Qantara.de - Dialog mit der islamischen Welt

In the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority has long ceased to pursue the national aspirations of its population and established a security apparatus designed to secure the status quo. Meanwhile in Gaza, the de facto Hamas regime is planning to hand over control to its military wing. Commentary by Abdalhadi Alijla

More

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

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

Mahmoud Abu Zeid, known as Shawkan, took some photographs at a Muslim Brotherhood demonstration. As a result he has spent almost four years in prison – without any verdict having been passed. By Karim El-GawharyMore

In recent months, the Egyptian regime has moved decisively to close what remains of public space, heralding a new era of repression that is likely to dominate all aspects of political life for decades to come. By Maged Mandour More

Turkey’s government is hounding opponents. Shortly after its narrow – and disputed – referendum victory in April, it extended the state of emergency and ran yet another purge of the police. The media had been silenced before the referendum and cannot hold the authorities accountable anymore. By Hans DembowskiMore

In a country like Algeria, where press freedoms are restricted, cartoonists with their subtle criticism of the regime often have a far more subversive impact than mere words.More