Christians in the Islamic world
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The politics of the Pope in Iraq
Pope Francis and Ayatollah al-Sistani, meeting in faith
When Pope Francis sets foot in Iraq, he will be breaking historic ground while manoeuvring religious and political minefields. So will his foremost religious counterpart, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, one of the Shia Muslim world’s foremost scholars and leaders. By James M. Dorsey
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The Pope in Iraq – "We are all brothers"
Can Pope Francis save Iraq's Christians from extinction?
Iraq's Christian minority has dealt with decades of persecution – and many are sceptical about whether a four-day visit by Pope Francis will make a difference. By Cathrin Schaer and Gasia Ohanes
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Preparing for Pope Francis' visit
The scant remains of Iraq's ancient Christian community
Some fled after the U.S.-led invasion, others during sectarian bloodshed and more following jihadist attacks. Iraq's last two violent decades have hollowed out its Christian community which dates back two millennia.
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Explosion in Lebanon
The soul of the city – Beirut's cultural decline
The explosion in Beirut was a shock for Mary Cochrane, a member of one of Lebanon’s most prominent aristocratic families. Sursock Palace, where the family lives, was severely damaged in the blast, but there‘s no money to save it
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Lebanon after the explosion
Beirut's aftermath – shattering as 15 years of civil war
It has been three months since the devastating explosion in the port of Beirut. Since then, inhabitants of the Lebanese capital have been struggling to return to some kind of normality. For many, however, things will never be the same again. Andrea Backhaus reports from Beirut
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Refusing to be sucked in
Russia and Turkey keep powder dry in Nagorno-Karabakh
Sensitive to the threat of wider confrontation, Russia and Turkey are for now limiting involvement in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to providing humanitarian assistance and some military aid. Maria Tsvetkova and Olzhas Auyezov report
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Relgions for Peace in Lindau
"Women are the ones who ensure religion survives"
Organised by interfaith NGO Religions for Peace, an international conference in Lindau on Lake Constance is dealing with the peace-building role of women inspired by the faith of their respective religions. Some 600 participants from around the world meet virtually to discuss the central challenges of our time. By Christoph Strack
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France, Turkey and the Caucasus
French Armenians plead for Nagorno-Karabakh intervention
The Armenian diaspora in France – the largest in Western Europe – is urging the country to do more to support Yerevan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. But Paris is, so far, acting with restraint. Lisa Louis reports
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Muslim racism and imperialism
Power and exclusion
The outpouring of solidarity worldwide following the violent death of George Floyd should prompt us to step back and fundamentally question racist structures and privileges based on injustice – wherever they exist in the world. An essay by Tayfun Guttstadt
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Immigration in Morocco
The long road to integration for immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa
Morocco officially declared itself a country of immigration in 2013, responding to the growing number of immigrants arriving from sub-Saharan Africa. Since then, tens of thousands of illegal aliens have been given residence permits, making them legal residents of the country. Despite this progress, however, Morocco's immigration policies remain inconsistent, and society has yet to truly accept the newcomers. By Claudia Mende
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Museum, church or mosque? The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul
The Hagia Sophia, with its massive dome and four minarets, is nearly 1,500 years old. Turkey's top court has now paved the way for the museum to be converted back into a mosque. By Klaus Dahmann
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Women's rights in the Islamic world
Arab Christian women take a stand against church paternalism
Churches in the Middle East – Coptic, Eastern Orthodox, Maronite – typically share the conservative values of their Islamic surroundings. Yet the resistance of Arab Christian women to church paternalism is growing. Claudia Mende reports