Society

Lebanon's Tripoli

Old wounds and new problems on "Syria Street"

Syria Street in Tripoli, Lebanon's second-largest city, was a microcosm of the Syrian Civil War for many years. Nowadays, a fragile calm hides the complexities of Lebanon's past and the resilience of its people
By Diana Hodali
Islam's holy month

Why more non-Muslims are taking part in Ramadan

Ramadan's observance is widespread in the Middle East, often involving non-Muslims in the region's celebrations. In Christian-majority countries, participation has been less common, but this trend is starting to shift
By Cathrin Schaer & Mohammed Farhan
The story of a young artist in Gaza

When the pain begins to draw

Drawing on the walls of buildings in the Gaza Strip is a way for 21-year-old artist Menna Hamouda to express the trauma inflicted by five months of pain and destruction
By Karim El-Gawhary
Israeli–Palestinian dialogue

Israelis and Palestinians team up in Germany to help Gazans

In Germany, a unique Israeli–Palestinian initiative is helping to organise urgently needed sanitary facilities and shelter for people in Gaza. Its members say that taking action in this way helps them deal with the anxiety they feel as a result of the conflict. Their group also shows that dialogue is possible even in difficult times
By Sarah Judith Hofmann
Rumi, mystic and poet

Message of love: Qantara series on the 750th anniversary of Rumi's death

Even after seven and a half centuries, Rumi's verses have lost nothing of their depth and transformative power. A series of articles by Qantara.de marking the 750th anniversary of the death of the Persian poet Rumi
Women in Iraq

Breaking down barriers and pushing for independence

After two incredibly tough decades for women since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, it is now cool to be young and female in Iraq. A report from Baghdad
By Birgit Svensson
Afghanistan

In the land of the hopeless

More than two years after the Taliban seized power, Afghans are battling psychological problems in response to the apparent hopelessness of the situation in their country. A report from Kabul
By Emran Feroz
750th anniversary of Rumi’s death – Part 7

"Light your beacon!"

In Rumi's lifetime, too, people were frightened by war and uncertainty. His poetry has much to teach us about human nature
By Marian Brehmer
Turkey local elections and Internet censorship

Erdogan's grand plan

Ahead of the local elections in March 2024, Turkey is facing increased Internet censorship, with the government blocking web pages and VPN services. The move is part of Erdogan's strategy to regain control over major cities
By Elmas Topcu
Indonesia's presidential election

K-Pop not Islam

This year's Valentine's Day saw a presidential election in Indonesia, the world's third-largest democracy. Conservative-Islamic morals and panic-mongering tactics took a back seat on social media channels filled with music, cat videos…and elderly presidential hopefuls dancing
By Bettina David
750th anniversary of Rumi's death – Part 6

Academic research and spiritual exploration

No Islamic mystic in the past two centuries has touched literary figures and academics in both East and West as much as Rumi. A look at the history of research into this hugely influential spiritual teacher
By Marian Brehmer
German academia and the war in Gaza

Universities must remain places of dialogue

Discussions about the Middle East conflict naturally tend towards polarisation. In Germany, showing empathy for victims of political violence in Israel while drawing attention to the suffering of Gazan and West Bank Palestinians, who bear the brunt of any major confrontation, is a tricky balancing act
By Jannis Julien Grimm