Turkey
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Germany's energy policy and the Middle East
Beware of tunnel vision!
Foresight is needed to turn the tide of German policy. Being independent of Russia must not lead to dependence on authoritarian regimes in the Middle East. By Kristin Helberg
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Orhan Pamuk's Museum of Innocence: thousands of significant, insignificant objects
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Orhan Pamuk's Museum of Innocence: thousands of significant, insignificant objects
In April 2012, Tukish novelist and Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk opened a private museum – "Masumiyet Muzesi" (The Museum of Innocence) – in an old district of Istanbul, showcasing thousands of objects relating to the life of ordinary people in the Turkish metropolis. By Changiz M. Varzi
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Syria and Ukraine
Humanitarian aid is Russia's political football
Millions in Idlib depend on aid coming through a northern border crossing. On 10 July, the UN Security Council votes whether to keep it open. The decision may hinge not only on Syria, but also on the Ukraine war. Diana Hodali reports
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Kurdish author Bachtyar Ali
Tackling the tornado of history
Bachtyar Ali sends the hero of his latest novel – "Mein Onkel den der Wind mitnahm" – literally flying. Jamshid is so thin after his years as a political prisoner that a gust of wind sweeps him through the bars of his prison cell and out to freedom. Volker Kaminski read the book
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Baggage of despair
Iraqi Kurd plans new escape to Europe
Iraqi Kurd Haresh Talib says he struggles to get paid and his children's schooling is disrupted in his conflict-riddled country, so he wants to try to flee with his family to Europe – again. "There is no future here," says the 36-year-old from the autonomous Kurdistan region in Iraq's north
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The Turkish state and the Kurdish question
Turkey – a battle of narratives
For a century, the Kurds and other minorities in Turkey have been subject to state repression. With his dissertation "The Kurdish Question in Turkey", political analyst Ismail Kupeli presents a new research paper on the topic. Interview by Gerrit Wustmann
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Putin’s new world order
What does the war in Ukraine mean?
Despite what heads of state may claim, the Russian attack on Ukraine is not a wake-up call for a self-confident Europe that defends its values. The war is accelerating the decline of the old continent and rousing familiar spectres from the past that never really went away. Meanwhile, the Middle East is reprising its not unfamiliar role as an under-reported fringe region. Essay by Stefan Buchen
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Osman Kavala and Turkey's travesty of justice
Exploiting the fog of war
By supporting Ukraine and presenting himself as a regional mediator and peacemaker, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has found the political cover he needs to crack down further on potential dissidents and opposition figures at home, writes Seyla Benhabib
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Europe’s contempt for refugees' human rights
Draconian punishments for boat people
At the EU's outer borders, the right of migrants to a fair asylum procedure continues to be systematically disregarded. Take Greece, for example: in the worst case scenario, those shipwrecked may even face a lengthy prison sentence. Alexandra Senfft reports for Qantara.de from Syros
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Electioneering in Turkey
Turkish right-wing populists on the rise
Right-wing radicalism and nationalism have dominated Turkish politics for decades. Now a new right-wing populist grouping is stirring things up: enter the "Victory Party". By Elmas Topcu
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Morgenland Festival Osnabruck
Songs for days to come
This year’s Morgenland Festival opened with the premiere of Kinan Azmeh’s musical theatre piece, “Songs for Days to Come”, based on fifteen poems by contemporary Syrian poets. Marian Brehmer reports for Qantara.de