Maghreb

Country: Maghreb

Egyptian man sits in a church following the IS attack on Coptic Christians in Tanta, Egypt (photo: picture-alliance/dpa/AP)

Islam in the Middle East

The curse of religiosity

Some regard the fanatical and raging tide currently sweeping through Arab societies as variations of a "latent Daesh-isation". Indeed, argues Khaled Hroub, despite falling short of the use of violence or arms, in its most extreme form, its ideological principles and convictions share common ground with the heinous beliefs of Islamic StateMore

Arab identity crisis: What is left of the Arabs?Political discourse in the Arab world: Defaming democracy Taha Hussein and the democratisation of education in Egypt: The sea of knowledge

Symbolic image of Islamic feminism (source: raseef22)

Women′s rights in Islam

Can feminism be Islamic?

Islamic feminism is a relatively new concept and not without controversy. Indeed many wonder whether it is possible to reconcile feminism with Islam – a religion critics regard as inherently patriarchal. By Salma KhattabMore

Book review: Zahra Ali's "Islamic Feminisms": Female emancipation based on the spirit of Sharia Interview with Amina Wadud: ''Islam belongs to all its believers''Qantara dossier:"Feminism in Islam"

Anti-corruption protests in the Moroccan city of Al-Hoceima on 3 June 2017 (photo: Reuters/Youssef Boudlal)

Social unrest in the Arab world

Guilty of gross negligence

The ongoing protests in North Africa reveal the extent of the failure of government there. Never before have corrupt elites been so alienated from the social realities of the ordinary people, says Loay MudhoonMore

Morocco and the return of autocracy: Playing with fire Arab identity crisis: What is left of the Arabs?Al-Sisi's Egyptian crisis: ″Where are the youth?″Post-Arabellion reform deadlock: The logic of power

Protesters in Al-Hoceima in Morocco's Rif region demonstrating in May 2017 for social and economic development

Morocco and the return of autocracy

Playing with fire

According to Moroccan researcher Mohamed Taifouri, the Kingdom of Morocco is gradually returning to its pre-2011 state, openly declaring a break from the accretions of the Arab Spring. The legacy of the 20 February Movement and all that has followed by way of a political renaissance is simply unwelcome ballastMore

Morocco's Islamist Justice and Development Party: A delicate balancing act Democratic change in Morocco: Winners and losers in a new political climate Parliamentary elections in Morocco: Divide and rule

″Pioneering women in the Arab-Islamic History of Education″: Fatima al-Fihri (source: Raseef22)

Women and Arab-Islamic education

The doyennes of learning

The first university in the world was founded by a Muslim woman. One of the Arab world′s most prestigious and oldest universities was also founded by an Arab princess. Women had a remarkable role in building schools and patronising the sciences throughout Islamic history. By Tharwat Al-BatawiMore

Taha Hussein and the democratisation of education in Egypt: The sea of knowledge The decline of Islamic scientific thought: Don't blame it on al-Ghazali ''The House of Wisdom'' by Jim Al-Khalili: The golden age of learning in the Arab-speaking world

Iraqi boy riding past a burning oil-field following an IS attack in Qayyarah near Mosul (photo: Getty Images/C. Court)

Arab identity crisis

What is left of the Arabs?

Despite war and mass murder, the Arabs were never as numerous as they are today. But they were also never as unsure about who they are. Does an Arab identity survive? What about Arab culture? These are the questions being asked today. In view of the political and social downward spiral, all of this is now at stake, says Stefan Buchen in his essayMore

Political discourse in the Arab world: Defaming democracy Political transformation in the Arab world: Forget the people Critical reflections on the Arab revolutions: Profiteers from authoritarian decay

Moroccan Amazigh demonstrate in front of the Moroccan parliament in Rabat on 23 April 2017 to denounce the death of a member of their community during recent clashes at the university of Marrakesh (photo: Reuters/Stringer)

Morocco′s Amazigh

The long road to recognition

Morocco′s Amazigh captured a historic achievement in 2011 when constitutional measures following the country′s February 20th protests officially recognised the Amazigh culture and language. But six years on, many Amazigh are dissatisfied with the reform process and continue to complain of discrimination. By Matthew GreeneMore

Mohammed Khair-Eddine: An intimate look at Berber culture Reform in Morocco: Plagued by inertia Ethnic conflict in Algeria: A struggle for power and recognition

Members of Emran Tenere in front of Kahf al-Jnun – ′the djinns′ cave′ – near Ghat in the Libyan Sahara (photo: Emran Tenere)

Tuareg fusion

Desert cats

"Passionate about the Tuareg" see themselves as cultural ambassadors. The musical project is the result of co-operation between two bands – one from southern Tunisia and the other from the Libyan Sahara. What unites them is a desire to revive the musical heritage of their forefathers through modern re-interpretation. By Valerie StockerMore

