Qantara.de - Dialog mit der islamischen Welt

A comprehensive solution to the Syria conflict is still a distant prospect. And "freezing" the fighting will not succeed without UN monitoring. If the suffering of the people is to be alleviated and a foundation of trust laid for negotiations, local initiatives must be implemented with international support, says Kristin HelbergMore

Since 22 January, Yemen has been mired in an almost unresolvable crisis of government. After a power struggle that lasted several days, President Hadi stepped down along with Prime Minister Bahah and his whole cabinet. Marie-Christine Heinze takes a closer look at the current crisis and its wider implicationsMore

The political divide in Libya continues to grow. Amal El-Obeidi, professor of Comparative Politics at the University of Benghazi, cites two historical causes for the current situation: the absence of a Libyan identity and the tribal structure of society in the North African country. By Laura OvermeyerMore

The political crisis in Yemen came to a head when Shia Houthi rebels stormed the presidential palace and surrounded the home of President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi on 20 January. Two days later, the president resigned. Sherif Abdel Samad has been assessing the situation in Sanaa and Saada, where he spoke with representatives of the Houthi rebelsMore

There can be no excuse for the recent attacks in Paris. However, one possible way of understanding them is to take a closer look at the bipolar "alliance" between Islamists and Islamophobia, which can be viewed as the root of these terrorist acts. Moreover, in the wake of the attacks, we must ask ourselves what freedom of speech is, what its boundaries are and who really represents it. A commentary by Atef BotrosMore

Maithripala Sirisena was the surprise winner of last week's presidential election in Sri Lanka. He was swept to power on a platform of political reform and an end to corruption. Sirisena has promised to transfer many of the president's executive powers to parliament. Only days after his election, he took steps to increase press freedom. Roma Rajpal Weiss spoke to Basil Fernando, Sri Lankan activist and former director of the Asian Human Rights Commission, about the significance of Sirisena's victoryMore

After the murderous attack on "Charlie Hebdo", will the French succeed in joining hands with the country's Muslim minority to confront the Islamist movement at home, or will Muslims once again be made the scapegoat. By Birgit KasparMore

The Paris attack will add even more heat to the debate about Islam and refugees. But, writes Christoph Hasselbach, neither freedom nor tolerance are negotiable. By the same token, there is no reason to hold all Muslims under suspicion or to doubt the model of a peaceful coexistenceMore

The rise of Islamic State in Syria and Iraq has dramatically altered the regional order. While Iran and Turkey are becoming key political players in the crisis-torn area, the West continues to lose influence. An analysis by Karim El-GawharyMore