Muslim Brotherhood
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Egyptian-Saudi relations
Tightening the pursestrings
Saudi Arabia has stumped up billions to help Egypt′s economy in recent years. But bilateral relations seem to be cooling under the new Saudi King Salman. An analysis by Sebastian Sons
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Religion and freedom of expression
The birth of a new theocracy?
Following the Arabellion, controversial pluralistic debates on questions of morality or religion were no longer taboo in Egypt. But such discursive freedom has proved short-lived; the tide has turned. These days, the tone adopted by Egypt's regime is more highly charged with religious rhetoric than ever and the goal is clear: to wrest back control of social discourse. Meanwhile Egypt's justice system is playing along and restricting freedom of expression. Sofian Philip Naceur reports from Cairo
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Interview with Amr Hamzawy
"Egyptians fear for their security"
The Egyptian intellectual Amr Hamzawy accuses both secular groups and Islamists of betraying the ideals of the 2011 democracy movement, but does not believe the current situation will trigger a new revolution. Daniel Steinvorth spoke to him
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Gentrification in Egypt
Urban counter-revolution in Cairo
The "Reclaiming Downtown" campaign launched by the Egyptian government is no ordinary measure designed to advance the gentrification of the Cairo city centre. It is instead a politically motivated drive against any form of opposition and civilian autonomy. The "backyard of the revolution" is to be refurbished and its revolutionary history wiped out. By Sofian Philip Naceur
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Muslim Brotherhood texts
Once valued, now proscribed
In recent months, both Egypt and Saudi Arabia have begun withdrawing literature relating to the Muslim Brotherhood from the public domain. Tracts and treatises that once held pride of place on bookshelves – with some even enjoying official textbook status – are being confiscated and burned. By Joseph Croitoru
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Repression and legitimation in Egypt
The world as Sisi sees it
A policy formula that only recognises two distinctions – those who are "for the regime" and those who are "against the regime", with the latter arguably grouped under the heading "potential terrorists" – is leading to widespread human rights violations and the persecution of those who hold different political views. A commentary by Thomas Demmelhuber
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Arab protest movements
The brief Jordanian spring
Tunisia, Egypt, Syria: in 2010/2011 the Arab World was in uproar. Young people took to the streets; the demonstrations led to regime change, but also to civil war. In Jordan, however, the protests lasted only briefly – and generated few results. The Jordanian journalist Tamer Khorma took part in the protests at that time. He explains why things came to a head and talks about the current situation in the country
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Interview with former Tadmur inmate Bara Sarraj
Surviving hell
The city of Palmyra has been under the control of the self-styled "Islamic State" since mid-May. But for many Syrians, the city was a gateway to hell long before the arrival of the jihadists: Palmyra was home to the infamous Tadmur prison, where the Ba'ath regime tortured tens of thousands of people. When IS seized the city, one of the first things it did was to blow up the hated jail. Bara Sarraj, who now lives in Chicago, was one of its inmates. He told Fabian Kohler about his years in prison
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Strategies for combating fundamentalist ideologies
Reviving Islam's enlightenment
In 1877, the great French novelist Victor Hugo wrote, "Invading armies can be resisted; invading ideas cannot be." Nowadays, the power of ideas, for good or for evil, is something we need to take into account, particularly in contemplating Islamic radicalism. By Daniel Chirot and Scott L. Montgomery
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Culture policy in Egypt
The soothing power of culture
Egypt's new minister of culture sees mega-projects as a means to combat religious radicalism. There are even plans to rebuild the legendary Lighthouse of Alexandria. By Joseph Croitoru
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The case of Al Jazeera journalist Ahmed Mansour
A politically motivated incident?
German authorities have released the prominent Egyptian journalist Ahmed Mansour after three days in detention, despite a request by the authorities in Egypt for his extradition. The case has triggered a bout of angry questions concerning press freedom and German-Egyptian relations. Karim El-Gawhary reports from Cairo
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Abdul Fattah al-Sisi's state visit to Germany
A dictator in Berlin
The German government is receiving Egypt's President Sisi on a state visit this week. While the controversial visit is an honour for him, it might damage both counties. After all, while Sisi continues to stir up anti-Western sentiment at home, he is still reliant on the support of the US and the EU. By Annette Ranko