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religion and democracy
Tunisia’s Arab renaissance comes out of London exile
On 23 September the arab spring achieved its most significant achievement yet. It was a rebirth for the modern Arab world without spilt blood nor fiery rhetoric in the dust and the death; instead it used ink and consensus to rebuild a country. Moderate islamist party ennahda, coming out of exile in the UK, won 41% in the country's first democratic elections on 22 October
religion and democracy, london, united kingdom, children, tunis, tunisia, arab spring
Turkey: army and Kurdish 'toxins' flushed
For more than a month now a new broom has been sweeping clean the streets of Istanbul – as well as the country's football and armed forces. But who’s wielding the broom? What ‘rubbish’ are they trying to get rid of? ‘Turkey eats dirt’ is cafebabel.com's response to the summer ‘dust up’ by the Turkish authorities. Read the second of three articles in a series on the shake-up of the nation, about an army which resigns
religion and democracy, religion, discrimination, turkey, society, recep tayyip erdogan, politics
World's tallest jesus and crossing out secularism in Poland
Every country has its own vision of secularism.In late November, a 51-metre Jesus Christ statue was erected in western Poland, 14 metres taller than its colleague in Rio de Janeiro. Though privately funded, the Polish state is still looking for that perfect balance between sacrum and profanum in the public domain - takes its various crossings with the cross
religion and democracy, warsaw, secularity, religion, poland, lech kaczynski, jaroslaw kaczynski
Berlin: Eid al-Adha is our christmas
It's early in the morning. Kreuzberg lays silent in the drizzling rain under the grey sky of Berlin. It is a November day like every other - and special for the more than 4 million muslims in Germany
Press review pope Benedict XVI: condom statements
In an interview, pope Benedict XVI accepted the use of condoms in individual cases to prevent infection with HIV. Critics have welcomed this concession but doubt that it signals a fundamental change of direction for the catholic church
religion and democracy, religion, euweek, vatican, society, pope benedict xvi
Catch Istanbul if you can
We're not even sure what Europeans think and know about Istanbul. It seems like it should be capital of Turkey, but it hasn't been since 1923. Its rich past reveals how it was a kind of European Union even before this one - where formal membership negotiations began five years ago in October - even existed. From religious clothing to boom-box playing imams via politically-affiliated university food, a first time glance at a metropolis from two districts which seem to bleed European references. Istanbul for beginners
- Read the special edition Catch Istanbul if you can
- Getting to grips with Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul and Europe
- Modern myths: politically divided university canteens in Istanbul
- Sorry, we’re women: inside Istanbul’s modern-traditional Blue Mosque
- Gay culture in Istanbul: ‘We have the balls to say it out loud’
- Islam for beginners: first stop Istanbul
Heard about the niqab, mini short wearing ‘Niqabitch’ in France?
In September two twentysomething ‘crazy girls’ walked to the French ministry of immigration and national identity in Paris in somewhat alternative outfits; one has Maghreb origins. They're protesting over the internet against a law which bans the burqa in the public sphere - after all, 'this is a democracy’
religion and democracy, paris, burqa, society, islamophobia, e-democracy, islam
Three muslims in Brussels: (almost) ordinary citizens
Being Belgian and muslim poses no particular problem for Omar, Younes and Mourad. They don't wear the burqa, which is banned in Belgium, yet are often turned away from bars. In the EU capital, tolerance and rejection go hand-in-hand
religion and democracy, religion, belgium, integration, brussels, discrimination, youth
German erasmus student on life in Istanbul
Who speaks English? Why don't men look me in the eye? Why do people still wear headscarves? A score of questions hit the European newcomer studying in the Turkish city
religion and democracy, university, istanbul, mustafa kemal atatürk, turkey, society, students
Turkey-Israel: credibility and question of anti-semitism
Since heavy criticism from the Turkish side after the Israeli attack on a Gaza aid ship on 31 May, relations between the two states have entered a further ice age. There has been rising concern in Europe that Turkey is increasingly turning away from the west. A babelian political theorist explains the problems inherent to the Turkish response
religion and democracy, gaza strip, religion, identity, middle east, jews, second world war
Lech Garlicki on judging Europe’s religious fabric
The Polish jurist, who has been a judge at the European court of human rights since 2002, on religious symbols in schools, the burka, security and the status of women
religion and democracy, italy, religion, istanbul, discrimination, europe, poland
Atheist campaigners: arrest pope
Enunciations and remarks by high ranking catholic clergy only serve to validate two prominent atheist campaigners' proposed legal action for 'crimes against humanity' against the pope. Rather an offbeat way to mark 19 April, which is the fifth anniversary of Benedict XVI's pontificate
religion and democracy, religion, church, atheism, vatican, catholicism, society
It's late 2009, and Europeans are getting into a tizzle about religion
The Swiss have banned new minarets, the European court of human rights has banned Italy from having crucifixes in every classroom. A Swedish school has rejected veils, a Dutch polytechnic shuns Christmas trees and a study claims religion stems from insecurity. The Dutch, Swedish, UK, Hungarian and Bulgarian press react
religion and democracy, religion, christmas, euweek, europe, media, european media
In a country of 400, 000 muslims, the Swiss vote to ban minarets
On 29 November, the people of Switzerland voted to ban the construction of new minarets. The referendum initiated by the Swiss people's party and the conservative federal democratic union has dealt a severe blow to religious peace in the country, write the Estonian, Swiss, Portuguese and Austrian press
religion and democracy, switzerland, secularity, religion, neutrality, vote, integration
Subculture: sexes, hairdos and jeans in Iran
1 April is Islamic Republic Day, a national holiday in Iran. Thirty years after the Islamic revolution, an unpopular government is once again struggling with a dissatisfied young population. However, the Iranian resistance against its own regime has no strategy behind it, only tactics. A portrait of the mood in the land of the red squares
religion and democracy, religion, underground, best of cafebabel.com, youth, islamic revolution, mahmoud ahmadinejad
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