Gender
All topics-
Sex education
The Arab Spring's greatest success?
People in Arab countries have been talking more openly about sex and sexuality for some time now, especially on social media. And for the first time ever, they have the vocabulary to discuss these topics. By Lena Bopp
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Best of Qantara.de 2021
Top ten most-read articles on Qantara.de
Every year in December, the team at Qantara.de takes a look back at the articles that proved most popular with our readers. This year is no different. Here is a run-down of the stories that mattered most to you in 2021. Happy New Year to all our readers!
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Sudan anti-putsch protests
"We have to keep fighting"
The military in Sudan has never waged war against a neighbour, but it has already staged 17 coups. Tens of thousands of people are risking their lives to oust the military by peaceful means. About a revolution that is far from over. Bernd Dorries reports from Khartoum
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Women's rights in North Africa
"The headscarf is losing its religious edge"
Moroccan sociologist Fatima Sadiqi believes that women's movements in North Africa have changed over the past ten years. Today, women from all social classes are fighting together for more rights, regardless of whether they are "secular" or "Islamic" feminists. Claudia Mende spoke with her for Qantara.de
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Maryam Djahani's debut novel "Ungebremst durch Kermanschah"
Tearing through Kermanshah
In her debut novel "Ungebremst durch Kermanschah", Maryam Djahani draws readers into the life of a young woman desperate to assert herself against Iranian provincialism and her family. Gerrit Wustmann read the book for Qantara.de
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Murder of women in Turkey
Femicide requires harsher sentencing
According to lawyers and women's rights activists, the prison term for the murder of women in Turkey is not long enough. They argue that the brutality of the crime should carry more weight during sentencing – and hope thereby for a deterrent. Burcu Karakas reports
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Najat El Hachmi’s "La filla estrangera"
An irrepressible desire for freedom
In her latest novel, Catalan-Moroccan writer Najat El Hachmi tells the story of a young migrant woman struggling to balance her desire for freedom and the demands of tradition and family. With great openness and a sensuous use of language, El Hachmi paints a picture of the timeless conflict encountered by young people striving for self-determination. Volker Kaminski read the book for Qantara.de
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"Female Voice of Afghanistan" streaming festival
Afghan women raise their voices against trauma
The streaming festival "Female Voice of Afghanistan" by the Zeitgenössische Oper Berlin gives Afghan female musicians a global platform – at a time when their situation has worsened dramatically. Stefan Franzen reports for Qantara.de
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Interview with Iranian-German author Siba Shakib
"The notion of home is bound up with loss"
Iranian-German author and filmmaker Siba Shakib was born in Tehran. Her best-selling novels deal with themes of heritage and the past. She speaks to Qantara.de about her new novel "Der Kirschbaum, den sie ihrer Mutter nie schenkte" (The Cherry Tree She Never Gave Her Mother), home, religion and the identity politics debate. Interview conducted by Schayan Riaz
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Sex education in the Arab world
Let's talk about sex, habibi!
Sex education – taboo in the Middle East. Or is it? Thanks to social media, millions these days are daring to ask everything about "it". Jennifer Holleis has the details
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Religions for Peace conference in Lindau
Fighting hate speech, climate change and COVID-19 together
Religions are often a source of conflict. But the worldwide Religions for Peace movement seeks to change that by galvanising interreligious dialogue. Delegates from 90 countries are meeting this week in Germany. The involvement and commitment of young women at this year's conference is striking. By Christoph Strack
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Book review: Fatima Daas' "The Last One"
Confessions of a Muslim woman
In her debut novel, Fatima Daas makes use of traditional narrative forms reminiscent of Koranic suras. The piercing, insistent rhythm of her writing style addresses topical issues such as same-sex love, gender and questions concerning her identity as a French woman with Algerian heritage. Volker Kaminski read the book