Afghanistan

Country: Afghanistan

Filming ″Dugma – The Button″: Paul Refsdal (left), Abu Basir al-Britani (photo: WDR)

Paul Refsdal′s documentary ″Dugma – The Button″

Push the button for Paradise

″Dugma″, a documentary by Norwegian director and war reporter Paul Refsdal provides an insight into the psychology of young jihadist suicide bombers fighting the Assad regime. Interview by Philipp JedickeMore

Interview with war photographer Christoph Bangert: The naked brutality of war "Women of the Islamic State": Prisoners of a barbaric system International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam: Camera on terror

Jungle volunteer Liz Clegg (source: YouTube)

Liz Clegg: the Jungle's surrogate mum

Liz Clegg has been working as a volunteer in the Calais "Jungle" camp since summer 2015. She turned up with a lorry-load of tents and wellies which she proceeded to distribute to the refugees. Since then, she has become something of a surrogate mother to the many unaccompanied minors who turn up in the campMore

Facing partial eviction, migrants scramble in Calais′ ″Jungle″Migration and human rights: Refugee versus migrant: what's in a name?Refugees in Germany: Hanging in the balance

Pashtun musician Ismail Khan (left) with former band colleague Junaid (photo: private)

Interview with the Pashtun musician Ismail Khan

"Music was the best resistance I could think of"

Pashtun musician Ismail Khan combines traditional elements of his people′s folk music with modern beats. Resisting the media image of extremism, drone strikes and suicide attacks commonly associated with the Pashtun homelands – Afghanistan and the tribal areas of Pakistan – Khan is looking to promote peace in this region riven by war and destruction. Interview by Emran FerozMore

Non-fiction: ″War, Exile and the Music of Afghanistan″ by John Baily: Without music, no humanity Simin Tander and Tord Gustavsen: The harmony of mysticism The piano man of Taksim Square: Playing for peace

John Baily and Veronica Doubleday in Geneva (photo: private)

Non-fiction: ″War, Exile and the Music of Afghanistan″ by John Baily

Without music, no humanity

Few musical cultures have been as affected by political upheavals and violence as that of Afghanistan. This is reflected in the title of the book ″War, Exile and the Music of Afghanistan: The Ethnographer′s Tale″ by John Baily, Emeritus Professor of Ethnomusicology at Goldsmiths, University of LondonMore

Simin Tander and Tord Gustavsen: The harmony of mysticism Interview with oboist Demetrios Karamintzas: "These children deserve the same opportunities as children anywhere else"Album review: "Mountain Melodies" by Quraishi: Keeping the voice of Afghanistan alive

Emdadullah Mohammand, a refugee from Afghanistan in Germany

Refugees in Germany

Hanging in the balance

Aged just 14 when he left his native country of Afghanistan, Emdadullah Mohammand spent nine months on the road in his quest to reach Europe. Four and a half years later, however, his asylum status remains unclear. By Esther FeldenMore

Migration and human rights: Refugee versus migrant: what's in a name?Integration in Germany: On the right track - one refugee's story Germany′s Muslims and the refugees: Integrating a new generation

Shia Muslims protest in Pakistan following a terrorist attack in Lahore on 22 January 2014 which killed 24 Shia pilgrims (photo: AFP/Getty Images)

Sunni-Shia tension

Islam versus Islam

The religious element of the conflicts raging in the Middle East today is a major reason why they are proving so difficult to defuse. An essay by Shahid Javed BurkiMore

Iran-Saudi conflict: The Middle East′s Cold War Iran-Saudi conflict: Playing the sectarian card Qantara dossier: Sunni-Shia tension

Still from "A Dragon Arrives", one of this year's Berlinale entries, by Iranian director Mani Haghighi (photo: picture-alliance/dpa/Berlinale/Abbas Kosari)

Germany′s Berlinale

Where film meets reality

As refugees have dominated the news in recent months, Berlin's International Film Festival is also focusing on their stories. It's not just a politically correct trend: the event's social commitment has deep roots. By Jochen KurtenMore

Berlinale 2015: Golden Bear for Jafar Panahi's film "Taxi": An incredible feeling of warmth and humanity Migration and xenophobia: Europe's refugee problem, then and now Syria conflict: Feigning helplessness

Afghan refugee children in Islamabad, Pakistan (photo: AP)

Afghan refugees in Pakistan

Underprivileged and unwanted

Pakistan has the second-largest refugee population in the world and the number of internally displaced people (IDPs) is growing too. The country is fighting internal militants and facing huge challenges. Islamabad is struggling to live up to its domestic and international obligations. By Waqqas MirMore

Afghan refugees in Iran: On the fringes of society Qantara dossier: "Refugees"Jordan and the influx of refugees: The true Samaritans

Palestinian author and publisher Abdel Bari Atwan (photo: picture-alliance/photoshot)

Islamic State

Know your enemy

There is much the West does not understand about its latest enemy, in which it faces more than ″just″ extremists. IS ideology thrives on hatred, anger and resentment – the most effective response would therefore be to introduce and nurture values of tolerance, unity, mutual co-operation and peace. By Abdel Bari AtwanMore

Western involvement in Syria: Fewer bombs, not more!Recruitment strategies used by Islamic State: A mutation of religion "Islamic State" versus "Taliban Emirate": One caliph too many IS and its media: Calling all suicide bombers

The Afghan author Taqi Akhlaqi

The not-so-universal art of writing

What makes an Afghan author turn to writing? What moves and inspires him? Many things are just the same as for authors in other parts of the world, but Afghanistan presents particular challenges, especially when the author starts to think about publication. A meditation by Taqi Akhlaqi on the inner and outer lives of the writerMore

Short stories by Spôjmai Zariâb: Snapshots of Afghan life Interview with Atiq Rahimi: Unable to move forward Atiq Rahimi's "The Patience Stone": Portrait of a brave woman

Afghan refugees in Iran

On the fringes of society

Many refugees currently knocking on Europe′s doors come from Afghanistan. Most of them, however, no longer know their homeland because they are second generation refugees who have grown up in neighbouring Iran. Ghasem Toulany on the situation of Afghan refugees in the Islamic RepublicMore

Afghan refugees in Iran: Treated like second-class citizens Afghanistan: the Taliban′s Kunduz offensive: "There's nothing left to keep me here"Photo essay: The plight of child refugees in Afghanistan

"This tortoise could save a life" (source: YouTube)

Save the Children and the Refugee Council

By watching this, you have donated to Save the Children and Refugee Council. YouTube gives advertising revenue to whoever uploads a video. The more views on the video, the more money the charities receive (see links below). Share this video to make an impact. With thanks to Alan Rickman.More

Save the Children The Refugee Council Migration and human rights: Refugee versus migrant: what's in a name?

wecarenauru.org

Australia appeal

Donors in Australia are being asked to give generously to the latest appeal organised by the charity "We Care Nauru". Thanks to Transworld Marine Express, a cargo company that services Brisbane and Nauru, an entire pallet of goods will be shipped free of charge to Nauru! The pallet will be assembled in late January and should ...More

"We Care Nauru" official website

Afghan security forces at Kandahar airport in southern Afghanistan (photo: picture alliance/ZUMA Press/S. Saiem)

Country: Afghanistan

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