Muslims in the West

Topic: Muslims in the West

Memorial to terror: The World Trade Center in New York destroyed in 2001(photo: United Archives International)

Repercussions of 9/11

The West and the Islamic world – mutually radicalised?

In his book "Ground Zero: 9/11 und die Geburt der Gegenwart" (Ground Zero: 9/11 and the Birth of the Present) Islamic scholar Stefan Weidner analyses the consequences of the attacks on the USA in September 2001. Kersten Knipp spoke with him about failures – as well as opportunities – in the West-East dialogueMore

Surveillance and domestic security since 9/11: Like donkeys carrying books Politics, inequality and a lack of transparency: Coronavirus and the Middle East's ongoing state of emergency Interview with Islamic scholar Stefan Weidner: Thinking outside the Western box Interview with author and essayist Pankaj Mishra: "Secularisation has really created a void of understanding"

Muslim student during the "European Studies" gala fundraiser held at Germany's Federal Foreign Office in Berlin (photo: picture alliance / Andreas Keuchel)

The image of Muslim women

“We refuse to be hijab-wearing princesses”

Among Muslims, the image of women as "cossetted hijab-wearing princesses" is frequently invoked. But Muslim women have long wanted to be more. In her essay, Karoline Roscher-Lagzouli explores how they can find a new approach to their Muslim femininity, beyond patriarchal ideals and the hackneyed Western debate on headscarvesMore

An enduring stereotype: The West's gleeful obsession with the 'oppressed Arab woman'Women′s rights in the Arab world: The key to change Non-fiction: Kubra Gumusay's "Sprache und Sein": Beyond the linguistic pigeonhole Interview with Dina El Omari on feminism and Islam: "Muslim women need space for critical self-reflection"Feminism, colonialism and Islamophobia: Treacherous sympathy with Muslim women

A 2019 demonstration against Islamophobia in France (photo: Imago Images/Panoramic/F. Pastellini)

Islamophobia and anti-Semitism

Cancel Culture restricts freedom of expression in France?

In Grenoble, France, two professors have been pilloried in a dispute over the use – or otherwise – of the term Islamophobia. Is freedom of speech in jeopardy? By Stefan Dege and Heike MundMore

"An Imaginary Racism: Islamophobia and Guilt": Deeply ignorant – Pascal Bruckner's hateful verbal crusade After the Islamist attack in Vienna: Europeans must not fall into the Islamic State trap Hate speech "inferno" on Germany's social media: Muslim students face Islamophobia after meeting CDU deputy

Muslim head coverings, from the hijab on the far left to the burka on the far right (photo: AP/DW-Montage)

Swiss burka ban: what will it achieve?

Swiss citizens have voted by a slim majority for a ban on face coverings. In future, Muslim women will not be allowed to wear burkas or niqabs in public. Protesters and hooligans who hide their faces will also face fines. Such bans apply in several European countries. Europe's press is at odds over the decision.More

Who is hidden beneath the burka? An appeal to the West France's burka ban: Excluding the wrong people Essay by Sara Silvestri: Britain does not need a French-style burka ban

Muslim marriage, Muslim divorce – and the wider family

"Problems are often dealt with collectively"

Ayse Gerner is a Muslim woman and a marriage counsellor. It is a combination appreciated by her clients, most of whom are Muslim. Although Muslim couples face the same relationship challenges as everyone else, they also have to overcome very specific obstacles. By Said RezekMore

The Prophet and Sharia: Islamic family law reform – a question of interpretation Women′s rights in Islam: Can feminism be Islamic?Zahra Ali's "Islamic Feminisms": Female emancipation based on the spirit of Sharia Marital traditions in the Islamic world: Marriage first, love later?

