Topic: Integration in Germany

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MENA project (image: MENA Project)

Middle Eastern and North African art in Europe

MENA Art Gallery – haven for Arab art

The MENA Art Gallery in downtown Berlin is the brainchild of Italian researcher Enrico De Angelis and Syrian visual artist Zena El Abdalla. One transliteration of the colloquial Arabic for 'port' is 'mena', reflecting the intention to provide a haven for works by Arab artists, as Rama Jarmakani reportsMore

Arab intellectuals in Germany: "Creating the Berlin of the future""What is Islamic art?" with art historian Wendy Shaw: What is art, when the primary sensory organ is the heart?Berlin Museum of Islamic Art: "Islamic Art” goes digital
Students demonstrating in Frankfurt in 1969 (image: dpa/picture-alliance)

Migration in the 1960s

Adapting to Germany's fast-changing society

Nassir Djafari's second novel "Mahtab" tells the story of a migrant mother from Iran in 1960s Frankfurt. Not only does it describe how the protagonist adapts to an unfamiliar culture, but also reveals just how much Frankfurt itself was transformed during this period. By Hans DembowskiMore

Migration exhibition: How "guest workers" made Germany a country of immigrationIntegration in Germany: Finally growing upDaughters and Sons of Gastarbeiters writers′ collective: "When I go to Germany, I will buy a red tractor"
Author and political scientist Aref Hajjaj (image: DW)

The refugee's struggle for identity

Homeless with three homes

In "Heimatlos mit drei Heimaten" – literally, 'homeless with three homes' – the historian and political scientist Aref Hajjaj illustrates his personal experiences from a life led between Palestine, Switzerland and Germany. Volker Kaminski read the bookMore

Muslims in Europe: "For integration, read assimilation"Integration in Germany: Finally growing upBirthing a literature of refuge: A question of mutual interestQantara photo essay: The Palestinian Nakba of 1948
Islamic consultant Hussein Hamdan (image: Paul Kreiner/Catholic Academy Rottenburg-Stuttgart)

Muslims in Europe and conflict resolution

Meet Germany's first Islamic affairs consultant

How can local authorities best understand the various Islamic groups in their communities? Or integrate young Muslims? Christoph Strack reports how Germany's first Islamic affairs consultant is resolving conflicts between mosque communities and municipalitiesMore

DITIB Central Mosque in Cologne: A place to pray, a place to meetMuslims in Germany: Anonymous hate mail rattles mosque congregationsIslamophobia in Germany: Muslims face everyday hate
Teacher Fereshta Ludin (image: picture-alliance/dpa/M. Mura)

The headscarf controversy

End of Germany's culture war?

Berlin is the last federal state in Germany to approve the wearing of headscarves by teachers. The fact that the courts have had to demand this time and again does not however reflect well on German politics. By Daniel BaxMore

Fereshta Ludin: "The decision for or against the headscarf is wholly a matter for the woman herself"ECJ headscarf ruling problematic for Germany: When it comes to headscarves, commerce trumps GodHeadscarves and neutrality: "It′s our decision!"
Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during his inaugural speech at Downing Street (image: Hannah McKay/REUTERS)

United Kingdom

Diversity – merely window-dressing?

"Diversity" is the order of the day; everyone is focused on diversity. But our popular understanding of diversity falls far short of the mark. By Daniel BaxMore

'People of Deutschland': Everyday racism in GermanyScotland's first Muslim First Minister: How should we rate Humza Yousaf's appointment?Muslims in Europe: "For integration, read assimilation"
In Berlin, Erdogan supporters formed long convoys of cars celebrating the Turkish president's election victory (image: Omer Messinger/Getty Images)

Turks in Germany

President Erdogan's long arm strategy

The inauguration of Turkish President Erdogan was attended by many international heads of state. Also present were representatives of the Turkish diaspora. Turks abroad are especially important to Erdogan – particularly those living in Germany. By Elmas TopcuMore

Turkey election fallout: Voting for the devil you knowTurkey elections – the second round: Why Erdogan will winElections in Turkey: Turkish nationalists on the riseGermany's Turkish diaspora: Why Turks in Germany still vote for Erdogan
Cover of Tayfun Guttstadt's album "Tarapzade" (source: www.tayfunguttstadt.com)

Dialogue of cultures

Tarapzade – "Seek it in yourself"

Tayfun Guttstadt’s debut album “Tarapzade” is a cultural voyage of self-discovery through two seemingly opposite musical worlds. Marian Brehmer had a listenMore

