Middle Eastern studies
All topics-
Europe and its Muslims
Islamic theology in Germany: Spanning the divide
Five German universities have been offering degrees in Islamic theology since 2010. How successful are these courses and how much influence do the universities have? Arnfrid Schenk takes stock
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Interview with Islamic studies scholar Armina Omerika
"Muslims need new ways to approach their religious heritage"
The German Evangelical Church′s relationship with Luther shows Muslims that it′s possible to find and develop a way of engaging critically with your own religious tradition, says Islamic studies scholar Armina Omerika in interview with Canan Topcu
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Islam and feminism
Go forth and create role models!
On the one hand, a marked swing to the right; on the other, there is now widespread talk about feminism – even Islamic feminism! Charlotte Wiedemann examines the challenges faced by Muslim women
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Salafism or philology
What can an Islamic scholar tell us?
The Islamic scholar Angelika Neuwirth has had a greater impact on Koranic research in Germany than anyone else in recent decades. What she has to say is revolutionary – not only for Muslims, but also for Europe. Salafists, in particular, could learn a great deal from her. By Navid Kermani
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Reforming Islam
Show me the Sharia
There is violence in the name of Sharia, yet assertions by Muslims that this has nothing to do with genuine Islam seem fated to fall on deaf ears. A contribution to the debate by Cefli Ademi
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Between Tigris and Euphrates
Mesopotamia: the cradle of civilisation
The Middle East is not only the scene of terrible violence, but also the birthplace of modern civilisation. It is high time we recalled the historical significance of ancient Mesopotamian culture, realising that current events in the Middle East are also a threat to our own identity. By Melanie Christina Mohr
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Islamic theology
Turning over a new page
Theology and paedagogy can offer young Muslims a better alternative to the hate preachers operating on the sidelines of the faith. By Harry Harun Behr
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The Avicenna scholarship programme
Cosmopolitan and female
Avicenna is the first state-sponsored Muslim scholarship programme in Germany. It supports gifted and socially-committed students of all disciplines. Report by Arnd Zickgraf
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Islam and violence
Conservative Muslims refute the violence of IS
Does Islamic theology have the argumentative resources to counter the claim that violence perpetrated in the name of Islam is covered by verses from the Koran? Yes, says the Islam expert Katajun Amirpur, pointing to an open letter from Muslim scholars
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The culture and faith of the Yazidis
Demonised and eternally misunderstood
Their persecution by Islamic State has put the Yazidis in the international spotlight. In her book on the Yazidis, Birgul Acikyildiz provides insights into the culture and faith of this endangered community. By Ulrich von Schwerin
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In dialogue: Iskandar Ahmad Abdalla and Yuval Ben-Ami
Judaism and Islam – the beauty of the other
It is easy to criticise others and to give in to fear. But what is there to discover when you take a closer look and try to really get to know this "other"? Iskandar Ahmad Abdalla from Egypt and Yuval Ben-Ami from Israel both did so, diving into the world of the "other" and being enriched by it. Here they tell of their experiences, which both delighted and surprised them
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LGBT in Islam
"Islam does give us leeway to think"
Muslim and gay? Most scholars consider homosexual acts unlawful – not so Muhsin Hendricks, who says that the Koran does not say that homosexuality is a sin. Jannis Hagmann spoke to the South African imam about Islam, homosexuality and Koranic interpretation