The "Initiative 19. Februar" displays photos of the nine victims of the Hanau attack on its walls (photo: Lisa Hänsel/DW)

Islamisation, a racist conspiracy theory

The hatred of Hanau and its enablers

The Hanau terror attack showed just how dangerous racist conspiracy theories can be. And yet it is a threat that continues to be underestimated. Commentary by Daniel BaxMore

Non-fiction: ″Angst ums Abendland″ by Daniel Bax: The apocalyptics of the West Islam and the West: What Islamisation?Radical critics of Islam and Islamophobia: Denying the individuality of minority members Fresh dispute over Islam: Why the German media are courting the anti-Islam movement

The poster of a demonstrator against Islamophobia in Paris reads: "Let Muslims have their faith" (photo: Getty Images/ AFP)

"An Imaginary Racism: Islamophobia and Guilt"

Deeply ignorant – Pascal Bruckner's hateful verbal crusade

In his controversial book published in 2020, French author Pascal Bruckner describes anti-Muslim sentiment as a fiction, claiming that the term "Islamophobia" is being used to silence criticism of the religion. Alexandra Senfft responds by highlighting the contradictions in a popular view of Islam and Muslims that leaves little room for nuanceMore

Germanyʹs Islam debate: The need to meet Islam critics head on Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in Europe: Targeting the Muslim population: Presumed guilty Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in Europe: The eternal Muslim Islamophobia: Criticism of religion? Blatant racism!

France: Café A La Bonne Biere – grief following the Paris attacks (photo: Getty Images/AFP/K. Tribouillard)

Germany and the discussion surrounding "Political Islam"

Berlin 2021 is not Tehran 1979

Several media reports in recent weeks have focused on the potential threat presented by Islamist groups in Germany. The discourse is fraught with generalisations, both sides accusing the other of their inability to differentiate, writes Tayfun GuttstadtMore

France, terrorism and identity politics: Emmanuel Macron's determination to pick the wrong battle Essay by Islam expert Gilles Kepel: The new jihad and its mentors Interview with French extremism researcher Olivier Roy: ″Radicalisation is not the result of failed integration″Radicalisation debate: The exclusion of European Muslims nurtures Islamists The scourge of sectarianism: Obstinate mass suicide

Participants in the video call with politician Norbert Rottgen (photo: Avicenna Studienwerk)

Hate speech "inferno" on Germany's social media

Muslim students face Islamophobia after meeting CDU deputy

German Muslim students became the target of a vicious online campaign following a digital meeting at the beginning of February with federal politician and high-ranking Christian Democrat Norbert Rottgen. By Peter HilleMore

Racist attack on Hanau: Not the only Nazi ideologue...Islamophobia in Germany: "We need a new debate about racism"Anti-Muslim racism: Merkel and "the danger of self-Islamisation"Against hate and exclusion: For a new co-existence The Avicenna scholarship programme: Cosmopolitan and female

Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci (photo: Stefan F. Sämmer/Imago)

Migrants and entrepreneurship in Germany

Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci – a rare success story?

When news broke that a vaccine against COVID-19 developed by a Turkish-born couple in Germany had promising results, many media reports placed the ethnic background of these scientists above the importance of the story itself. While migrant entrepreneurship might still be regarded as something rare in Germany, research shows that more and more migrants are launching their own businesses. By Sertan SandersonMore

Immigration, Islamophobia and the AfD: Germany's "welcoming culture" – for some a dirty word 2015 and the Syrian influx: Five years on, how has Germany's refugee policy fared?Interview with journalist and performance artist Michel Abdollahi: "People with dark hair always have to go the extra mile"Migration museum in Cologne: Recognising Germany's immigration society

Halal meat photographed in a French supermarket; Thionville, 20.02.2012 (photo: picture-alliance/maxppp/J. PELAEZ)

Religious freedom in Europe

ECJ ruling on kosher and halal slaughter ban disastrous

The European Union's top court has deemed kosher and halal slaughter incompatible with animal welfare. This is a grim day for religious freedom in Europe, writes Christoph StrackMore

