Mashriq

Country: Mashriq

Excerpt from an Iraqi maqama manuscript dating from 1237 (source: University of Victoria/Fine Arts)

The maqamas of Ibn Naqiya in German translation

The picaresque poet from Baghdad

The "maqama", a classical Arabic form of prose-poetry, is still almost unknown in Germany – as is the name of the 11th-century Baghdad poet Ibn Naqiya. A new translation has the potential to change all that. By Gerrit WustmannMore

Book review: Stefan Weidner's ʺ1001 Books. The Literatures of the Orientʺ: The Middle East – a rich vein of world literature The Book of Exposition: An archaeology of erotica Arabic-to-English literary translation: Raising the profile

Cover and e-book edition of Ofer Grosbard's "The Holy Quran for Educating the Child" in English, Arabic and Hebrew (source: quranet.net)

Interview with Quranet founder Ofer Grosbard

Parenting according to the Koran

At the suggestion of his Arab students, Israeli psychologist Ofer Grosbard created the project "Quranet", which uses texts from the Koran to solve educational problems in schools and families. More than ten years after its inception, the project is now attracting attention in the Arab world. Interview by Claudia MendeMore

"Quranet" website Ofer Grosbard and his "Quranet" project: The therapeutic verses of the Koran Islam and psychoanalysis: A tale of mutual ignorance

Reem Al Farangi from Gaza, founder of Habaybna.net (photo: Claudia Mende)

First Arabic website for parents of disabled children

"Habaybna" – for advice, community and inclusion

Reem Al Farangi from Gaza, mother to two children with autism, has created the first Arabic-language website for the parents of disabled children. "Habaybna" provides important information about early recognition, therapies and self-help – and connects parents from across the region. Claudia Mende reports from AmmanMore

Disabled refugee children in Jordan: The lesser-known victims of war Processing child trauma in the Middle East: Sesame Street's new trio of refugee puppets Rights for the disabled in Tunisia: Inching towards inclusion

Algerians protesting the election of Tebboune as the new President of Algeria on 13.12.2019 (photo: AFP/Getty Images)

Arab Spring 2.0

The Middle East's fearless protesters

The upheavals of the past year in the MENA region are arguably as momentous as those of the Arab Spring in 2011. Yet perhaps the biggest difference is that our interest seems to have evaporated. Why? Essay by Jannis HagmannMore

Interview with the Moroccan thinker Hassan Aourid: Democracy cannot be stopped Unrest in the Arab world: The genie is out of the bottle Military dictatorships in the Middle East: The real enemies of the Arab Spring

Graffiti in the Jordanian capital Amman: "No to violence against women" (photo: Claudia Mende)

Women's rights in Jordan

The women of Dar Amneh

In Jordan, members of civil society have set up the first shelter for women who are under threat of death from their own families. For one year now, such women have been able to turn to Dar Amneh for help and support. A report by Claudia MendeMore

Protecting women from violence in Jordan: For a self-determined life Cultural shift in Jordan: A slow awakening Women′s rights in the Arab world: No house room for criminals

Lebanese director Rabih Mroué (source: YouTube)

Interview with Lebanese director Rabih Mroué

"First, they all have to go. And all means all"

The Lebanese director Rabih Mroué explains why a tax on WhatsApp led to an outbreak of mass protests in his country. And also why the government has until now refrained from using force. Rabih Mroue talked to Till BrieglebMore

Interview with the Lebanese media artist Rabih Mroué: "Images until victory?"Middle East: Lebanon's protesters are here to stay Book review: Mazen Kerbaj′s ″Beirut won′t cry″: ″Bombs pass and we bark″

Palestinian studies the Koran in Khan Younis (photo: dpa/picture-alliance)

The Prophet and Sharia

Islamic family law reform – a question of interpretation

Equality in divorce, a ban on polygamy: reformers of Islamic family law have a clear agenda. They are exploiting the ambiguity of traditional jurisprudence. By Joseph CroitoruMore

Marriage, divorce and inheritance: Who should reform Egypt's personal status law, and how?Women's rights in Morocco: Gender equality on paper only Book review: Zahra Ali's "Islamic Feminisms": Female emancipation based on the spirit of Sharia

Lebanese author Amin Maalouf (photo: Imago Images/IPA/N. Zonna)

Interview with Lebanese writer Amin Maalouf

Petrodollars proved stronger in the Middle East than cultural tradition

Decades of oil exports have completely destabilised culture and politics in the Middle East. Speaking with Lena Bopp, the renowned writer Amin Maalouf says that the distorted political discourse in the Arab world is now impacting on the WestMore

