Muslim Brotherhood
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Angela Merkel′s visit to Egypt
Blinkered realpolitik
No head of state looks forward to meeting a national leader known for the brutal silencing of his critics. Had Angela Merkel pursued a more courageous line in foreign policy, she could have saved herself a deal of discomfiture. By Matthias Sailer
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Abdul Fattah al-Sisi′s ascendancy
Sweetness and light?
Egypt is in crisis. To tighten his grip on power, President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi claims to be its saviour. He tries to discredit any dissent as anti-national. His idea of the nation, however, does not include every Egyptian. By Ingy Salama
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Sara Taksler′s documentary ″Tickling Giants″
Running the satirical gauntlet
His cutting humour led to Bassem Youssef becoming a comedy star throughout the Arab world in the wake of the Arab Spring in Egypt. Yet, the spring of freedom was short-lived: by the end of 2013, his popular show was abruptly cancelled. An American documentary film portrays the legendary satirist. By Rene Wildangel
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Egypt′s hotbeds of radicalisation
From inmate to jihadist
Torture, abuse and overcrowding in Egyptian prisons is fostering the radicalisation of Islamist inmates, with many turning to Islamic State as the highest role model to aspire to. In a Qantara.de exclusive, Mustafa Abduh met with some former prisoners
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Islam, people and power: The Islamists
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Non-fiction: Sebastian Sons′ ″Auf Sand gebaut″
Saudi Arabia – a difficult ally
Saudi Arabia is an important, but controversial partner of western countries. Sebastian Sons, an expert on the country with the DGAP (Germany's Council on Foreign Relations), assesses the country’s mindset, its political problems and how western governments should engage its leaders. By Sabine Balk
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Arab reactions to the coup aftermath in Turkey
The problem with role models
Opinion in the Arab world is divided when it comes to the policies adopted by Recep Tayyip Erdogan following the coup attempt in Turkey. Islamists feel their position has been strengthened, while liberal and conservative Arabs look upon recent developments with concern. Analysis by Joseph Croitoru
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Political Islam and violence
A question of power
In his essay, the renowned Shia theologian and philosopher Hasan Yousefi Eshkevari considers the significance of political power and violence in Islamic systems of government
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Al-Sisi, Raba′a and al-Nahda
Egypt′s grim harvest
One of the main motivations behind the 2013 military coup was to counter potential violence and terrorism. Yet one of its main upshots has been a surge in violence and terrorism, committed by both state and non-state actors. By Omar Ashour
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Political transformation in the Arab world
Forget the people
Revolutions rarely meet the expectations and hopes of those in the Arab world. The chance of transforming political impotence into collective agenda-setting power remains slim while repressive authoritarian regimes persist. By Hakim Khatib
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Ennahda – the new Muslim Democrats
A blessing for Tunisian democracy?
Widely regarded as Tunisia′s equivalent of the Muslim Brotherhood back in 2011, Ennahda has moved a long way from its Islamist roots. Hans Dembowski assesses the latest developments
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Interview with the Egyptian author Alaa Al Aswany
″I write to defend democracy″
Best-selling novelist Alaa Al Aswany was one of the main protagonists in the 2011 Egyptian uprising and remains a high-profile government critic. Interview by Sabine Peschel