Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini
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Political crisis in Yemen
Teetering on the brink
Yemen is no stranger to crisis. Exposed to a regional proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia, plagued by an entrenched al-Qaida affiliate and divided by tribal disputes and a secession movement, the country has become a poster child for everything that can go wrong in the Arab world. By Barak Barfi
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Yusuf Islam
The "Peace Train" is rolling again
Yusuf Islam is the most famous convert to Islam in the world and one of the most successful pop stars of the 70s. Now, the man known to millions as Cat Stevens is back on tour in Germany. By Hans Joachim Hennig
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Music and power in Iran
An instrument of propaganda and control
In her essay, Maria Koomen examines the important role played by music in the history of Iran, in particular since the Islamic revolution of 1979
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Interview with Iran expert Bahman Nirumand
"Everyone believed Khomeini's promises"
Thirty-five years ago, Ayatollah Khomeini returned to Iran from exile. Thomas Latschan spoke to the Iran expert Bahman Nirumand about Khomeini's role in the Islamic Revolution and his significance for modern-day Iran
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US-Iranian Relations at the Crossroads
Don't Miss the Chance
There is no traditional enmity between the US and Iran – at least not among ordinary people. Entrenched hostility at government level is largely due to historical errors. Iran's new President Hassan Rohani appears to be intent on learning from these mistakes. Commentary by Rudolph Chimelli
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Iran's New President Rouhani
Hopes for Reorientation
Hassan Rouhani has now been sworn in as Iran's new President. The expectations for the moderate leader are high. But he is facing complex domestic and external challenges, as Shahram Ahadi reports
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Interview with Bahman Nirumand
The Pasdaran Holds the Reins of Power
Many consider the Pasdaran, Iran's Revolutionary Guards, to be the real centre of power in Iran. In this interview with Shahram Ahadi, Bahman Nirumand talks about how the role of the Pasdaran in the Islamic Republic has changed in recent years and its possible influence on the presidential election
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Michael Luders on the sanctions on Iran
"The objective is regime change"
For years, the nuclear dispute between the West and Iran has been at a deadlock. In this interview with Thomas Latschan, Middle East expert Michael Lüders says that the West's main objective is not in fact to find a solution to the problem, but to stop Iran from being a power factor in the region
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Interview with LGBT Rights Activist Arsham Parsi
''Rights are never given; we have to fight for them''
Arsham Parsi is an Iranian LGBT human rights activist who lives in exile in Canada. In this interview with Ceyda Nurtsch, he speaks about the situation for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals (LGBTs) in Iran and his work to support LGBT refugees who flee the country for the West and explains why he is so optimistic about it all
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Justice in Iran
Petty Criminals Sent to the Gallows
Iran has begun handing down death sentences for robbery – a crime that previously carried much less severe punishments. In socially and politically uncertain times, the regime is increasingly resorting to Draconian measures in the hope that these will serve as a deterrent, reports Stefan Buchen
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Reformist Theologians in Iran
The Search for Montazeri's Heirs
Three years since the death of the Shiite dissident, Grand Ayatollah Montazeri, there is still no one in Iran who can assume his role as the spiritual authority of the reform movement. Many critical clerics have been silenced since the crushing of protests in 2009. Yet, there is increasing support for efforts to reform Islamic law in the country. By Urs Sartowicz
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David Grossman on a Possible Israeli Strike against Iran
On Silence
In this article, the Israeli author David Grossman considers why those Israelis who in private express opposition to the idea of an attack on Iran and believe that it will not increase Israel's security in the long term are not standing up, speaking their minds and taking to the streets in protest