Country: South Africa

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (photo: Reuters/T. Berkin)

Turkey and the Gulen movement

Erdogan seizes the school initiative

Since the attempted coup in Turkey, President Erdogan has been pressing foreign nations to hand over schools run by the Gulen movement. Although many countries have entrusted control of the schools to the Turkish Maarif Foundation, the controversial movement continues to enjoy protection. By Ulrich von SchwerinMore

The restructuring of Turkey: Filling the gap left by GulenThe Gulen movement and the failed coup in Turkey: Harmless is not the wordThe Gulen movement in Turkey: Creating an elite to lead the state
South African Muslim theologian Farid Esack (photo: dpa)

Muslim theologian Farid Esack

More than just an "Israel critic"

Some German commentators have labelled the South African theologian Farid Esack an "anti-Semite". But this over-simplification of his views on Israel does little justice to the intellectual and activist, who champions human rights and a liberal reading of Islam, says Daniel BaxMore

Interview with Farid Esack: "Pluralist societies are about give and take"Western involvement in the Middle East: A rotten legacyQantara dossier: "Reform Islam"
Islamic scholar Ebrahim Moosa (photo: private)

Interview with the Islamic scholar Ebrahim Moosa

The reinvention of Islam

Concepts like apostasy or blasphemy reveal that Islamic theology is caught in a mode of imperial Islamic political thinking, says US-based scholar Ebrahim Moosa. What is needed is a process of critical appraisal. Moosa asks that Muslims rediscover the great lessons of diversity in their history rather than following the reductionist versions that masquerade as Muslim theology today. Interview by Claudia MendeMore

″Islamic State″: lessons learnt: What chance a Muslim reformation?Islamic theology: Turning over a new pageReforming Islam: Islam′s path to modernityInterview with Mouhanad Khorchide: "Religion seeks to touch people′s hearts"
Muhsin Hendricks (photo: Jannis Hagmann)

Interview with the South African imam Muhsin Hendricks

"Islam does give us leeway to think"

Muslim and gay? Most scholars consider homosexual acts unlawful – not so Muhsin Hendricks, who says that the Koran does not say that homosexuality is a sin. Jannis Hagmann spoke to the South African imam about Islam, homosexuality and Koranic interpretationMore

LGBT asylum seekers: A silent revolutionGay rights in Tunisia: Not illegal, but tabooAttitudes to sexuality among Muslim students in Germany: Challenging homophobia
Prof Farid Esack (photo: University of Johannesburg)

Interview with Farid Esack

"Pluralist societies are about give and take"

Farid Esack is a Koran scholar and Islamic liberation theologian from South Africa. He is one of the most renowned Islamic thinkers of our time. Claudia Mende spoke to him at the recent international "Horizons of Islamic Theology" conference in FrankfurtMore

Dispute about Prof Mouhanad Khorchide: A conflict of many layersInterview with Turkish theologian Ihsan Eliacik: The Koran and social justiceReformist theologians in Iran: The search for Montazeri's heirsTopic: Reform Islam

In brief

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Most Recent Photo Essay

According to the Koran, the Prophet Muhammad received the Book's holy words in the month of Ramadan. During this month, Muslims are supposed to practice abstinence. Daily prayer is compulsory – even for travellers. Islamic prayer rooms have been set up in many international airports, like the one here in Amman. In Germany, you can find these rooms in the airports at Frankfurt, Munich and Dusseldorf

Ramadan: Enlightenment and commerce

Muslims all over the world are currently observing Ramadan. The month of fasting is supposed to be all about reflection, meditation and abstention - but Ramadan is becoming increasingly commercialised.