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Gilbert Achcar on the impact of 9/11"The Iraq War shattered the promise of a new world order"
The attacks of 11 September 2001 fundamentally altered US foreign policy and triggered a series of wars that have reshaped the Middle East. 25 years on, Gilbert Achcar reflects on the US response to 9/11 and its enduring impact on the region.
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Faten HarbMediating family conflicts in wartime Gaza
Faten Harb is one of Gaza's first female mukhtaras, a mediation role traditionally reserved for men. As war has upended everyday life, she has found herself mediating disputes shaped by displacement, poverty and loss, helping families navigate a society under extraordinary strain.
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Algeria and France"We must deepen our understanding of the colonial era"
History weighs heavily on Algerian-French relations. Historian Benjamin Stora discusses the obstacles and progress made towards a shared culture of remembrance, and the threat posed by the French far right as elections approach.
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Remembering Sliman MansourThe artist behind a Palestinian icon
"Camel of Hardship" by Sliman Mansour, who died on 24 August, is one of the most recognisable images in Palestinian art. Asmaa al-Ghoul tells how it came to appear on walls across the country and why it remains deeply embedded in collective memory.
Politics
More about Politics-
Taliban in AfghanistanPower consolidated, society reshaped
In the five years since regaining power, the Taliban have cemented their rule in Afghanistan, bringing armed conflict in the country to a relative lull. Their ambitions go beyond maintaining control: they are seeking to transform the country from the bottom up.
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Death sentence for Bashar al-AssadJustice cannot be rushed
The abrupt verdict against Bashar al-Assad is a missed opportunity for justice. A genuine trial could have documented the full extent of his crimes and given survivors a platform to tell their stories.
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Turkey's Süleymancı communityThe cost of staying outside Erdoğan's orbit
The Süleymancı religious movement has long resisted being drawn into Erdoğan's Sunni conservative coalition. Now the state is accusing the group of financial crimes. Salim Çevik examines the crackdown, the community's political history and its ties to Germany.
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General Amnesty LawA solution to Lebanon's prison crisis?
Thousands of inmates in Lebanon are held in overcrowded prisons under appalling conditions, many without a final verdict. A proposed law promises relief, but political and sectarian rivalries stand in the way.
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DenaturalisationKuwait is stripping its leading intellectuals of citizenship
Up to 300,000 people in Kuwait have lost their citizenship in the last two years. What the authorities describe as a "correction" is leaving stars of the national cultural scene stateless. Among them is Talib al-Rifai, the "father of the Kuwaiti novel".
Society
More about Society-
Inequality in MoroccoCeuta was a referendum
Shortly before the general election, the mass crossing into Ceuta has shaken Morocco's image as a stable and thriving nation. The fact that so many people embarked on the journey reveals the depth of discontent in the country.
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Afghans in Germany"Most of us feel betrayed"
Five years on from the fall of Kabul, the German government is cooperating with the Taliban. Mitra Hashemi from the German-Afghan Friendship Society talks about the Afghan community in Germany, a lack of recognition and responsibility towards their relatives in Afghanistan.
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Christians in LebanonFighting to preserve Lebanon's wine tradition
Economic crisis and war have made winemaking in Lebanon difficult, pushing producers to rely on exports. But with its deep ties to Lebanese Christian identity, many are determined to keep making wine at home.
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New Faculty of Islamic Theology in Münster"Theology is opening up and engaging with society"
The University of Münster has established Europe's first Faculty of Islamic Theology. Dean Mouhanad Khorchide discusses the responsibility of theology, Europe's shift to the right and his ambition to influence the Islamic world.
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Peace work in Lebanon"War is not an adventure playground"
Young people in Lebanon need to confront the country's violent past, says Christina Foerch-Saab of Fighters for Peace. Through visits to schools and universities with former combatants, she sees attitudes beginning to shift, even amid renewed escalation.
Culture
More about Culture-
Egyptian photographer Roger Anis"The Nile is part of our collective consciousness"
Egyptian photographer Roger Anis has spent nearly a decade documenting the world's longest river. In 2024, he revived an ancient Nile procession with local fishermen, turning their boats into a moving celebration of the river and its communities.
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Miss Syria 2026"For me, beauty is self-confidence and presence"
At this year’s Miss Arab World pageant, which took place in Cairo, Syria was represented by Muna Almohamad, who was born and raised in Germany. She wants to encourage women to be true to themselves and become more visible.
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Iranian "festival cinema"Made for Western critics?
For decades, directors like Abbas Kiarostami and Jafar Panahi have found success at the world's most prestigious film festivals. But some Iranian critics question whether international audiences reward films that challenge or reinforce Orientalist views of Iran.
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Syrian-German director Anis Hamdoun"Theatre should represent Syrians in all their diversity"
Born into a prominent theatre family in Homs, Anis Hamdoun rebuilt his career in Germany from scratch after leaving Syria in 2012. The director and playwright reflects on life between cultural worlds and the future of Syrian theatre.
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Egyptian film "Asad"Slave drama sparks debate on national identity
In Egypt, a historical film has sparked a present-day controversy, with critics accusing "Asad" of distorting the past and promoting Afrocentric narratives. Beneath the political rhetoric, however, lies a deeper cultural dispute.
750th anniversary of Rumi's death
750th anniversary of Rumi's death - Qantara.de
Most read articles
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Gilbert Achcar on the impact of 9/11
"The Iraq War shattered the promise of a new world order"
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Egyptian photographer Roger Anis
"The Nile is part of our collective consciousness"
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Remembering Sliman Mansour
The artist behind a Palestinian icon
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President Bouteflika and Algeria′s future
The sick man of the Mediterranean
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Sex tourism in Egypt
A bride for the summer
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Femicide in Turkey
Where is Gülistan Doku?