Qantara.de - Dialogue with the Islamic World

11/04/2025

Born from 's 2018-19 , the volunteer-led Emergency Response Rooms have become a lifeline to millions, coordinating aid where international efforts have failed - a blueprint for grassroots humanitarian relief. By Leena Shibeika

Born from Sudan's 2018-19 revolution, the volunteer-led Emergency Response Rooms have become a lifeline to millions, coordinating aid where international efforts have failed. Their decentralised model offers a blueprint for grassroots humanitarian relief.

10/04/2025

's war on has left thousands of orphaned. Amid the devastation, couples unable to conceive are experiencing parenthood for the first time by fostering child survivors. Doaa Shaheen reports from Gaza

Israel's war on Gaza has left thousands of children orphaned. Amid the devastation, couples unable to conceive are experiencing parenthood for the first time by fostering child survivors.

05/04/2025

📚"Fighting the Flow": A father marked by colonial shame. A daughter accused of murder. Saïd Khatibi’s latest unpacks Algeria’s violent past and its grip on the present. English translation coming soon.
https://qantara.de/en/node/44336

04/04/2025

"We are controlled by hope." As mass graves and systematic killings come to light, Syrians fight for truth and . The search for the missing continues. Mazin al-Balkhi warns that 's mass, arbitrary killings present major challenges.👇

The search for the missing is seen by many Syrians as crucial to rebuilding the nation. Mazin al-Balkhi of the International Commission on Missing Persons warns that the scale and arbitrary nature of the killings under Assad pose major challenges.

03/04/2025

Caught between two languages: writes in and . "Safe Corridor" is his first novel to be translated in English — a moving story about the shattered life of a 13-year-old in the Syrian war.👇

"Safe Corridor" is Jan Dost's first novel translated into English. The prolific Syrian writer explores the hardening impact of war on children and discusses the key differences between writing in Kurdish and Arabic.

28/03/2025

’s coastal massacre: Over 1,600 civilians killed in sectarian violence—the deadliest since ’s fall. four survivors describe executions, looting & terror👇

https://qantara.de/en/node/44335

27/03/2025

or ? The series tells the story of a controversial Islamic ruler – and according to critics, reflects the politics of . Why it has sparked a debate and was banned in & 👇

The Saudi-produced television series “Muawiya” emerged as a talking point during Ramadan, sparking debate throughout the Middle East. Both Iran and Iraq have banned the show which charts the life of one of the most controversial figures in Islamic history.

26/03/2025

The Arabist Stefan Weidner has collected and translated pre-Islamic into German. "The Arabic Divan" consists of that remain part of the canon in the Arab world and have also influenced Western literature. Weidner’s translations bring these ancient works into the 21st century. In an , he discusses their significance👇

Stefan Weidner has gathered pre-Islamic poems and translated them into German. His new book "The Arabic Divan" revisits these centuries-old works and explores how their verses serve as a vibrant predecessor to today's social media.

25/03/2025

How did İmamoğlu become Erdoğan’s greatest rival? Days before he was set to secure his official presidential candidacy, Istanbul's mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu was arrested on and charges. Ayse Karabat's latest analysis👇

20/03/2025

as a turning point? Four authors ask what the Western-enabled war on Gaza means for historical , and Jewish identity. .wiedemann.7 has read the by Peter Beinart , , and . 👇

Four well-known authors address the global consequences of Gaza's destruction and Western support for Israel, or as one frames it: the "world after Gaza". Charlotte Wiedemann takes a look.

15/03/2025

faces socio-economic challenges: The fall of in Dec 2024 sparked hope for Syria’s future. But as the country rebuilds, the transitional government’s neoliberal policies mirror the past—privatisation, austerity, and deepening . Can Syria avoid repeating history?👇

Syrians are facing immense economic challenges—an unstable currency, shortages and a soaring cost of living—while the transitional government doubles down on Assad's neoliberal policies. True recovery demands a new approach.

14/03/2025

: "It was the West that waged war for 20 years in without any success"

Activist Nasim Lomani urges the to acknowledge the root causes of displacement and push for sustainable solutions. 👇

https://qantara.de/en/node/44318

12/03/2025

Will civil liberties be guaranteed in after 's fall? As the transitional government dismantles old structures, including organisations, what will political participation look like moving forward? 👇

Syria's new leadership has not made a clear enough commitment to civil liberties. An inclusive understanding of citizenship, rooted in the history of Arab national movements, is needed to ensure that the goals of the 2011 uprising are not lost from view.

11/03/2025

Historic moment: Abdullah Öcalan calls for the to disarm and dissolve. Could this finally end the decades-long conflict? A look back at the PKK founder's life and past failed peace efforts👇

On Saturday, the PKK declared a ceasefire in response to jailed leader Abdullah Öcalan's call to disarm. The collapse of the last Turkey-PKK ceasefire in 2015 triggered an eruption of violence. Will Öcalan succeed in ending the 47-year-old conflict this time?

11/03/2025

Historic moment: Abdullah Öcalan calls for the to disarm and dissolve. Leyla Egeli looks back at the PKK founder's life and past failed peace efforts, asking—could this finally end the decades-long conflict? 👇

07/03/2025

In fordern Aktivist:innen einen schnellen Übergang zu und . Frauenrechtlerinnen wie Nour Gheiba hoffen auf Veränderungen, doch trotz des Sturzes von bleibt unklar, ob die neuen Machthaber wirklich voranbringen – oder sie nur als PR nutzen. Karim El-Gawhary Arabesken hat mit Frauenrechtlerinnen vor Ort gesprochen.👇

In Syrien fand Ende Februar die mit Spannung erwartete Konferenz des Nationalen Dialogs statt. Hat das Treffen die Erwartungen erfüllt? Karim El-Gawhary sprach vorher und nachher mit Frauenrechtlerinnen vor Ort.

05/03/2025

On 'Ajdad,' Montreal-based master weaves , , and influences into a rich musical tapestry—defying borders and preserving a shared heritage. ✍️Richard Marcus

On the album "Ajdad", Montreal-based Iranian composer and santur master Amir Amiri seeks to reunite Arabic and Persian musical traditions, historically divided by repression and conflict.

04/03/2025

: Bushra Khalfan's Dilshad tells the stories of marginalised women and their struggle for in . The new volume "Chronicle of Blood and Gold" continues the award-winning predecessor. A review by Alsiefy 👇

Bushra Khalfan's award-winning "Dilshad" traces the story of one family through 20th-century Oman, shedding light on the untold stories of marginalised women and their fight for agency.