Spotlight on bridge-builders
All topics-
Germany's Faces of Democracy initiative
"Role models with a migration background more important than quotas"
Lamia Messari-Becker, 48, is professor of construction technology and structural physics at the University of Siegen. Until June 2020, the native Moroccan was a member of the German government's Expert Council on the Environment. Messari-Becker is a member of the Club of Rome International, which campaigns for a sustainable future for humanity. She spoke to Sven Lilienstrom about democracy, climate protection and sustainability
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Spotlight on bridge builders: Farhad Dilmaghani
Working towards a society without discrimination
Farhad Dilmaghani is co-founder and chairman of the association "Deutsch Plus: Initiative für eine plurale Republik". He works to ensure that institutions, public authorities and businesses reflect the diversity in society. Ceyda Nurtsch introduces him for Qantara.de
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Saman Haddad, cultural mediator in Germany
"Don’t talk about integration, just do it"
The child of Iraqi refugees, Saman Haddad arrived in Germany twenty-five years ago at the age of thirteen. Now a well-known cultural figure in Bonn, Haddad doesn't wait for others to take the initiative. Nor does he let others' reactions put him off. Profile by Philipp Jedicke
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Jewish culture in North Africa
Morocco’s Jews and their legacy
Morocco is aiming to enshrine Judaism as part of its national identity: the "House of Memory" in Essaouira is one step towards realising that goal. The nation’s Jewish legacy has also been added to the national curriculum. Abdessamad Jattioui reports from Essaouira
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Spotlight on bridge-builders: Tahir Della
Campaigning in Germany for "a society of the many"
Tahir Della of the Initiative Schwarze Menschen in Deutschland (Initiative of Black People in Germany) fights for the self-empowerment of black people, a resolute confrontation with the colonial past and greater sensitivity to the many forms of racism. Ceyda Nurtsch for Qantara.de.
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Best of Qantara.de 2020
2020 in review: Qantara's 'Top Ten'
Last year was one of a kind. 2020 saw the rapid spread of the coronavirus pandemic, putting a stop to the hajj. Though peace in the Middle East remains a pipedream, there was something of a diplomatic thaw. At the same time, human rights across the region remain under attack. Here are Qantara.de's ten most read articles of 2020
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Spotlight on bridge builders: Comedian Idil Baydar
Counting up the cliches, Jilet Ayse tells it like it is
Comedian Idil Baydar may have received numerous awards, but she has also been the recipient of death threats from right-wing extremists. Her comic characters Gerda Grischke and Jilet Ayse hold a mirror up to German society and encourage audiences to take a closer look. Ceyda Nurtsch introduces her for Qantara.de
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Spotlight on bridge-builders: Lamya Kaddor
"I aim to strengthen young Muslims' sense of identity"
Lamya Kaddor is a frontwoman for liberal Islam in Germany. The Islamic studies teacher has received numerous awards for her dedication. But she also faces hostility from many sides. Ceyda Nurtsch introduces her for Qantara.de
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Rabbi Elhanan Miller on interfaith dialogue
"People of the Book" brings Jews and Muslims together
Conceived by Israeli journalist and rabbi Elhanan Miller, "People of the Book" is a YouTube project designed to provide information on Judaism in Arabic. Disarming prejudice with humour, Miller's cartoons aim to promote mutual understanding between Jews and Arabs. Interview by Claudia Mende
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Spotlight on bridge-builders: Omid Nouripour
Taking a stand against the "overemphasis of difference"
Omid Nouripour fled Iran for Germany with his family at the age of 13. Today, he is foreign policy spokesman for Germany’s Green Party. He argues that societal differences should be seen as potential and vehicles for peace in foreign policymaking. Profile by Ceyda Nurtsch for Qantara.de
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Jews, Christians and Muslims
"We are in dire need of a culture of dialogue"
Berlin's "House of One" project, instigated by Jews, Christians and Muslims, will finally begin to take physical shape in early 2021, following a lengthy period of preparation. With the terrorist attack in Vienna fresh in their minds, the representatives of the three world religions feel uniquely challenged. By Christoph Strack
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Goethe anniversary
Orient and Occident
Two hundred years of the "West-Eastern Divan": "North and West and South shatter, thrones burst and empires tremble" – why Islam is part of German literature. By Heinrich Detering