Most recent articles by Kersten Knipp
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TurkeyErdogan's search for partners in the Middle East
Ankara is seeking to improve its relations with several states in the Middle East – such as the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Israel. There are several reasons for this. Meanwhile, those being approached are not averse to the idea. By Kersten Knipp
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Repercussions of 9/11The West and the Islamic world – mutually radicalised?
In his book "Ground Zero: 9/11 und die Geburt der Gegenwart" (Ground Zero: 9/11 and the Birth of the Present) Islamic scholar Stefan Weidner analyses the consequences of the attacks on the USA in September 2001. Kersten Knipp spoke with him about failures – as well as opportunities – in the West-East dialogue
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Turkey seeks its role in the Middle EastPresident Recep Tayyip Erdogan's foreign policy rethink
Turkey is largely isolated in the Middle East. Partners are few and far between. Its closest ally, Qatar, has just made peace with its neighbours. Together with the change of power in the USA, this is forcing Ankara to rethink. Background by Kersten Knipp
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COVID-19 in the Occupied TerritoriesCoronavirus infection rates skyrocket in the Gaza Strip
Health experts in the Gaza Strip are sounding the alarm, fearing the pandemic could soon rage out of control. Hospitals there are wholly unprepared for the situation and doctors are pleading for international assistance. Kerstin Knipp has the details
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Humanitarian aid in the Middle EastUN agency for Palestinian refugees faces imminent collapse
Financial woes had been part and parcel of UNRWA's work for years. In 2018, however, President Donald Trump dealt the organisation a deadly blow, deferring payment of U.S. yearly contributions of more than $300 million. Now the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees is facing insolvency. Financial aid for millions of refugees is at risk. By Kersten Knipp
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Saudi authorities crack down on bloggersAssault on the freedom of expression
Saudi blogger Raif Badawi was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 1,000 lashes by a Saudi court. His crime: using the freedom afforded by the Internet to express his opinion on the religious authorities in his country. He is not the only one in Saudi Arabia to fall foul of the authorities. In general, the crackdown on freedom of expression has been in full swing for quite some time. By Kersten Knipp
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Interview with Andreas Dittmann"Libyans themselves are destroying their country"
Three years after the overthrow of Muammar al-Gaddafi, Libya is at risk of becoming a failed state. The country is threatened by both militias and groups of jihadis made up of disaffected young Libyans with a radical agenda. Kersten Knipp spoke to Professor Andreas Dittmann about the current conflict
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Interview with Navid Kermani"One should take the religious façade seriously"
The writer Navid Kermani spent a week in mid September travelling through Iraq, visiting a number of different parts of the country. In this interview with Kersten Knipp, he speaks of his impressions of the country and some factors that have led to the rise of IS in Iraq
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British fatwa against ISBreaking the spell of a poisonous ideology
Leading British Muslims have issued a fatwa against the terrorist group Islamic State. The imams are hoping that it will help change the minds of some of the group's supporters. By Kersten Knipp
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The German archaeologist and explorer Max von OppenheimEnchanted by the Myth of the Orient
Max von Oppenheim was an astute observer of the Near East. He was also captivated by its history, culture and way of life. In fact, Oppenheim's entire adult life is an illustration of how difficult it is to reconcile the captivating dream of the Orient with the sober political reality of the region – a difficulty that remains to this day. By Kersten Knipp
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Presidential election in AlgeriaOut with the old, in with the old
On 17 April, Algeria goes to the polls to elect a new president. However, it seems as if the new president will be the old one: Abdelaziz Bouteflika. But even though the outcome seems like a foregone conclusion, political resistance is forming. By Kersten Knipp
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The Arab worldArabic: the last tie that binds
In terms of politics, economics, religion and culture, the paths of the Arab states diverge. The once proclaimed unity between them has been consigned to the history books. Only one thing still binds them together: the Arabic language. By Kersten Knipp