Qantara.de - Dialog mit der islamischen Welt

Every year the Goethe-Institut confers the official decoration of the Federal Republic of Germany to honour figures who have performed outstanding service for international cultural dialogue. This year′s Goethe Medals have been awarded to Lebanese author Emily Nasrallah, Indian publisher Urvashi Butalia and Russian civil rights activist Irina ShcherbakovaMore

Tunisia′s appeal as a holiday destination hit rock bottom a couple of years ago when it became the target of several Islamist attacks. Having rescued a number of Star Wars film sets in south-western Tunisia from sinking into the desert sands, a local tourism agency is now hoping to attract the film series′ considerable fan base. By Silke WunschMore

During President Rouhani′s first term in office, musicians began to gain greater freedom in Iran. Now, they′re hoping for further alleviations for their work after Rouhani′s re-election. To date, however, musical performances have been subject to much uncertainty and even traditional religious music is a thorn in the side of hardliners. By Nahid FallahiMore

Bayan Yani is a satirical magazine led by women in a country which is becoming increasingly hostile to them. For more than six years, cartoonists and writers in Turkey have combined their talents to make readers not only think, but also laugh in a feminist way. By Clement GirardotMore

The art and theatre collective ″Ruhrorter″ in Mulheim, under the direction of Adem Kostereli, has already been working with refugees for five years. Their current project, ″Ich hielt in meinen Armen das Unmogliche″ (I held the impossible in my arms), explores themes of memory, loss and the limits of what words can express. By Sonja GallerMore

Celebrated Turkish novelist Aslı Erdoğan was imprisoned for four months in Turkey last year. Despite the awful experience and the pressure being exerted on her, she refuses to be cowed. Writing, she says, is a responsibility. Interview conducted by Ceyda NurtschMore

In his first documentary film, "Little Eagles", director Mohamed Rashad moves from Alexandria to Cairo and back. On his journey, he links up the past and the present, raising many questions about the individual and society. Interview by Islam AnwarMore

Intelligent, soulful and emotional, the new album by Canadian Nigerian musician Sonia Aimy, "Nigerian Spirit", addresses a broad spectrum of themes: from how life in Nigeria has changed since Aimy's childhood, the sorrow of life in Somalia, to a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the problems of finding a good husband. Review by Richard Marcus

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Eleven years ago, Mazen Kerbaj wrote and drew his newly published ″Beirut Won′t Cry″ in an existential and creative flurry that began on 14 July and ended on 27 August 2006. The first entry in this six-week memoir is headlined ″Bang? Blog!″ If the ″bang″ was the question, says Marcia Lynx Qualey, then this blog-to-book was Kerbaj′s answerMore