Politics

Fighting in western Sudan's Darfur region has forced more than 600,000 people to flee their homes, photo: AP

Sudan

War, Refugees and Hunger instead of Peace

The government of Sudan came under fire by the publication of two reports on the humanitarian situation in the Darfur region. Human Rights Watch accused Khartoum of ethnic cleansing. A UN report accused the government of deliberately starving civilians.More

Europe and North Africa: so close and yet so far. (photo: AP)

Europe-Med Forum

Renewed Push for Middle East Ceasefire

Stability in the Middle East and the fight against terrorism top the agenda at a meeting between EU foreign ministers and representatives from southern Mediterranean states in Dublin on Thursday.More

George Bush on Al-Hurra TV

USA/Iraq

"This Does Not Represent the America I Know"

In interviews given to two Arab television stations, US President Bush has called the abuse of Iraqi prison inmates by US troops "abhorrent". Bush promised that those responsible for the abuses would be brought to justice but he stopped short of apologising. In the Arab world, distrust remains.More

Iranian president Chatami in front of an image of revolutionary leader Chomeini (phot: AP)

Iran

A Return to Pragmatism

The presidency of Mohammed Khatami has brought a fresh wind to tense relations between the Islamic Republic and the rest of the Arab world. Bahman Nirumand describes the stations of this foreign policy shift and explains why the founding of an Islamic state in Iran led to its long political isolation by the Arab states.More

Ferhad Ibrahim (photo: Arian Fariborz)

Interview

A Tightrope Walk Toward Democracy

Currently, an end to the Iraq conflict is nowhere in sight. Yet in some parts of the country there are signs of political normalization and an economic revival. Qantara.de spoke with Professor Ferhad Ibrahim upon his return from Iraq.More

Greenpeace protest against human cloning (photo: AP)

Muslim Religious Scholars on Cloning

Useful Technology or the Work of the Devil?

In the Islamic world, views on cloning tend to be subject to fine distinctions. In order to understand these better, certain special properties of Islamic law must be taken into consideration, as described in the following by the Orientalist Thomas Eich.More

The Americans have inherited the entire array of conflicts, Fischer said. (photo: AP)

Germany/Iraq

"Iraq Could Destabilize Middle East"

Germany's Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer critizised the U.S.-led war in Iraq, saying on Saturday he feared continued fighting in Iraq was destabilizing the entire Middle East and playing into the hands of Islamic terrorism.More

Just a few names and words are enough to ignite a diplomatic crisis. (photo: AP)

Germany

Embroiled in Diplomatic Spat with Iran

In response to a contoversial plaque unveiled in Berlin last week, Tehran plans to post signs accusing Germany of supplying Saddam Hussein with chemical weapons during the Iran-Iraq war.More

photo: AP

Germany

Promoting Turkish-German Trade

A new Turkish-German Chamber of Commerce opened in Cologne on Tuesday: At stake are billions of euros in investments, thousands of jobs, and - not least - the alignment of Turkey and the EU.More

Cyprus - a divided island nation joining unified Europe (photo: AP)

Opinion

Turkish Cypriots Kept out in the Cold

The Greek Cypriots may have voted no to reunification, but they will still be joining the EU on 1 May. The outcome of the referendum not only casts a dark shadow over Cyprus's accession to the EU, it is also a disaster for European foreign policy, says Rainer Sollich.More

Volker Perthes (photo: Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik / German Institute for International and Security Affairs)

Near East after the Iraq War

New Geopolitical Rules and Guidelines

In the Iraq War, an Arab state was defeated and occupied by a non-regional power for the first time since decolonization. The US are now the strongest military power in the Near East, supplanting previous regional leaders such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia. By Volker PerthesMore

photo: Amira Hass

Book Review

Swimming against the Tide

Amira Hass is the only Israeli journalist living in the Palestinian territories – scrutinising reality in the West Bank, publishing facts and giving people a voice. Igal Avidan read her latest book, Reporting from Ramallah: An Israeli Journalist in an Occupied Land.More

Mordechai Vanunu after his release (photo: AP)

Middle East

Israel's Double Standard

Nuclear technician Mordechai Vanunu has now been released after 18 years of imprisonment for treason. Peter Philipp comments on Israel's nuclear weapons strategy.More

Blue mosque in Istanbul, photo: AP

Islam and Democracy

"Democracy Can't Be Imposed from Outside"

At the Congress of Democrats of the Muslim World, politicians, newspaper editors and members of NGOs from 11 countries met for two days of talks on developing democracy across the Muslim world. Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul.More

Fischer gets a first-hand account of reconstruction efforts in Kunduz. (photo: AP)

Afghanistan

Setting an Example for Iraq

During his visit to Afghanistan on Tuesday, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer praised the work of German troops and said the reconstruction effort there should serve as a role model to Iraq.More

photo: AP

Germany/Iraq

Blind Solidarity

Several leftist organizations in Germany are collecting money to benefit the Iraqi resistance. But who and what are they really supporting with this money? Majid al-Khatib, who was exiled by Saddam Hussein, gives us background information.More

