Honour killings

Theatre in Pakistan

"I just want to dance"

Young performers in Lahore are shaping their lives outside the perceptions of Pakistani society, which views many art forms as obscene. As part of a new generation that hopes to change the country, they find themselves taking on conservative mullahs, censorship bodies and sometimes even their own families. By Karin A. Wenger with photos by Philipp Breu
Interview with Turkish human rights lawyer Canan Arin

"Women in Turkey are fighting to keep their rights"

As 1 July approaches, the date when Turkey will officially pull out of the Istanbul Convention on violence against women, Qantara.de speaks to Canan Arin, one of the co-founders and most well-known voices of the Turkish feminist movement. Interview by Ceyda Nurtsch
Femicide and coronavirus in the Maghreb

Algeria's ongoing war against women – #WeLostOneOfUs

The Algerian state's insufficient response to a recent spate of femicides has driven hundreds of women to defy coronavirus lockdown restrictions to take part in street protests, while also rekindling a debate about the death penalty. By Dalia Ghanem
#MeToo and Muslim women

Danish author Sara Omar – Breaking taboos for Muslim women

Born amid the horrors of war in Iraqi Kurdistan, Danish author Sara Omar now uses her voice to denounce violence inflicted on women in the name of reactionary Islam, a "calling" that has left her living under police protection
Violence against women

Femicide on the rise in Turkey

The recent murder of Turkish student Pinar Gültekin by her ex-boyfriend has sparked outrage in Turkey. Women's rights activists are calling for the government to tackle the widespread problem of femicide in the country, but their calls are being met with silence from the government and in some cases even tear gas and rubber bullets by police. By Daniel Bellut
Women's rights in Jordan

The women of Dar Amneh

In Jordan, members of civil society have set up the first shelter for women who are under threat of death from their own families. For one year now, such women have been able to turn to Dar Amneh for help and support. A report by Claudia Mende
Pakistan and sectarianism

The enemy within

Pakistan′s generals blame their country′s cycle of political violence, including a recent bombing in the Baluch capital of Quetta, on groups in Afghanistan. The focus on external enemies complicates efforts to reduce political violence, ease inter-communal strains and facilitate easing of tensions with Pakistan′s neighbours. By James M. Dorsey
Interview with Asma Jahangir, winner of the Right Livelihood Award

"Every restriction is based on religion"

This year, activist and human rights lawyer Asma Jahangir became the first woman from Pakistan to win the Right Livelihood Award (also known as the "alternative Nobel Prize"). She spoke to Roma Rajpal Weiss about the difficult circumstances facing human rights activists in Pakistan
The emancipation of men with Turkish roots

A closed society viewed from inside

Men in Germany with Turkish roots are starting to break their silence and talk about their problems and how to overcome them in self-help groups and on stage. These "Supermen" have also now made their debut in Turkish literature. By Astrid Kaminski
India's rape problem

New rape laws must be implemented

A series of brutal gang rapes in India has once again highlighted the rampant problem of violence against women in the country. Despite recent law reforms and harsher penalties, little is being done by the authorities to prevent crimes against women. By Roma Rajpal Weiss