Amin Maalouf: "The dissolution of world orders": The psychology of large collectives Amin Maalouf: A tree needs roots; a human being doesn't Oil and development in the Middle East: A two-edged sword

Moroccan political scientist Hassan Aourid (photo: private)

Interview with the Moroccan thinker Hassan Aourid

Democracy cannot be stopped

Hassan Aourid is one of the most important political and intellectual figures in Morocco. In interview with Ismail Azzam for Qantara, Aourid outlines his vision of the decline of political Islam and the future of democracy and human rights in the MaghrebMore

Indigenous rights in the Maghreb: An uphill struggle for Tunisiaʹs Amazigh Morocco′s Amazigh: The long road to recognition Unrest in the Arab world: The genie is out of the bottle

Hamid Dabashi, professor at Columbia University, New York (photo: hamiddabashi.com)

Interview with Hamid Dabashi

Europe’s coloniality persists after the fall of empire

An interview with the Iranian-American historian and cultural philosopher Hamid Dabashi about writing, Europe's past and present, right-wing populism and the Arab uprisings. By Tugrul MendeMore

Interview with Hamid Dabashi: ''Another people now Is re-defining the Idea of democracy''Iran and Saudi Arabia: A plea for Islamic tolerance Father of post-colonial studies: Edward Said – exiled between cultures

Anti-government protests

Is this Iraq's Arab Spring?

Iraq is currently facing such an alarming array of economic, political and social problems that many observers fear no-one will be up to the task of delivering the much-needed reforms. By Stasa SalacaninMore

Unrest in the Arab world: The genie is out of the bottle Protesting for reform and an end to corruption: Iraq's youth reject the dire status quo The Iraq War fifteen years on: "America destroyed my country"

Demonstrators protest against Hariri and the Lebanese government in Beirut (photo: picture-alliance/dpa)

Middle East

Lebanon's protesters are here to stay

Demonstrators in Lebanon have been taking to the streets for days demanding the resignation of the government. So far, the government has offered little to pacify the people. How long can this go on? Diana Hodali reportsMore

Political crisis in Lebanon: Time is running out for Saad Hariri Lebanon protesters block roads to keep revolt alive Lebanonʹs rubbish crisis and youth protests: "If not us, then who?"

Journalist and author Charlotte Wiedemann (photo: DW)

Charlotte Wiedemann: "Now is the time for utopias"

The end of white dominance

In her latest book – "Der lange Abschied von der weissen Dominanz" – recently published in German, journalist Charlotte Wiedemann describes the upheaval in our changing, multi-polar world with startling clarity. By Christopher ReschMore

Western news coverage: The white perspective Germanyʹs Islam debate: The need to meet Islam critics head on Interview with Islamic scholar Stefan Weidner: Thinking outside the Western box

Anti-government protests in Lebanon (photo: picture-alliance/AP)

Political crisis in Lebanon

Time is running out for Saad Hariri

In Lebanon, protests continue against the government. Prime Minister Saad Hariri has already lost a coalition partner. His power appears to be eroding. Diana Hodali reports from BeirutMore

Lebanon's Hariri agrees reforms amid nationwide protests over economic crisis Social inequality in the Arab world: There is no state in Lebanon Lebanonʹs rubbish crisis and youth protests: "If not us, then who?"

Tomb of the Persion poet Hafez in Shiraz, Iran (source: Wikimedia)

Book review: Stefan Weidner's ʺ1001 Books. The Literatures of the Orientʺ

The Middle East – a rich vein of world literature

Recently published in German, Stefan Weidner's new book issues an invitation to all those who would like to be better acquainted with the literature of the Middle East – a profoundly fascinating journey through the works of Arab, Persian and Turkish authors. By Gerrit WustmannMore

Goethe anniversary: Orient and Occident Goethe and the Orient: Why did the poet's mind wander to far-off climes?Translations of classical Islamic literature: From the emotional Orient to the distortion of Islam

Symbolic image of anti-Muslim racism (photo: Imago/P. Endig)

An enduring stereotype

The West's gleeful obsession with the 'oppressed Arab woman'

The stereotype of the oppressed Arab woman continues to dominate public discourse throughout Europe. Not only is this skewed image altering the perception of changing notions of family and roles within the Arab world, it is also an expression of our own cultural insecurity, writes Claudia MendeMore

Women′s rights in the Arab world: The key to change Women in Turkey: The headscarf is slipping Gender equality in the Middle East: To the benefit of all

Country: Mashriq

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