Gender
All topics-
New Year′s Eve assaults on women
The Cologne outcry
The perpetrators involved in the attacks in Cologne, Dusseldorf and Hamburg must be brought to book, regardless of their origins. Those using the suffering of the New Year′s Eve victims to foment popular prejudice against individuals who have fled inhumane suffering, however, compromise their own humanity. An essay by Raphael Sartorius
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Sexual assaults at Cologne′s main station
#KoelnHbf – An attack on my freedom
The sex attacks at Cologne's main railway terminal are intolerable, regardless of where the perpetrators come from. An outcry is essential (#aufschrei). It is not acceptable that women in Germany become a target. Commentary by Sarah Judith Hofmann
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Women and Islam
On Muslim women and the Islamic dress code
The assumption that God demands submission can mislead women and turn conflicts of conscience into desperation. After all, it is women who are cheated out of their life before death by the social limitations associated with covering their heads and bodies. An essay by Emel Zeynelabidin
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Violence against women
Young Arab men fight for women′s rights
Fifteen years after Security Council Resolution 1325 called on all parties to protect women and girls from gender-based violence, such violence remains widespread throughout the Arab world. The good news is that ever more young Arab men are joining women′s rights organisations. By Katja Dombrowski
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Book review: ″The Underground Girls of Kabul″
Boys for a time
Segregation calls for creativity – in Afghanistan, some parents simply pass off their daughters as boys. Fascinated by the idea, Swedish journalist Jenny Nordberg decided to record the results of her research. Marian Brehmer read the book
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Women′s rights in Iran
"Now it's the men's turn"
The team captain of the Iranian national football team did not take part in the Asian Games staged recently because her husband would not give his permission for her to leave the country. Although the law of the Islamic Republic was on his side, he apparently does not enjoy the support of all the men in his country. By Yalda Zarbakhch
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Obituary: Fatima Mernissi
Icon of Arab feminism
The world famous Moroccan sociologist and writer Fatima Mernissi was a mediator between cultures and a charismatic advocate for a genuine Arab feminism. She died on 30 November 2015 at the age of 75
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Interview with Ingrid Mattson
″Muslim youngsters need genuine role models″
Muslim youngsters are often unsure as to the real nature of Islam. They need role models within their own communities who are prepared to stand up with self-confidence to extremist ideologies. Ingrid Mattson, a Canadian scholar in Islamic Studies and former president of the largest Muslim organisation in Northern America, spoke to Claudia Mende
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Egypt′s all-female taxi service
Playing it safe
Almost every woman in Egypt has experienced sexual harassment in public. A businesswoman is making the most of this sorry statistic: "Pink Taxi" is a service by women for women. Elisabeth Lehmann reports from Cairo
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Interview with the Iranian filmmaker Ayat Najafi
"Freedom starts in the mind"
In his two documentary films, Ayat Najafi has focused on women who are fighting for change in Iran. Marian Brehmer talked to him about his projects and the difficulties faced by Iranian filmmakers
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Frankfurt Book Fair 2015: guest of honour Indonesia
Seven must-know authors from Indonesia
Indonesia is the guest country at the Frankfurt Book Fair this autumn. Just under 70 Indonesian authors will be in Frankfurt to give public readings. Qantara.de introduces seven of them. By Monika Griebeler
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Book review: "Always Coca-Cola" by Alexandra Chreiteh
The agony and the allure
Written when the author was only 19, Alexandra Chreiteh's first novel "Always Coca-Cola", focuses in a highly entertaining way on how three young friends in Beirut are affected by Western commercialisation and contemporary beauty ideals. By Volker Kaminski