Wahhabism
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The Arrest of Saudi Intellectual Turki al-Hamad
One Step Forward and Two Steps Back?
The Saudi writer and journalist Turki al-Hamad is one of the most distinguished and courageous intellectuals in his homeland. Religious authorities have already issued seven fatwas against him. For the past two-and-a-half weeks, the soon to be 60-year-old writer has been sitting in prison for sending highly controversial Twitter messages. By Fakhri Saleh
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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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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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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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Islam in Bosnia
''We belong to the West, culturally and mentally''
Bosnia is entering a new phase in its history: the post-war era is over; communities and mosques have been rebuilt. But where are Bosnian Muslims heading in these turbulent times? Charlotte Wiedemann spoke to Ahmet Alibašić, lecturer at the Faculty of Islamic Studies in Sarajevo
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Anti-Islamic Film Riots
A Culture of Religious Fanaticism
Responses to the inflammatory anti-Islamic film currently seen in Arab and Muslim nations are much worse than the film itself. These expressions of extremism are destroying all decency and civilised behaviour. A commentary by Khaled Hroub
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The Gulf Monarchies and the Arab Spring
Counter-revolution in the Gulf
Far away from the attention of Western media, the oil-rich Gulf monarchies are currently trying to avoid being hit by the wave of uprisings and revolutions in North Africa and the Middle East. So far, they have not only been successful in doing so, they've even managed to exploit the uprisings for their own purposes. Matthias Sailer reports
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Interview with Atiq Rahimi
Unable to Move Forward
In an interview with Shikiba Babori, the exiled Afghan author Atiq Rahimi criticizes the West's donor mentality in reconstructing Afghanistan and the indolence of the Afghan people, who he says have grown too accustomed to depending on foreign aid
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''Razor Film'' Production on the Middle East
Experts on Sensitive Issues and Taboos
For ten years now, Razor Film in Berlin has been producing films that have provoked audiences and intentionally broken political taboos. With the films "Paradise Now" and "Waltz with Bashir", the small production company achieved a cinematic breakthrough. It will soon release its first film from Saudi Arabia. By Andrea Horakh
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Salafist Propaganda in Germany
Mass Conversions in Public Places
The Salafists are distributing copies of the Quran in Germany and making a big noise on the Internet about converting new followers to their cause. The country is now high up on the list of priorities for the Salafist movement, writes Josef Croitoru
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Salafi Muslims
Doctrinaire Severity
Despite their doctrinaire severity, Salafi Muslims have never developed a coherent system of beliefs nor sustainable organizational structures. They have always been a divided community. Rudolph Chimelli provides background information
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Salafists in Germany
Heading for ''Urban Terrorism''?
Until now, German public perception of the Salafists placed the phenomenon firmly on foreign soil. Recent events involving followers of this radical school of Islamic thought such as the distribution of copies of the Koran in German cities and violent clashes with police have raised some concerns, but how dangerous are the Salafists in reality? Answers from Albrecht Metzger