Paris: the Jewish-Muslim butcher's shop: The art of tolerant coexistence Islamic dietary laws in practice: Halal for all Ritual Islamic food production: "The Halal trend is unstoppable"

Germany: AfD election poster against the supposed Islamisation of society in Cologne (photo: picture-alliance/Geisler-fotopresse)

Criticism of Islam versus Islamophobia in Europa

AfD's religious criticism is simply Muslim-bashing in disguise

Germany's AfD party claims its critical attitude towards Islam is religious criticism and hence falls under the right to freedom of expression. Yet the party fails to back its claim with convincing arguments, writes social scientist Ulrich Paffrath from the Frankfurt-based Academy for Islam in Research and Society in this feature for Qantara.deMore

Art and the AfD: Peddling high-brow Islamophobia Anti-Muslim racism: Merkel and "the danger of self-Islamisation"Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in Europe: The eternal Muslim Germanyʹs Islam debate: The need to meet Islam critics head on

French Muslims Thakar and Ahamad in front of the Moubarak mosque (photo: DW/Lisa Louis)

France's anti-separatism bill may increase discrimination

Muslims are not the problem, they are part of the solution

Critics of France's draft law to combat "radical Islamism" say the proposed measures are inefficient and will further stigmatise Muslims. They assert that involving Muslims in the process of addressing radicalisation is essential. Lisa Louis reportsMore

Emmanuel Macron's anti-separatism bill: Imam Muhammed Abu Zaid calls on French Muslims to engage France's "anti-separatism" drive: Emmanuel Macron's plan to protect French values alienates Muslims France, terrorism and identity politics: Emmanuel Macron's determination to pick the wrong battle

Mohammed Abu Zaid, imam and judge in Lebanon, urges dialogue on both sides (photo: Claudia Rammelt)

Emmanuel Macron's anti-separatism bill

Imam Muhammed Abu Zaid calls on French Muslims to engage

Prominent Islamic scholar Muhammed Abu Zaid has urged Muslims in France to cooperate with the government. At the same time, he emphasised the need for the French authorities to foster dialogue with the country's Muslim community. By Jennifer HolleisMore

Macron seeks French cabinet backing for anti-extremism law France's "anti-separatism" drive: Emmanuel Macron's plan to protect French values alienates Muslims France, terrorism and identity politics: Emmanuel Macron's determination to pick the wrong battle

Sudanese author Leila Aboulela (photo: Judy Laing)

Interview with Sudanese-Egyptian writer Leila Aboulela

The challenge of identity in a non-monochrome world

Recently translated into German, "Minaret" tells the story of a young Sudanese woman exiled in London who finds refuge in Islam. Award-winning author Leila Aboulela talks to Anna-Theresa Bachmann about her work, Muslim immigrants in the UK and the recent Sudanese revolutionMore

Book review: Leila Aboulela's "Bird Summons": The arc of self-discovery Book review: "The Kindness of Enemies" by Leila Aboulela: Crises of identity and loyalty from Scotland to the Caucasus Horn of Africa: Give Sudan's fledgling democracy the support it deserves!

A demonstrator displays her opinion outside the courthouse on the first day of the constitutional challenge to Bill 21, which bans public workers in positions of "authority" from wearing religious symbols, before the Quebec Superior Court in Montreal on 2 November 2020 (photo: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson)

Canada and the problem with Bill 21

Quebec's controversial secularism law takes the stand

In France and in Canada's Francophone province of Quebec issues of personal freedom have recently been thrown into sharp relief. In Quebec, legal proceedings have been initiated against Law 21, which prohibits public servants from wearing religious symbols in the workplace. Richard Marcus reportsMore

Quebecʹs controversial Bill 21: Islamophobia festers in Canadaʹs Francophone heart Right-wing populism in Canada: Is Trudeau's multi-cultural idyll in danger?Bill 62 – Quebec′s burka ban: Veiled bigotry

Topic: Muslims in the West

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