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Interview with Hassan Abu Haniyya
The Muslim Brothers' Rigid Structures
According to the Jordanian Islamism expert Hassan Abu Haniyya, the Muslim Brotherhood is still adhering to structures developed in the early 20th century by the movement's founder Hassan al-Banna. This, Haniyya says, blocks the organisation's evolution and at the same time encourages breakaway tendencies. Emad Ghanim spoke to him
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The Salafyo Costa Initiative in Egypt
Collaborating with People You May Disagree With
Salafis are often portrayed as conservative and anti-Western, but members of the Salafyo Costa initiative are countering these generalizations by engaging in dialogue with other Egyptians of all political and religious backgrounds. Nada Zohdy reports from Cairo
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Two Years after the Arab Revolution
Disillusionment in the Middle East
Syria is caught up in a civil war, Islamists are in power in Cairo and Tunis, Turkey is caught between fronts and the Mideast peace process is stalled. What to make of the region two years after the Arab Revolution? By Bettina Marx
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Ifa exhibition: Syrian Short Films and Videos
Somwhere between Art and Activism
How have Syria's independent artists been addressing the escalating violence in their native country since the start of the uprising against the Assad regime? For the first time ever, the ifa-Galerie in Berlin is showing videos and short films by Syrian artists inspired by the revolution in an exhibition entitled "Bewegte Bilder" (Moving Images). By Charlotte Bank
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''The New Arab Women''
Are the Arab Revolutions Devouring Their Own Daughters?
The so-called "Arab Spring" has a female face. Now, a new book by Gabi Kratochwil provides a very personal and exciting insight into the background to this tumultuous period, casting a new light on the major presence of women on the streets of Egypt, Tunisia and Libya. Martina Sabra read the book and spoke to author
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The Opposition in Syria
The Least Common Denominator
Syrian oppositionists must recognize that the lack of decisive international action is not only the result of Russia and China vetoing any meaningful action in the Security Council, or NATO countries' unwillingness to enter into another war in the region. A commentary by Volker Perthes
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Islam in Bosnia
''We belong to the West, culturally and mentally''
Bosnia is entering a new phase in its history: the post-war era is over; communities and mosques have been rebuilt. But where are Bosnian Muslims heading in these turbulent times? Charlotte Wiedemann spoke to Ahmet Alibašić, lecturer at the Faculty of Islamic Studies in Sarajevo
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Interview with the Coptic activist Emad Gad
''Egypt is inexorably developing into a theocracy''
Emad Gad is a leading member of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party and vice-director of the Al Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo. In this interview with Ute Schaeffer and Loay Mudhoon, he criticises the Islamization course being steered by Mursi's administration and explains how Egypt's liberal parties could act as a counterweight to the Islamists
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Inter-Islamic Cultural War
The Despondency of the Political Middle Ground
Despite their poor results in elections, the Salafi movements have succeeded in putting their stamp on the policies of the Islamic mainstream - and moderate Islamists continue to react towards the Salafis with a certain degree of despondency. Samir Farangiya reports on the phenomenon of the new inter-Islamic cultural war
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Interview with Nader Hashemi
On the Compatibility of Islam and Democracy
In this interview with Lewis Gropp, Nader Hashemi, a leading scholar on Islam and secularism, says that the two are far from being incompatible – and that the West has to accept its share of responsibility for the revival of anti-democratic forces in the Islamic world
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Destruction of Historic Sites
Syria Is Losing Its History
The civil war in Syria is not only causing human suffering, it is also endangering the nation's historic legacy. Most recently, extensive damage was inflicted on Aleppo's ancient bazaar. Björn Zimprich discusses the consequences of this destruction with Stefan Knost, who took part in historic excavations in Aleppo several years ago
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The Egyptian President's Track Record Thus Far
Multiple Morsi
One hundred days after taking office, Egypt's new President is still a mystery. Sometimes he presents himself as a civilian president, then on other occasions as an uncompromising Islamist. Soon he will have to put his cards on the table. Markus Symank reports from Cairo