Sharia
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Justice in Iran
Petty Criminals Sent to the Gallows
Iran has begun handing down death sentences for robbery – a crime that previously carried much less severe punishments. In socially and politically uncertain times, the regime is increasingly resorting to Draconian measures in the hope that these will serve as a deterrent, reports Stefan Buchen
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The Egyptian Political Scientist Ammar Ali Hassan
''The Constitution Is a Catastrophe''
Egypt is becoming increasingly polarized under the leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood. The newly adopted constitution represents a huge problem in this respect, says Amar Ali Hassan. But the political scientist remains optimistic and predicts that the movement will not hold on to power for long
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Interview with Mohamed Morsi
''We Don't Want a Theocratic State''
"We believe in a modern state, in which the transfer of power takes place peacefully and in which democracy and freedom prevail." With these words, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi expressed the sentiment that his country does not wish to become a theocratic state. Here is the full interview of President Morsi with Markus Bickel and Rainer Hermann
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Interview with Muslim Scholar Ziauddin Sardar
''Muslims Yearn for Real Debate''
Ziauddin Sardar is a leading British-Pakistani Muslim scholar and critic. In this interview with Susannah Tarbush, he talks about the magazine "Critical Muslim" he founded and which he sees as an "intellectual, cultural, philosophical and creative backup" for the revolutions of the Middle East
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The decline of Islamic scientific thought
Don't blame it on al-Ghazali
Academics are correct in pinpointing the exact period in which Muslims began turning away from scientific innovation – the 11th century – but in Abu Hamid Al Ghazali they have identified the wrong person. By Hassan Hassan
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Interview with Abdelwahab Meddeb
''The Islamists Are Not Ready for a Democratic Culture''
The Tunisian-French author Abdelwahab Meddeb is a critical observer of political developments in Tunisia and Egypt. In this interview with Ceyda Nurtsch, he explains why the Islamists are not creating a liberal culture of discussion and why he is sceptical about the concept of an Islamic democracy
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Ansar Dine's religious leader Chérif Ousmane Haidara
''This is not Sharia, but banditry''
Ansar Dine is the name of a popular Sufi movement in Mali that has two million members. Charlotte Wiedemann spoke with its religious leader, Chérif Ousmane Haidara, about a stolen name, his anger with the Islamists and on a new alliance against Wahhabism
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Egypt Expert Björn Bentlage
''The Draft Constitution Is a Success''
Angry demonstrators are protesting Egypt's draft constitution. But scholar Björn Bentlage thinks the constitution is in fact democratic, and criticizes the opposition for failing to bring more specific concerns. Interview by Kersten Knipp
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Constitutional Crisis in Egypt
No More Time for Dialogue?
Faced with ongoing street protests, President Morsi has made some concessions. But the underlying conflict continues – and the opposition has called for more protests. Matthias Sailer reports from Cairo
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The Egyptian President's Power Gain
Morsi Cannot Govern Against His People
When Mohammed Morsi assumed his presidential duties six months ago, he was derided as a "spare tyre". Now Time Magazine is running a front-page story on the man it calls "the most important man in the Middle East". But despite his burgeoning power, Morsi will not be able to govern in a way that ignores the interests and concerns of a highly politicised nation. Commentary by Thomas Demmelhuber
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Saudi Arabia's Foreign and Security Policy
Categorical Imperative
Saudi Arabia's political maxim is stability for the petrodollar monarchy. Everything else is of secondary importance for the powers that be in Riyadh. But as long as Wahhabism remains the absolute ideology of state, there can be no real unity or real stability in the Saudi Arabian nation. By Loay Mudhoon
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Interview with Mouhanad Khorchide
''God Is Not A Dictator''
The Koran has thus far been subjected to erroneous interpretation, says Mouhanad Khorchide, professor of Islamic Religious Education at the University of Munster. Khorchide is calling for an emancipation of the faith. Interview by Arnfrid Schenk and Martin Spiewak