Erstellt am: 18. 4. 2012 - 14:57 Uhr

What happened to you, Asma?

Reality Check: an open letter to Asma al Assad, prospects for the trial of Saif al Islam, counter-jihad movements, Egyptial presidential candidates, youth and brands.

The wife of the Syrian President is coming under pressure to try to influence her husband to put a stop to the violence in the country.

In a very personal appeal, the wives of the British and German ambassadors to the United Nations have released a video on YouTube begging her to take action to restore peace to Syria. So far, Asma al Assad has been supportive of her husband, as confirmed by a series of leaked private e-mails. Middle East analyst, Rime Allaf, looks at the role Asma al Assad has played up to now, and the more general role of the wives of senior politicians in the region.

The trial of Gaddafi's son

The Syrian authorities and the International Criminal Court have been locked in a battle over who will try Muammar Gaddafi's son, Saif al Islam. Now, a compromise deal seems to be in the offing, with proposals for a trial in Libya, but under ICC supervision. International justice and conflict resolution expert, Mark Kersten, from the London School of Economics, explains how such a trial might work.

Counter-Jihad movements

Anders Breivik claims he was inspired to undertake his notorious killing spree by so called "counter-jihad" movements - extreme right wing groups who pledge to fight against "Islamisation" in Europe. A report commissioned by the British anti-counter-jihad campaign group, "Hope not Hate", says the influence of right wing extremists is increasing. Dan Hodge of Hope not Hate describes how the profile of right wing extremism is changing, and why action needs to be taken against it.

Egyptian presidential candidates banned

Egypt's election commission has upheld the barring of 3 key candidates from the upcoming presidential election. They are Khairat al-Shater from the Muslim Brotherhood, Hosni Mubarak's former spy chief Omar Suleiman, and the ultraconservative Islamist Hazem Abu Ismail. Many moderates are relieved that the extremist candidates have been removed from the list, but it poses a major problem for the Muslim Brotherhood, as Karim El-Gawhary explains.

Youth and brand names

Apple Inc.

Faced with unemployment, hopelessness and a feeling of having no control over their own destiny, young people are increasingly turning to fashion and brand names to create a sense of identity and purpose.

Bernhard Heinzlmaier of the Institut für Jugendkulturforschung, describes how brand names are becoming the pillars of society of the future.

FM4 Reality Check

Monday to Friday from 12.00 to 14.00, and after the show via Podcast or fm4.orf.at/realitycheck.