Legacy of Quiet Resistance: Feminism in Tunisia through the Lens of History Published: 31 January 2025 Background What does it mean to have a feminist perspective? Feminism has many faces. From the silent resilience of my grandmother to the current challenges - how has the feminist movement in Tunisia developed? By Sonia Hedhili
Arab Revolution in Egypt: “We Felt That the World Was Ours” Published: 27 August 2024 Longread The Arab revolutions changed the lives of a whole generation. But it also had an impact on those who were children in 2011. How are they still being impacted by this moment? A conversation between two witnesses. By Wizza and Inaam Hanim
Emergency aid after earthquake in Morocco - In solidarity with our partners Published: 14 September 2023 Appeal for donations A devastating earthquake has killed, injured or deprived thousands of Moroccans of their livelihoods. We are working in the region and have compiled a list of trusted organizations that are helping in need and rely on donations.
The Imagined Beginning and Its Margins Published: 25 August 2022 Essay In his essay, Jwan Tatar poetically outlines Kurdish identity in a Syria where fear is the link that binds all its residents. By Jwan Tatar
Dimitri in South Damascus Published: 15 August 2022 Essay A rupture amidst the ongoing war in Syria: Qosay Amameh recounts the deportation of the remaining members of the opposition from the Palestinian refugee camp Yarmouk in May 2018. By Qosay Amameh
Reminiscence of Coming Times - Souvenirs from Beirut Published: 23 March 2021 Essay “Mid-October, 2019. The mood across the country was like the opening passage to a novel that promises to turn sad. But on the 17th of that month, something unexpected began, setting the course for a very different story” - Abraham Zeitoun remembers. By Abraham H. Zeitoun
The Nayf: A Short Story about Complaint and Dignity in Algeria Published: 11 February 2021 Essay On February 10, 2019, Bouteflika announced his fifth presidential candidacy, and six days later protests erupted in Algeria: the Revolution of Smiles. The protagonists of Salah Badis' short story meet in front of a dysfunctional ATM in one of Algiers' richest neighborhoods, and a conversation between strangers unfolds. By Salah Badis
A Permanent Temporariness Published: 20 January 2021 Essay January 25th marks the beginning of the Egyptian revolution of 2011, which has been followed by a counter-revolution that continues to this day. More and more political and cultural actors end up in prison or flee into exile. As part of our series “Reminiscence of the future”, Alia Mossallam illuminates the inner spaces of the revolution, where fear and courage, kindness and monstrosity are inherently close to one another. By Alia Mossallam
Files from a Revolution Gone Rotten Published: 11 January 2021 Essay Tunisia is often deemed the main success story of the “Arab Spring” after long-term dictator Ben Ali was ousted ten years ago. But in the first contribution of our series “Reminiscence of the future”, Rim Benrjeb writes about a revolutionary spirit that is in danger of falling asleep, patriarchal and state violence, and the impossibility of discussing all of this with one's own father. By Rim Benrjeb
Inspiring victories in a long and vicious war Published: 20 October 2020 Portrait The participation of women in political events was a real battle that they paid for dearly, not only as political players but as women as well - A portrait of Mozn Hassan a feminist and human rights activist. By Dina Samak
Egypt today: Covid-19 on top of repression, repression on top of Covid-19 Published: 23 June 2020 Interview Amidst the Covid-19 crisis in Egypt, a recent chain of events reveals the systemic violence that the regime of President al-Sisi exerts. To address those developments, what’s behind them and how international actors might respond to them, we are speaking with Amr Magdi, Middle East researcher at Human Rights Watch. By Johannes Gunesch
Digitalisation and the coronavirus in Morocco: From care to control? Published: 9 April 2020 Background With a series of digital measures introduced in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Morocco is creating a trade-off between ways to provide rapid support and the parallel development of digital control. By Anja Hoffmann and Bauke Baumann
CEDAW in Tunisia: EnaZeda fights against sexual violence and discrimination Published: 13 January 2020 Analysis Since September, Tunisians have been reporting experiences of sexual violence online under the hashtag EnaZeda, Tunisian Arabic for "me too". In the meantime, the protest has spread to the streets. By Rachel Doelker
The Tunisian Truth and Dignity Commission: From a Human Rights to a Political Project Published: 3 April 2019 Analysis The final report of the Tunisian Truth Commission (IVD) was presented to the public on March 31, 2019. Yasmin Hajer has followed and researched the process over the years. In her contribution, she explains how the coming to terms with the past was appropriated by the various political parties and how they tried to influence it. By Yasmine Jamal Hajar
"Refugee deal" with Cairo: A maximum of 5,000 migrants come from Egypt Published: 1 March 2017 Interview An interview with migration expert Amr Taha. He is heading the office of International Organization of Migration in Egypt. In the interview, he talks about Egypt as a host country of migrants and refugees, as well as a point of departure for migrants heading to Europe.
Morocco: Elections without Democracy Published: 22 November 2016 Morocco’s elections in October 2016 were a test for the democratic transition that was promised by the monarchy in the context of the 2011 upheavals. However, the national poll showed indices of undemocratic practices. By Saloua Zerhouni
Morocco must breathe life into the Paris Agreement Published: 31 October 2016 The UN climate summit in Marrakech from 7 to 18 November, is the crucial next step for operationalizing the Paris Agreement. Many controversial issues such as damages caused by climate change and financing for the poorest countries are on the agenda. By Lili Fuhr, Liane Schalatek and Simon Ilse
The European Union and its Southern Neighbourhood Published: 20 September 2016 The big challenge facing the EU is how it can reconcile its new policy of promoting stabilisation and security in the Middle East with human rights and democratisation. By Judy Dempsey
Authoritarian repression under the pretext of sovereignty Published: 13 September 2016 The repression of civil societies activites in countries like Egypt and Russia are justified with the "protection of the states sovereignity" and the "principle of non-intervention". When unwelcomed critique is silenced, activists need all our solidarity and support. By Wolfgang Kaleck and Simon Rau
Repression and restriction: Egypt's civil society on the defensive Published: 13 September 2016 The civil society in Egypt is facing a disastrous suppression and realignment by the government. By returning to normal foreign policy operations this weakening condition for civil society could be even strengthened. By Jannis Grimm