Qantara.de - Dialogue with the Islamic World

03/06/2026

: Robin Yassin-Kassab, author of "The Blood Between Us", on Syria and why the government’s focus on stability may prove a pitfall

Since December 2024, Syria has been oscillating between euphoria and disappointment. The British-Syrian analyst Robin Yassin-Kassab sees optimism as a resource, but the new government’s focus on stability as a potential pitfall.

18/05/2026

With "Dounana", Berlin-based musician Siba has struck a chord: rapped in Arabic, the track takes aim at colonialism and imperialism and is spreading rapidly online. With Qantara she talked about anger, injustice and empowerment.
https://qantara.de/en/node/44673

04/05/2026

Mohamed Mahdy has documented in "Moon Dust" the health crisis in Wadi Al-Qamar, a residential area in Alexandria located next to a cement factory. Exposed to severe pollution from coal and industrial waste, the neighbourhood has become a place where environmental damage shapes everyday life. For this work, Mahdy was awarded the World Press Photo 2026.

Since 2016, Mahdy has worked closely with the community, whose daily reality is marked by illness, legal struggles, and questions of visibility and voice. While court rulings and public attention have brought moments of recognition, residents continue to face structural neglect and uncertainty about lasting change.

In an interview with Qantara, Mahdy explains why he looks for his stories close to home and what he expects from international media.

28/04/2026

"We don't let just anyone in," says an employee at a hotel in the Christian neighbourhood of Gemmayzeh in Beirut.

More than one million people have been displaced in Lebanon following Israeli strikes. In Beirut, finding shelter for hundreds of thousands has become a Sisyphean task: while many apartments stand empty, available accommodation is quickly filling up or denied to those seeking it.

Reports from displaced families—particularly Shia communities—highlight growing mistrust and rejection, as they are often broadly associated with Hezbollah. In a country repeatedly shaped by war, social cohesion is coming under increasing strain.

16/04/2026

scholar Scott Straus has spent decades studying the causes of mass violence. He examines the dynamics of violence in Darfur, arguing that international inaction on highlights a broader crisis in genocide prevention.

He also argues in the interview that is part of this broader pattern. Many people around the world believe that a genocide has taken place there without any real consequences, while major states have supported Israel and at times dismissed criticism as antisemitic. As a result, he says, the term “genocide” has lost some of its political and moral credibility.

👉 https://qantara.de/en/node/44652

13/04/2026

Since 1989, Hazem Saghieh has written for the newspaper Al-Hayat and now contributes a weekly column to the London-based Asharq Al-Awsat. He sees little chance for social cohesion in Lebanon amid the current war. In an interview with Qantara, he argues that the conflict is instead deepening existing divisions—and warns that Israel’s intervention could pave the way for a renewed long-term occupation.
👉 https://qantara.de/en/node/44645

09/04/2026

English instead of French: The government in Algeria aims to replace the colonial language as the main language of education. But in our report by Nourredine Bessadi, linguist Abderrezak Dourari warns of a “forced shift in language.”
👉 https://qantara.de/en/node/44628

07/04/2026

The war with Iran reflects a clash between two reactionary forces: the hegemonic ambitions of Iran’s leadership and Israel’s vision of reshaping the Middle East, argues Behrouz Farahani. A ceasefire is urgent – and real change must come from within.
👉 https://qantara.de/en/node/44644

02/04/2026

Jews in Syria: The fall of Assad has prompted the return of millions of Syrians, including a small Jewish minority. Under Henry Hamra, son of the country’s last chief rabbi, they are asking whether a lasting return is possible.
👉 https://qantara.de/node/44642

23/03/2026

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👉 https://qantara.de/en/newsletter