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Islam Is Not the Solution

It would be a mistake to rely on Muslim organisations alone on integration issues. Religious initiatives do, of course, have an influence. But the secular organisations are more important, says Götz Nordbruch

Arab Fashion Scene Is Lively and Creative

The Institute for Foreign Affairs introduces fashion as well as fashion designers from the Arab world. The fascinating garments dispel a great many widespread myths and provide evidence of a lively fashion scene. By Florian Wagner

Allah Is Great, Allah Is Different

The narrow view of current terrorism overlooks the fact that in the Arab world Islam manifests itself mainly as a cultural trend among Arab youth. For them, it stands for the search for meaning and the rejection of "the West" and the Arab states' official culture. By Alfred Hackensberger

"Two Sorts of Red Lines"

There is no democracy in Iran. President Ahmadinejad silenced the "green opposition movement" after his disputed election. However, artists such as the cartoonist Mana Neyestani criticise violence and injustice.

Life Is Not Worth Living without the Love of Music

In her new cartoon novel, "Chicken with Plums," the Iranian artist Marjane Satrapi tells the story of her uncle. It's a melancholy parable of love and suffering, portrayed in remarkable pictures. By Petra Tabeling

Art as a Political Weapon

The Iranian artist Parastou Forouhar's parents were murdered eleven years ago. She has been fighting ever since, for a conviction of their killers and against the system in Iran – including through her art. Werner Bloch on a courageous artist

Who Knows the Truth?

For years, Iranian films have been regarded as a hot tip at the Berlin International Film Festival. This time as well, an Iranian production has managed to convince the Berlinale jury. Asghar Farhadi's gripping social drama "About Elly" was awarded the Silver Bear for best director. By Ariana Mirza

Successful Candidate – Shaky Candidate

Although Hamid Karsai has been declared the winner of the election, the Afghan president is now himself seen by the West as a cause of great insecurity and western governments involved in Afghanistan will be making an even greater effort to find an alternative to him. Report by Andreas Zumach

In the Grip of the Jihadists

Hopes were high for Afghanistan's democratic renewal; but no one wanted to challenge the power of the warrior princes in the north of the country. Today Hamid Karzai's government is mired in a profound crisis of confidence. By Thomas Ruttig

In Decline

Next to Judaism, Zoroastrianism is one of the world's oldest monotheistic religions and it was the state religion in the Persian Empire long before the Muslim conquest. Today, however, the faith ekes out a shadowy existence. Arian Fariborz reports