The Syrian philosopher Sadiq Al-Azm is one of the highest-profile and most strident critics of the Arab world. To this day, his ideas are between all fronts, making him enemies of both Islamist and secular dogmatists. Sadiq Al-Azm is soon to celebrate his 75th birthday. A portrait by Kersten Knipp
The 44-year-old US writer Asra Nomani is viewed as a prominent representative of "Gender Jihad". For the former Wall Street Journal reporter, there is no contradiction between Islam and feminism. She spoke to Alfred Hackensberger
Chandra Muzaffar is one of Malaysia's best-known human rights activists and public intellectuals. While being critical of western global hegemony, he says Muslims have to fundamentally re-evaluate their understanding of Islam and its traditions. By Yogi Sikand
The Faculty of Islamic Studies in Sarajevo is the most important institute of Islamic higher education, research and teaching in Europe. It is the living proof that Islam has its place in the modern academic world. Stefan Schreiner reports
Tariq Ramadan is considered by many one of Europe's most influential intellectuals. In this interview with Claudia Mende, the Swiss Muslim academic talks about his understanding of European citizenship, his concept of sharia, and the shortcomings of a literal interpretation of the Koran
If relations between the West and the Muslim world are to be improved, writes Maulana Waris Mazhari, Muslims must make a serious attempt not only to study both the positive and the negative aspects of Western thought, civilisation and history, but also to learn from them
Mohammed Abed al-Jabri is without a doubt one of the most important contemporary Arab intellectuals. His work focuses on the failure of the Enlightenment in the Islamic world and the search for an Arab identity in modernity. Sonja Hegasy introduces the Moroccan philosopher
Muhammad Shahrur's work is a comprehensive attempt to reconcile the religion of Islam with modern philosophy as well as the rational worldview of the natural sciences. According to Shahrur, jurisprudence in the name of God is a farce benefiting only those wanting to maintain political power. Loay Mudhoon introduces this contentious reformist thinker
The Tunisian intellectual Mohamed Talbi is regarded as one of the most critical leading thinkers in the Arab world. In his most recently published book, he denounces traditional Islamic religious scholars and argues for a contemporary reading of the Koran. Rachid Boutayeb introduces Mohamed Talbi
Leading Islamic reformist and literary scholar, Nasr Hamid Abu Zaid, believes that individual freedom is an essential prerequisite to faith. Everyone, therefore, also has the right to convert to another faith. He talked to Erhard Brunn about some of his ideas
Mohammad Mojtahed Shabestari is one of the world's most significant contemporary Shia clerics. In the second part of this interview with Fatma Sagir, Shabestari speaks about the compatibility of Islam and Democracy, and about how the Iranian revolution affected his philosophy
Mohammad Mojtahed Shabestari is one of the world's most important contemporary Shia clerics. In the first part of this lengthy interview with Fatma Sagir, the Iranian philosopher and theologian speaks about the complex relationship between state and religion, and about the effects of coercion and regulation in matters relating to faith
Maulana Kalbe Sadiq is one of India's leading Shia Muslim scholars. In this interview with Yoginder Sikand, he talks about educational concepts of Indian Muslim scholars and their widespread reluctance to face Muslims' contemporary challenges
In 2006, the Koran expert Ömer Özsoy from Kayseri in Turkey became the first Muslim theology professor at a German university. Arian Fariborz met with the renowned scholar and his students in Frankfurt
For some, the Turkish intellectual Ali Bulaç is a pioneering thinker of a backward-looking political Islam, whilst for others he represents a modern reformed Islam that renounces political ideology of any kind. By Guenter Seufert
The Radical Middle Way is an initiative aimed at articulating a mainstream understanding of Islam that inspires positive change. Click here for more...
The Palestine-Israel Journal is staffed by a joint team of Palestinians and Israelis working from a single office based in East Jerusalem. More...
For his coverage of conflict in the Middle East, Judah Passow won four World Press Photo awards. On his website he features photo essays on Beirut, Bosnia, Israel, the West Bank, and Islam in New York...
Effective and sustainable measures are urgently needed at the city, national and EU levels to tackle religious discrimination, according to a report released by the Open Society Institute's 'At Home in Europe' project. More...
The Arab Press Network is a digital network which supports the development of a stronger independent press in the Arab world. Click here for more...
The Britain-based Islamic Foundation for cology and Environmental Studies works towards the revival of Islamic environmental norms. Click here for more...
Euro-Islam.info is an active network of researchers and scholars who conduct comparative research on Islam and Muslims in the West and disseminate key information to politicians, media, and the public. More...
