Most recent articles by Stefan Weidner
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German angst and the Sheikh Zayed Book AwardHabermas, philosopher of communication, rejects dialogue
Philosopher Juergen Habermas was due to be awarded a major Arab prize in Abu Dhabi, but has turned it down following criticism. This decision torpedoes Arab efforts at a substantive cultural dialogue and exposes the West’s moral hubris, says Stefan Weidner
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U.S. withdrawal from AfghanistanJoe Biden and the West's betrayal of the Hindu Kush
The USA and NATO plan to withdraw from Afghanistan by September. The operation is risky, the outcome uncertain. Many Afghans fear civil war. The quake on the Hindu Kush will also impact Germany, writes Stefan Weidner in his commentary
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COVID-19 and terrorism9/11, coronavirus – epochal events that force a re-think
This 11 September marked the nineteenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. The wide-ranging repercussions of those attacks in the years since 2001 are only just emerging. Throughout the coronavirus crisis, political patterns born of the era of terrorism continue to prevail. An essay by Stefan Weidner
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Hollywoodʹs flirtation with 1001 NightsThe Aladdin controversy
Currently a worldwide blockbuster, the latest Aladdin movie hoped to do a better job of the story than the 1992 animated Disney film, which features a number of racist stereotypes when viewed through todayʹs lens. Is this likely in view of the Aladdin storyʹs dubious origins? Stefan Weidner provides some background
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Kamel Daoud’s novel "Zabor"Algeria and a patriarch's dying throes
"Zabor", the new novel by Algerian star author Kamel Daoud, tells the story of the outsider Ismael, who discovers poetry as a means of survival. Stefan Weidner sees parallels in the novel with the situation in Algeria following the ousting of Bouteflika
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Parliament of the Worldʹs ReligionsGood people of the world, unite!
In early November, Toronto hosted one of the most vibrant and exciting events ever held under the banner of religion: "The Parliament of the World’s Religions”. Stefan Weidner went to hear the debate
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Obituary: Iranian philosopher Dariush ShayeganThe science of balance
On 22 March 2018, Dariush Shayegan, one of the Islamic world's foremost philosophers, died at the age of 83 in Tehran. Without ever pinning his colours to any one religious mast, Shayegan sought out the commonalities between Islamic, Indian and Far Eastern spirituality and Western philosophy. By Stefan Weidner
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Bachtyar Ali's novel "Die Stadt der weißen Musiker"Poetry and truth
Bachtyar Ali, probably the best known contemporary novelist and poet from the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan, has produced a major novel about art and reconciliation. It has recently been translated into German and is proving a major success. By Stefan Weidner
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Non-fiction: Pankaj Mishra's "Age of Anger"The embittered majority
In his book "Age of Anger: the history of the present" the Indian author Pankaj Mishra sees global distortions as the result of a birth defect in European modernity. Stefan Weidner read the book
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SufismLifting the lid
Many Western devotees of Sufism view it as a more liberal brand of Islam. That is a misunderstanding. An essay by Stefan Weidner
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Book review: Bachtyar Ali′s ″Der letzte Granatapfel″Buried treasure
The first German translation of a Kurdish-Iraqi novel has been published – and what a novel! Bachtyar Ali′s ″Der letzte Granatapfel″ is a bombshell. Stefan Weidner read the book
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Saudi Arabia: Janadriyah Festival of CultureA population ruled by fear
As was revealed at the culture festival in Riyadh, the Kingdom finds itself in a precarious position – not least because women are still excluded from podium discussions. Open debate about politics and religion did, however, take place at the fringes. Stefan Weidner reports from Riyadh