Under the direction of the Turkish composter and oud player Mehmet Yeşilçay, the multinational project "Music for the One God" unites the sounds of Islamic, Sephardic-Jewiosh and Christian music. Stefan Franzen reportsMore
The first International Congress of Arab Music took place in Cairo 80 years ago. Intended as a means of preserving the Arab musical heritage, it actually led to a regeneration of classical Arab music. By Suleman TaufiqMore
The French percussionist explores the relationship between old Arab and early European music. In the cultural area that is the Mediterranean, where East meets West, she discovered her musical roots and the sounds of the "muwashshahat". Suleman Taufiq met her in ParisMore
There are very good reasons why Mohammad Reza Mortazavi is known as the drummer with the "fastest hands in the world"; listening to him perform, one gets the impression that one is listening to an ensemble of drummers playing a variety of instruments. Marian Brehmer reportsMore
For Iranians around the world Mohammad Reza Shajarian is the embodiment of classical Persian culture. In the summer of 2009 his support of the Iranian reform movement made him vastly popular among the young generation. An interview by Marian BrehmerMore
After years of struggle, many of the Tuareq rebels have switched to making music in order to promote their people's cultural identity. One of the most remarkable "former rebel musicians" is Omar "Bombino" Moctar. Richard Marcus introduces the man and his musicMore
What kind of music characterized the revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt in early 2011? How did musicians in these countries react to the political upheavals? A new album from the world music label "World Network" presents the music of the Arab Spring. Martina Sabra introduces the song collectionMore
Mohamed El Deeb from Cairo is one of the few Egyptian artists to have written songs that were critical of the Mubarak regime, and to have issued a musical protest against the dictatorship during the demonstrations on Tahrir Square. Arian Fariborz spoke to himMore
Massive Scar Era, or Mascara – that's the name chosen by the first successful Egyptian Heavy Metal band with almost exclusively female members. In this interview with Kristin Jankowski the band talks about their music and prejudices against female heavy metal musicians in EgyptMore
The output of young artists in the Arab world is clear evidence that young people here have for a long time been grappling with prevailing social conditions in their particular nations. Observations by Charlotte BankMore
Celebrating musical reconciliation at a place scarred by incredible pain requires a delicate touch and a musical tour de force if the result is to be convincing. New York's Absolute Ensemble and the Lebanese artist Marcel Khalifé took up this challenge. Stefan Franzen sends us this review of the resulting CD, Arabian NightsMore
This audacious project has foundered more than once and even this time its success hung by a thread. Daniel Barenboim performed a concert in Gaza with a group of European musicians. Hans-Christian Rößler reportsMore
Baghdad's only music school was destroyed in 2003. Any budding Iraqi musician who wants to learn an instrument has to use the Internet or find a teacher – neither of which is easy in Iraq. But a group of young musicians has not allowed itself to be deterred by such hurdles and has set up an orchestra, which they see as a symbol of peace. Gudrun Stegen reportsMore
In 1978, the oud player Rabih Abou-Khalil fled the Civil War in Lebanon. He went to Bavaria, where he studied music. Today, he is one of the most renowned and successful exponents of World Music in Europe. By Lewis GroppMore
The German-Persian singer Cymin Samawatie is the leader of the band Cyminology. With the quartet she has set texts of the Persian mystic Hāfiz and the scholar and poet Omar Khayyám, among others, to music. A portrait by Lewis GroppMore
In the heart of Beirut's manicured downtown, something is stirring in a bullet-pocked concrete shell of a building known as "the Egg": the visually unappealing Egg has advanced to become the meeting place for Lebanese democracy activists. Impressions by Lisa Barrington
The German Islam Scholar Lamya Kaddor
Why I as a Muslim Woman Don't Wear a Headscarf
Jordan and the influx of refugees
The true Samaritans
Muslims in Liberal Democracies
Why the West Fears Islam
The decline of Islamic scientific thought
Don't blame it on al-Ghazali
The Media and ''The Innocence of Muslims''
Against the Islamisation of Muslims
Turning away from Shia in Iran
''A Tsunami of Atheism''