Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson

Tallinn: The Former Soviet City That Gave Birth To Skype

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 14:31:00 +0000

The Baltic city of Tallinn hardly looks modern with its blend of medieval towers and Soviet-era architecture. Smoke-spewing buses and noisy streetcars look as if they have been plucked from the past.

Even so, the Estonian capital is one of the world's most technologically advanced cities. The birthplace of Skype has repeatedly been cited for its digital accomplishments.

German Terrorism Trial Puts Racism Fears In The Spotlight

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Mon, 06 May 2013 07:42:00 +0000

Emotions ran high as Germany's biggest terrorism trial in decades got underway Monday in Munich. The hearing is on the murders of 10 people who were the victims of a nearly decadelong neo-Nazi terror campaign against the Turkish community there.

A group of Turkish immigrants scuffled with German security forces, trying to get into the courthouse to see the trial up close. They and many others among the 3 million people of Turkish descent who live in Germany are angry, saying the murders and aftermath highlight prevalent racism not just in society but in the government.

Germany Braces For Trial Blamed On Right-Wing Extremists

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 19:11:00 +0000

Germany is preparing for its most important terrorism trial in decades.

Ten people — eight of them of Turkish descent, one of Greek extraction and one a German policewoman, were gunned down between 2000 and 2007. For years, German authorities failed to see a link between the crimes, even though the same gun was used in all of the shootings.

'I Liked It,' Putin Says Of Protest By Topless Women

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 17:09:00 +0000

At a trade fair in Hanover, Germany, on Monday, three women protesters got quite close to Russian President Vladimir Putin before stripping off their blouses and shouting expletives at the Russian leader.

Putin, who was joined at the fair by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, later sarcastically thanked the women for calling the news media's attention to the gathering.

"As to this action, I liked it," Putin said, according to a German translator.

Jewishness On Display: 'Truth' By Way Of Discomfort

Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 07:19:00 +0000

In Berlin's Jewish Museum, a new exhibit called "The Whole Truth" asks visitors uncomfortable and even absurd questions about Jews. One of the curators, Michal Friedlander, says it is intentionally provocative.

"The point is to get people talking about how they perceive Jews, particularly in Germany today," she says.

But some German Jews accuse the museum of going too far.

Visitors to the 30-part exhibit are bombarded with questions but given few answers.