Middle East
All countries-
Saudi Arabia and the Khashoggi murder
Still no justice
Far from a pariah state after the assassination of the Saudi dissident Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi Arabia features ever more prominently on the world stage. How do Saudi activists keep fighting when the world is looking away? By Cathrin Schaer
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Saudi-Israeli relations
US-Saudi defence pact tied to Israel deal, Palestinian demands put aside
Saudi Arabia is seeking binding assurances of US protection in the event of an attack in return for normalisation with Israel – even if Israel does not agree to make major concessions to the Palestinians. Although such a deal could reshape the Middle East, it would mean that the Palestinian demand for statehood would take a back seat once again
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Middle Eastern and North African art in Europe
MENA Art Gallery – haven for Arab art
The MENA Art Gallery in downtown Berlin is the brainchild of Italian researcher Enrico De Angelis and Syrian visual artist Zena El Abdalla. One transliteration of the colloquial Arabic for 'port' is 'mena', reflecting the intention to provide a haven for works by Arab artists, as Rama Jarmakani reports
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Iran-Saudi deal
The Islamic Republic's dilemma
Iran's deal last spring with Saudi Arabia, brokered by China, highlighted the emergence of an unstable equilibrium in the Islamic Republic's foreign policy. Amin Naeni and Ali Fathollah-Nejad explore the inherent tensions
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Halal Food
Financial Times: How to make lab-grown meat halal
Meat grown in a lab could be considered halal, according to advice from Islamic scholars in Saudi Arabia to a U.S. food start-up, as the industry starts to explore certification for products to fit religious dietary rules.
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Repression in Sisi's Egypt
Activists targeted in presidential election run-up
Egypt's clampdown on political dissent increasingly includes family members of activists living abroad. The Sisi regime has also admitted to leveraging the release of individual political prisoners for financial aid. Jennifer Holleis reports
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Alcohol in Iran, Turkey and the USA
Are all taboos justified?
Iran's ban on alcohol has led to a rise in methanol poisonings, revealing the deadly side of prohibition. The situation mirrors past failures in the U.S. and contrasts with more lenient policies in countries like Turkey. By Niloofar Gholami
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Artefacts destroyed by IS in Iraq
A gigantic jigsaw puzzle
It will be 2026 before Mosul's Cultural Museum reopens. Lena Bopp found out how restorers are going about repairing the damage inflicted by Islamic State
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Eating insects in Europe
What is kosher, what is halal?
The European Union's gradual approval of the addition of insects to food is not without controversy. Many Jews and Muslims also have a problem with the idea, owing to their various dietary restrictions
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Jordan's new cybercrime law
Heading towards Internet censorship
Jordan's controversial new cybercrime law, now ratified by the king, could have serious consequences for freedom of expression, political participation and the digital economy. By Abdullah Jbour
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The refugee's struggle for identity
Homeless with three homes
In "Heimatlos mit drei Heimaten" – literally, 'homeless with three homes' – the historian and political scientist Aref Hajjaj illustrates his personal experiences from a life led between Palestine, Switzerland and Germany. Volker Kaminski read the book
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Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial reforms
Israeli government and the Supreme Court at loggerheads
Benjamin Netanyahu's government is set on curtailing the powers of the judiciary. But the judges will not give up without a fight. What happens next will determine just how endangered Israel's democratic system really is. By Joseph Croitoru