Music in the Middle East: Attuned to a different classicalKudsi Erguner's “La Melancolie Royale”: Ney music with a missionDeath of Grup Yorum singer Helin Bolek: Against the death cult
Emergency vehicles stand in front of the burned-out house of the Genc family in Solingen in 1993 (image: Rene Tillmann/IMAGO)

Far-right terror in Germany

Solingen: 30 years after the arson attack

Five people were killed by far-right terrorists in Solingen in 1993 because they were from Turkey. Their relatives are still fighting to preserve their memory. By Peter HilleMore

Mourning Mevlude Genc: A universal mother figureRight-wing extremism and Islamophobia in Germany: Sending out a political signal'People of Deutschland': Everyday racism in Germany
Language areas of the brain in native speakers of German and Arabic (source: MPI CBS/DW)

Language and language acquisition

How the brain processes German and Arabic

Language develops in different areas of the brain. Researchers have been able to show that the way these are linked varies according to the respective native language – knowledge that could prove useful. By Katrin EwertMore

The demise of Modern Standard Arabic: Tongue-tied ArabsArabic in Latin script: Lost in ArabicMoroccan school curricula: French, Arabic, Moroccan, Amazigh?
Poster of Erdogan amid a sea of Turkish flags, seen at a pro-Erdogan demo in Cologne, Germany 2016 (image: picture/dpa/H.Kaiser)

Germany's Turkish diaspora

Why Turks in Germany still vote for Erdogan

Recep Tayyip Erdogan is facing an uphill re-election battle, but if the vote took place in Germany, he'd win. Burak Unveren asks why do so many Turks in Germany continue to support the Turkish president?More

Election run-up in Turkey: Who are Erdogan's allies?Turkey-Syria earthquake: What future for President Erdogan and the AKP? Turkey: What if Kemal Kilicdaroglu wins Turkey’s election?
German-Indian journalist Navina Sundaram (image: Horst Galuschka/Imago)

German-Indian journalist Navina Sundaram

"Out of marginalisation, into the mainstream"

German-Indian journalist Navina Sundaram (1945-2022) is being rediscovered as a key documentary filmmaker. The online archive "The Fifth Wall" documents her work. The English edition was presented in Delhi, India, at the beginning of April. Sonja Hegasy attended the premiereMore

The New German Media Makers: ″Give everyone a voice″'People of Deutschland': Everyday racism in GermanyQantara dossier: "Diversity"
Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf, centre, in Edinburgh (image: Jane Barlow/REUTERS

Scotland's first Muslim First Minister

How should we rate Humza Yousaf's appointment?

The first Muslim to lead a major political party in Scotland; Humza Yousaf is also the first Muslim to head a government in Western Europe. But the picture is not all rosy, and what happens at the level of the political elite does not necessarily reflect realities on the ground. Commentary by Shady Lewis BotrosMore

9/11 twenty years on: Muslims in the West – the cultural go-betweens Muslims in Europe: "For integration, read assimilation"Trojan Horse affair: Muslim Council of Britain calls for independent inquiry
Berlin-based Islamic scholar Schirin Amir-Moazami (image: Martin Funck)

Muslims in Europe

"For integration, read assimilation"

Islam expert Schirin Amir-Moazami says Europe must take a more critical look at the social and political conditions under which Muslims immigrated to Europe – and in which they now live. Interview by Claudia MendeMore

Germany′s integration debate revisited: Piling on the pressureIntegration in Germany: Finally growing upQantara dossier: "Integration in Germany"The politicisation of Islam scholarship in Europe: Muslims under scrutiny
Frontman Rabih Lahoud (seond from right) and the members of Masaa (image: Andy Spyra)

Masaa's Rabih Lahoud in interview

"Arabic needs artistic support"

Three German jazz musicians and a German-Lebanese poet and singer: this is what gives Masaa its unique sound. In conversation with Stefan Franzen, vocalist Rabih Lahoud reflects on settling in Germany, his relationship with a changing Arabic language and music categorisationsMore

"Masaa": A fence turns to waterMasaa frontman Rabih Lahoud: Outspoken appealThe demise of Modern Standard Arabic: Tongue-tied ArabsArabic in Latin script: Lost in Arabic
On a burial ground in the north of Frankfurt (image: Frank Rumpenhorst/dpa/picture-alliance)

Integration in Germany

Muslims find a home, but few graves

Germany lacks Muslim burial grounds, while establishing new ones is fraught with red tape. Christoph Strack examines the issue and talks to the initiator of one showcase projectMore

Integration versus racism: I don't see myself as a victimIntegration in Germany: Finally growing upMathias Rohe on the muezzin call: "Traditional religious practice is not political Islam"

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