Michel Barnier, right, the French Foreign Minister speaking to Joschka Fischer, the German Foreign Minister at the end of the second day of a meeting of EU Ministers for Foreign Affairs in Tullamore, Ireland, Saturday April 17, 2004 (photo: AP)

Middle East

Germany and France Criticize Rantisi Killing

Germany and France have joined international criticism of Israel's assassination of Hamas leader Abdel Asis Rantisi at the weekend, calling for a return to the road map to peace in the Middle East. Uwe Hessler has the details.More

EU leaders are unenthusiastic about Bush backing Sharon's plans (photo: AP)

Middle East

EU Skeptical about Israeli Plan

European reaction to U.S. support for Israel's West Bank plans was reserved on Thursday. The EU and the German government warned that both Israelis and Palestinians must agree to any border changes.More

German Moslems during prayer (photo: AP)

Muslims in Germany

Instead of Protest: Raising Awareness in Mosques

Muslims living in Germany have been criticised for not distancing themselves visibly enough from Islamist terrorism. Diet Simon discussed the issue with Ogus Ücüncü, secretary-general of Germany largest Muslim organisation, Milli Görüs.More

Germans circle for peace (photo: AP)

Easter Marches in Europe

Protesting Against Military Buildup and Iraq War

The burning issues at the Easter marches across Europe this year are countless, running the gamut from the war in Iraq to the growing gap between the rich and the poor. By Silke BallwegMore

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Most Recent Photo Essay

Rufia Begum, aged 9, is among more than 700,000 Rohingya who have taken shelter in the Cox's Bazar district of Bangladesh after fleeing a military crackdown in Myanmar last year, the United Nations and human rights groups say

Wearing tradition – thanaka paste in a Rohingya camp

Thanaka, a paste that has been used for centuries to protect skin from the sun, is traditionally applied in swirls to the cheeks of Rohingya Muslim women. Itʹs a custom female refugees in Bangladesh are keen to preserve. By Clodagh Kilcoyne

The slow death of journalism in Egypt

An Egyptian newstand (photo: Getty Images/AFP/K. Desouki)

Last week the Egyptian parliament approved three new draft laws regulating the functions of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation (SMRC), the National Media Authority, and the National Press Authority (NPA). This bill will regulate social media presence in ways that it never has before. Any account with over 5,000 followers could be treated as a media outlet.More

Iran’s priorities in a turbulent Middle East

Iranʹs leadership elite: Ayatollah Khamenei (l.) and President Rouhani (photo: picture-alliance/dpa)

Divergent views of Iran’s ambitions are driving proxy wars from Syria to Yemen. To stop disastrous direct confrontation, it is crucial to close the perception gap and that Iran and its adversaries take mutual steps toward de-escalating tensions.More

The wrong story: Palestine, Israel and the media

Author Greg Shupak (source: Twitter)

Greg Shupak's new book is a highly relevant and necessary account of how the media is feeding us the wrong story on Israel and Palestine, writes Sophia Akram.More

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Examining civil society legitimacy

Infographic showing the globally shrinking space for civil society (source: Deutsche Welle)

Civil society is under stress globally as dozens of governments across multiple regions reduce space for independent civil society organisations, restrict or prohibit international support for civic groups and propagate government-controlled NGOs. Leading scholars and activists report on efforts around the world to improve and defend civil society’s legitimacy.More

"Disturbing the peace": Voices from the Israeli-Palestine conflict

Mixing poetic footage with first-hand accounts, Stephen Apkon's documentary, "Disturbing the Peace", attempts to unpick hatred through dialogue, telling stories from both sides of the divide and finding cause for optimism amid the longstanding anger and despair.More

Barack Obama: "Walking away from the JCPOA turns our back on America’s closest allies"

U.S. President Barack Obama delivers a statement on Iran at the White House in Washington, 17 January 2016. (photo: Reuters/Y. Gripas)

There are few issues more important to the security of the United States than the potential spread of nuclear weapons, or the potential for even more destructive war in the Middle East. That’s why the United States negotiated the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in the first place.More

openDemocracy: Free thinking for the world

openDemocracy logo (source: openDemocracy)

openDemocracy is an independent global media platform covering world affairs, ideas and culture which seeks to challenge power and encourage democratic debate across the world.More

Why it matters what we do: Post-Arab Spring perceptions of the EU

Protesting against the Sisi regime in Cairo (photo: picture-alliance/AP Photo/A. Nabil)

In the Middle East and North Africa, EU foreign policy has tended to prioritise regime stability over democratisation. Scholars have warned that the open display of double standards in dealing with authoritarian regimes could negatively impact the EUʹs credibility among domestic publics, with serious implications for its political influence and identity as a foreign policy actor.More