Qantara.de - Dialog mit der islamischen Welt

Whenever a country is the target of a terrorist attack, the issue of whether the perpetrators were linked to Islam rears its head. As Assem Hefny argues, questions regarding the relationship between Egypt′s Al-Azhar mosque and university, terrorism and ideological extremism – though hurtful – should not be dismissed out of handMore

In recent years Iran has been gripped by a pioneering spirit: under the pressure of sanctions, the nation transformed itself into a powerhouse of innovation. But the rift between religion and high-tech is ever present. Patrick Illinger reports from TehranMore

In Bordeaux, Muslims have gone on the offensive against radical Islam within their communities. Yet their efforts are not to everyone′s taste – religion in France remains a highly personal matter. Elizabeth Bryant reports from BordeauxMore

Sexuality is a taboo subject in Iran. But the country′s youthful society wants enlightenment and more sexual freedoms. What little support it receives from exile seems to be having a powerful effect. By Shahrzad Osterer and Farhad PayarMore

Young people, mostly from immigrant backgrounds, are working for a Cologne initiative fighting religious fanaticism. They aim to combat the radicalisation of others of their generation by coming together as peers. By Nina NiebergallMore

In her latest novel, ″Three Daughters of Eve″, best-selling Turkish author Elif Shafak follows the life of a young woman from Istanbul who is torn between tradition and secularisation as she pursues a degree at Oxford University – and is plunged into deep personal and religious conflicts as a result. Volker Kaminski read the bookMore

The last decade or so has seen a huge increase in the amount of Young Adult literature being published in Arabic. Slowly but surely, writes Marcia Lynx Qualey, well-crafted books aimed at teens are making their way into bookshops, libraries and schoolsMore