Islamism | Political Islam
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ISIS and the Iraqi government
In the grip of the jihadists
For years, Iraq's Sunnis have been marginalised by the central government in Baghdad. This is now having dire consequences. It is apparent that ISIS's advance has been aided by former Sunni officers from the Saddam era. By Karim El-Gawhary
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Power struggle in Libya
A permanent state of chaos
Over the course of just ten days, Libya moved through various degrees of state crisis at high speed. It now seems to be back to square one again. From Tripoli, Valerie Stocker takes a closer look at recent chaotic events
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Internet censorship in Pakistan
Digital self-defence
The government in Pakistan is extending its system of Internet censorship and surveillance. But Pakistani Internet activists are resolute in their defence of freedom of information in the face of state interference and are receiving support from international human rights initiatives. By Marcus Michaelsen
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Kidnapping by Boko Haram
Failing the mothers and daughters of Nigeria
Just when President Goodluck Jonathan was hoping to showcase his country and its economic strength at the World Economic Forum on Africa in the Nigerian capital, the world is witnessing his country's trauma and the president's failure to counter the terrorist threat posed by the Islamic militants of Boko Haram. By Claus Staecker
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Syrian opposition groups
Time to join forces
The well-known Syrian opposition figure and journalist Michel Kilo believes that only a national alliance of all rebel groups can break the terrorism perpetrated by the organisation Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) and the Assad regime
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Erdogan and the Turkish presidential election
His toughest challenge yet?
Following the ruling AKP's success in March's local elections, attention is now focused on Turkey's presidential election in August. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is widely expected to stand. Dorian Jones considers what this would mean for the Turkish political system and for the country
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Interview with Nadeem Aslam
Shadows of the past
"The Blind Man's Garden" is the fourth novel to be published by the British–Pakistani author Nadeem Aslam. In this book, he returns to the days, weeks and months immediately following 9/11 and relates them from the perspective of a Pakistani family that is subsequently drawn into the ensuing war in Afghanistan. Claudia Kramatschek spoke to Aslam about his new novel
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Review of the Muslim Brotherhood in the UK
Has Cameron buckled to pressure from Middle East allies?
During his announcement last week that he had ordered a review of the Muslim Brotherhood in the UK, British Prime Minister David Cameron made several references to violent extremism. Over the past two decades, Britain has introduced a whole raft of anti-terror laws that can be used in cases of violent extremism, so why is it necessary at this point in time to conduct a review into the Muslim Brotherhood? By Susannah Tarbush
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Hamed Abdel-Samad's controversial theories on Islam
Caution! Explicit Content!
Hamed Abdel-Samad's book "Der islamische Faschismus" (Islamic Fascism) is not a serious analysis, but a platitude-laden polemic against political Islam. Ironically, the book shows that its author has more in common with the people he is criticising than he realises. By Daniel Bax
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Non-violent resistance in Syria
Sowing the seeds of democracy
There is no nation-wide democracy movement in Syria, but there are local initiatives that are defying the war, strengthening civil society and preparing the ground for a free and pluralistic political system, writes Kristin Helberg
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Local elections in Turkey
An erosion of Erdogan's legitimacy
Turkey is holding nationwide local elections on 30 March. The prime minister, mired in growing corruption allegations, has turned the polls into a referendum on his rule. With such high stakes, the vote is widely seen as one of the most important in the country's history. Dorian Jones has more from Istanbul
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Corruption scandal in Turkey
"The evaporation of the Turkish state as we know it"
A series of alleged telephone recordings between the Turkish prime minister and members of his family has escalated an ongoing political crisis to unprecedented levels, with many now fearing for the state of the country's democracy. By Dorian Jones in Istanbul