Free speech and censorship
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Uighur repression in China
Beards and hijabs behind bars
A newly leaked document confirms how China is imprisoning Muslim minority Uighurs based solely on their religion. Naomi Conrad met with a whistle-blower and visited relatives of those held captive
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Contemporary Iranian literature
Reading outside the box
Mullahs, dictatorship, nuclear conflict – Iran could be reduced to these keywords if one were to rely only on the articles in the daily press. But to really understand a country better, you have to study its literature. And Iranian literature is just as diverse as the country itself. By Gerrit Wustmann
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Human rights in the Islamic world
Battle cry "blasphemy"
Many predominantly Muslim countries have penal laws against "blasphemy", "defamation of religion" and "apostasy". In practice they serve as highly effective weapons to settle personal animosities, family vendettas and land disputes. By Thomas Krapf
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Iran's 37th Fajr Film Festival
Politics collide with the big screen in Tehran
With prominent film makers cancelling their attendance, the organisers of Iran's flagship cultural event are under pressure. The Fajr film festival in Tehran shows how culture can be used to make a political point. By Philipp Jedicke
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Culture in Turkey
Is Erdogan purging Turkish state theatre?
At least 150 theatre professionals were recently fired without reason in Turkey, just days before they were expecting to receive permanent contracts. Creatives accuse the government of a politically motivated purge. By Pelin Unker
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Interview with jailed Turkish human rights activist Osman Kavala
"Nonsensical accusations"
Turkish art patron and businessman Osman Kavala has been in jail for more than two years, accused of wanting to overthrow the government. Beril Eski spoke to him about his life in prison and his civil society projects
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Uighur activist Ilham Tohti awarded EU Sakharov prize 2019
"His goal was always to promote dialogue"
Imprisoned Uighur human rights activist Ilham Tohti has been awarded the Sakharov prize 2019 for human rights by the EU Parliament. His daughter Jewher Ilham, who lives in the U.S., will receive the prize on his behalf and spoke to Max Sander ahead of the ceremony
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Interview with author Dogan Akhanli
"The tradition of looking the other way"
Published in German, Dogan Akhanli's novel "Madonna's Last Dream" pays homage to Sabahattin Ali’s classic "Madonna in a Fur Coat" – as well as being a narration of the crimes of the 20th century from the Armenian genocide and the Holocaust through to the refugee stories of our time. Gerrit Wustmann spoke to the Cologne-based author
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Interview with Malaysian artist Nadiah Bamadhaj
Freeing the body from conservatism
One of the most relevant Malaysian artists of her generation, Yogyakarta-based Nadiah Bamadhaj uses sculpture, drawing, collage and video to challenge the restrictive societal norms in Southeast Asian countries and explore body politics. Interview by Naima Morelli
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Interview with the artist Parastou Forouhar
Iranian society in shock
Every year German-Iranian artist Parastou Forouhar travels to Iran to commemorate her parents who were killed by secret service agents. This year, the funeral service coincided with the nationwide protests in Iran. Interview by Farhad Payar
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Mass protests in Sudan, Algeria, Lebanon and Iraq
Is this the Arab Spring 2.0?
Nearly a decade after the Arab Spring fizzled out, a new wave of protests has swept across the Middle East and North Africa. What is different this time – and will the protesters get what they want? By Marwan Muasher
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Imprisoned Turkish writer Ahmet Altan
Literature is more powerful than tyranny
Unable to travel to Munich to attend the presentation ceremony for his Geschwister-Scholl Prize, writer Ahmet Altan penned a message against hatred and nationalism from his prison cell in Turkey. Read out by his close friend Yasemin Congar, it formed his acceptance speech