Album review: "Alone" by Terakaft: The lions of Tamasheq music Album review: ″Kidal″ by Tamikrest: Encompassing the endless space Album review: "Jamal" by Alkibar Jr.: Mali's musical resistance

Unemployed men protest in front of the Ministry of Labour in Algiers (photo: dpa/picture-alliance)

Algeria′s disillusioned majority

Desperately seeking voters

Algeria's upcoming parliamentary poll is failing to spark the interest of the populace. Few have any hope that the discredited political class will provide solutions to the country′s pervasive social malaise. At the same time, a handful of dedicated civil society campaigns are focusing on initiating change at grassroots level. Sofian Philip Naceur reports from Algiers and OranMore

Parliamentary elections in Algeria: The corrupt, the apathetic and the disaffected Unrest in Algeria: Shaking the social foundations Conflict between Arabs and Berbers in Algeria: A social minefield Le Hic Facebook page

Lebanese journalist Hazem Saghieh (source: H. Saghieh, photo: C. Charafeddine)

Interview with the Lebanese journalist Hazem Saghieh

More lapdog than watchdog

Rather than acting as a counterweight to the ruling class, the press across the Arab world serves the interests of oligarchs, despots and governments, says Hazem Saghieh. In interview with Kai Schnier, the Lebanese author and journalist explains why he censors himself and why he believes that journalism from Rabat to Riyadh will never be a catalyst for political changeMore

Egypt after the coup: Two sides of the same coin Social media and the Arabellion: The myth of the Facebook revolution Qantara dossier: "Freedom of the Press"

French philosopher, essayist and academic Tzvetan Todorov (photo: picture-alliance/dpa)v

On the death of philosopher and essayist Tzvetan Todorov

We are all barbarians

Tzvetan Todorov was not a typical French TV philosopher, bending the president's ear with ideas on the politics of the day. He definitely would not have called for "Libya to be bombed", as did Bernard-Henri Levy in 2011. Todorov kept a low profile. He passed away early this year. Stefan Buch explains why he was – and will remain – one of the voices of our timeMore

Islam and enlightenment: Beware of the myth Interview with Gudrun Kraemer: Fighting Islamophobia with rational arguments Alexander Flores's ''Civilization or barbarism?'': Islam in the historical context

Unemployed Tunisians demonstrating about the lack of job opportunities in their country in front of a government ministry in Tunisia (photo: dpa/picture-alliance/Mohamed Messara)

The Maghreb

A regional time bomb

With the lack of sustainable development and social progress, political stability is at risk in the Maghreb. Instability may have fatal consequences for Europe. Commentary by Nassir DjafariMore

Moroccan migration expert Hicham Aroud: ″Cologne 2015 was a watershed″Post-revolution transformation in Egypt and Tunisia: Let them eat cake!Tunisia′s partisan path to transitional justice: The problem with truth

Flag bearing the likeness of Syrian dictator Assad outside the Syrian Embassy in Beirut (photo: picture-alliance/dpa)

The decline of humanism in the Arab world

With an iron fist

Gone the dream of a modern Arab civil society. Syrian writer Nasser Rabbat examines the historical causes for despotism, tyranny and oppression in the Arab world More

Liberalism in the Arab world: Merely treading water Political discourse in the Arab world: Defaming democracy Political transformation in the Arab world: Forget the people

Protesters on Talaat Harb Sqaure in Cairo demonstrate against Abdul Fattah al-Sisi (photo: picture-alliance/AP)

Young people and protests in the Arab world

So shall you reap

In many Arab countries young people continue to feel neglected. The latest Arab Human Development Report claims that shifting demographics are incubating the next political crisis. By Kareem ChehayebMore

Arab Human Development Report 2016 Hamza Meddeb on the "No Future" generation: Tunisia's ticking time bomb Al-Sisi's Egyptian crisis: ″Where are the youth?″

″Istanbul″ board game illustration (by Pegasus-Spiele)

The German board game 'Istanbul'

Good clean Oriental fun?

Just a game? Think again! If the world is to survive, we all need to move closer together. Yet how can a society that ridicules others and reduces them to the level of pawns in a game expect to make any kind of constructive contribution? By Stefan Buchen

Germany’s refugee debate: Integration is a two-way street Edward Said's "Orientalism": The Orient beyond cliche Essay by Adania Shibli: Recalling Edward Said's thought today

Bassem Youssef′s satirical show ″Al Bernameg″ (source: Al Bernameg)

Sara Taksler′s documentary ″Tickling Giants″

Running the satirical gauntlet

His cutting humour led to Bassem Youssef becoming a comedy star throughout the Arab world in the wake of the Arab Spring in Egypt. Yet, the spring of freedom was short-lived: by the end of 2013, his popular show was abruptly cancelled. An American documentary film portrays the legendary satirist. By Rene WildangelMore

Egypt in turmoil: Against the tide of hatred TV Satirist Bassem Youssef: "People should be able to listen to different opinions"Photo essay: Bassem Youssef: Satire in the service of democracy