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″Christmas and the Qu′ran″
When love comes down
″Christmas and the Qu′ran″, Karl-Josef Kuschel′s scholarly examination of the Christmas story in the light of the New Testament and the Koran, digs deep to deliver a message of hope. Lucy James read the book
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Pew Research Center study
Islam does not stand in antithesis to the West
A study by the Washington-based Pew Research Center says the number of Muslims living in Europe is set to increase. But this is no reason to conjure up the spectre of an Islamisation of the West, says Loay Mudhoon
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Non-fiction: Pankaj Mishra's "Age of Anger"
The embittered majority
In his book "Age of Anger: the history of the present" the Indian author Pankaj Mishra sees global distortions as the result of a birth defect in European modernity. Stefan Weidner read the book
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Trump recognises Jerusalem as the capital of Israel
Whose idea was that?
With his official recognition of Jerusalem, the U.S. President is not acting in the interests of Jews in his country, but solely with the "blessing" of the Christian fundamentalists who long for the end-time battle, the apocalyptical Armageddon, says Armin Langer in his commentary
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Resolving the crisis in Libya
Another fine mess
How to resolve the conflict in Libya remains one of the most difficult and important questions facing policy-makers today. Given the complex attitudes towards foreign interventions on the ground, we need a clear strategy that will stand up to local, regional and international scrutiny. By Alison Pargeter
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Turkish-U.S. relations
Erdogan's Machiavellian motives
The Turkish president and his AKP party are adept at switching sides. Now they're embracing Putin and damning the United States. Why? Because an up-coming trial in America could potentially compromise Erdogan. By Bulent Mumay
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White terrorism
Murder on their minds
Islamist terror attacks often provoke loud, knee-jerk responses from politicians and the media alike. Yet when the attacker is not Muslim, they fall over themselves to downplay the situation. By Michael Thumann
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Book review: ″Refugees Worldwide: Literary Reportage″
Hierarchies of the destitute
The fourteen essays featured in ″Refugees Worldwide: Literary Reportage″ delve deep into the nature of refugee status, charting uniquely individual lives and deconstructing the sense of a collective identity. Marcia Lynx Qualey read the book
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Interview with Pakistani American actress Aizzah Fatima
"Human, flawed and funny"
Actor and writer Aizzah Fatima made waves in 2014 with her provocative play "Dirty Paki Lingerie" which explored what it meant to be a Muslim in the post 9/11 world. Fatima spoke to Roma Rajpal Weiss on her upcoming work – "The Art of Hijab, Kohl Black and The Right Way To Pray", a play that engages with the stigmatisation of hijab-wearing Muslim women in the Western world
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Right-wing populism in Europe and the USA
Those who cry wolf
In our populist age, right-wing ideologues manage to move in high circles, muting their overt racism and disguising their bigotry beneath a lot of smart patter. But they also benefit from the lofty disdain of the liberal elites, which validates their narrative of victimisation. Commentary by Ian Buruma
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Syria and the war against IS
Strange bedfellows
Two groups from opposite ends of the political spectrum – U.S. Special Operations Command and the Syrian Democratic Forces (another name for Abdullah Ocalan′s PKK) – are making common cause in northern Syria. By Stefan Buchen and Karaman Yavuz
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Israeli-Palestinian relations
Entering a new era?
If Israel doesn′t accept the deep concessions it will have to make for peace, the recent reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah will not mark the beginning of the end of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It will merely be the start of a new chapter. By Daoud Kuttab