Lynx Qualey
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Muslim Brothers as Victims
''25 TV Stations Are Working against Us''
Unfair media coverage, hostile opposition, and violent demonstrators: Many Muslim Brothers see themselves as being wrongly attacked. A visit to a party office of the Islamists in Cairo. By Markus Symank
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Al-Azhar and Pan-Islamic Rationalism
The Demise of Islamic Centres of Moderation
The spread of extremism in Muslim societies in the past century can be attributed to a largely overlooked trend: the demise of religious institutions that once had global reach. Focusing on Egypt's Al-Azhar university, Hassan Hassan takes a look into the matter