Society

Iranian civil society

Silenced under the pretext of war

Iran and Israel are engaged in an unprecedented open military conflict. The regime is using the threat of war as a weapon against its own population. Activists from the "Women, Life, Freedom" movement are branded "soldiers of Israel".
By Omid Rezaee
Palestinian critique of Hamas

Reclaiming the narrative of resistance

Palestinians have the right to defend themselves against Israel's occupation. But that doesn't have to mean following Hamas—a group whose political vision has resulted in Gaza's systematic destruction. It's time to envision a different future.
By Rajaa Natour
Sudanese refugees in Chad

An uncertain future

More than half a million people have fled war in Sudan into neighbouring Chad. Humanitarian workers are scrambling to provide support amid overcrowding, limited funding and widespread trauma.
By Martin Bertrand
Northern Gaza under siege

"Either we survive together or we all die together"

As the Israeli encirclement of North Gaza continues, the humanitarian situation is becoming increasingly dire. Trapped residents share their stories of daily life under siege.
By Karim El-Gawhary
Reform of Iraq's Personal Status Law

Are Shiite forces on the verge of victory?

The Personal Status Law in Iraq encompasses regulations on marriage, divorce, child custody, inheritance and more. It could soon be amended, with dramatic consequences for women's and children's rights. Feminists and left-leaning political parties have mobilised to defend it.
By Nadia Mahmoud
Tareq Sydiq’s book “The New Protest Culture”

Can protests transform society?

From Iran to the Last Generation, citizens in democracies and dictatorships alike are taking to the streets. Tareq Sydiq analyses these uprisings and asks why some fail while others dramatically change the system.
By Omid Rezaee
Israel since 7 October

"We have to get them back now"

Or Levy was abducted by Hamas from the Nova music festival on 7 October 2023. In this interview, his brother Michael discusses his family’s experience over the last twelve months, his hopes and fears for the future, and the ongoing campaign to free Or from captivity.
By Judith Poppe
Families in Gaza

Every WhatsApp message could be your last

One year on from the Hamas attack and the subsequent war, nine out of ten people in Gaza are internally displaced. Many couples and entire families have been torn apart by the Israeli offensive. Doaa Shaheen reports from the scene.
By Doaa Shaheen
Palestinians in Germany since 7 October

"This is no longer my country"

The Hamas attack on 7 October 2023 was a transformative experience for much of Germany's Palestinian diaspora. Many lost relatives in Gaza, along with their trust in the German media. Four Palestinians in Berlin share their experiences.
By Inge Günther
Repression in Afghanistan

How women defy the Taliban

Afghan women are developing sophisticated forms of protest to defend themselves against intensifying Taliban repression. Fundamentalists can do little to stop the resistance.
By Emran Feroz
Nurses on strike in Iran

"Strikers feel they have nothing left to lose"

In Iran, nurses are on strike to protest miserable living standards and stressful working conditions. Desperation is driving many abroad, and some to suicide.
By Omid Rezaee
Reform of the Moroccan family code

A struggle over Quranic principles

Feminists in Morocco are eagerly awaiting a planned reform of the family code. Experts and the public have been consulted, but the king and the commission have yet to reveal the proposed amendments.
By Vanessa Barisch