The New Arab Voice

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was returned to the Arab League this month. Twelve years after Syria was suspended, in response to their brutal crackdown against civilians protesters, the group of nations, led by Saudi Arabia welcomed back the Assad regime. The move signalled a major shift in diplomacy in the region, and simultaneously a continuation of other diplomatic moves in the region, and in particular by Saudi Arabia. Along with Syria, Saudi Arabia sets to be a big winner from the deal. It will further cement their new relationship with Iran, and Iran's allies, including Russia and China. Furthermore it will help to cover the backs of Saudi Arabia as the US moves back from the region. Those set to lose out most from the deal is Syrian refugees in the region. Spread out across a number of neighbouring Arab states, these communities now face increased levels of hostilities, and a greater potential for forced deportations back to Syria, where they face terrible conditions. This week on The New Arab Voice, why has Syria been readmitted to the Arab League? Who stands to gain from the normalisation? And what does this mean for the Syrian people, both inside and outside the country? Joining us to discuss Syria's return to the Arab League, we speak with Malik al-Abdeh, conflict resolution expert focused on Syria and managing director of Conflict Mediation Solutions. Also Reva Dhingra (@Reva__D), a postdoctoral fellow at the Brookings Institution in the Foreign Policy Division (@BrookingsFP) and works with the Center for Middle East policy, with a particular focus on issues related to Syrian refugees. This podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge. Theme music by Omar al-Fil. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email hugo.goodridge@newarab.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A year and a day have passed since the killing of veteran Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in the occupied West Bank. Forensic Investigations, as well as investigations from multiple media organisations and the Palestinian Authority, have concluded that the Palestinian-American was shot by an Israeli sniper while covering a raid in Jenin. Video evidence, eyewitness testimony, spatial analysis, autopsy reports and other sources, have been used to confirm this conclusion. But in spite of the wealth of evidence, no one has been held accountable for her death. This week, The New Arab Voice looks at the detailed forensic investigations into Shireen’s death and how they were able to piece together the story of what happened on that tragic day. The episode also examines responses from the Israeli and American authorities, and explores what efforts have been made to hold the killers - both the individual who pulled the trigger and those up the chain of command - to account. We speak with Jumanah Bawazi, a researcher at Forensic Architecture (@ForensicArchi) - a multidisciplinary research group that partnered with Palestinian human rights organisation Al Haq to produce a 3D reconstruction of the crime scene. Rodney Dixon KC from Temple Garden Chambers (@TG_Chambers) - Al Jazeera’s legal counsel - discusses the formal request submitted to the International Criminal Court to conduct a thorough and independent investigation. UK Labour MP Kim Leadbeater (@kimleadbeater) explains why a thorough and independent investigation into the journalist’s death is “long overdue” and recounts her experience when meeting Shireen’s brother Anton. Lastly, Lamis Andoni (@LamisAndo) friend of Shireen and a Palestinian journalist speaks about what the Palestinian-American was like as a person and what motivated her to cover events in the occupied territories, as well as what justice may look like in the long-term. This podcast is written and produced by Rosie McCabe with help from Hugo Goodridge. Theme music by Omar al-Fil. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email hugo.goodridge@newarab.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Turkish citizen will be voting in a highly anticipated and consequential election on 14 May. The two frontrunners for the office of president, are incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the main opposition candidate Kemel Kilicdaroglu. They have both been holding rallies, attempting to reach as many voters as possible. Opposition candidate Kemel Kilicdaroglu did cause a stir at a campaign event, when he questioned the private nature of Turkey's drone manufacturers, and asked whether there should be more state control. With a backlash brewing, he quickly changed direction, pledging full support to the industry. The incident did raise some questions. What's so special about Turkey's drones? How do the private manufacturers and the state work together? How does the state us the drones? And what impact will the upcoming election have on the domestic drone industry? Joining us to discuss Turkey's drones is Soner Cagaptay (@SonerCagaptay), a senior fellow and the director of the Turkish Research Program at The Washington Institute (@WashInstitute). This podcast is written by Ali Abbas Ahmadi and produced by Hugo Goodridge. Theme music by Omar al-Fil. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email hugo.goodridge@newarab.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The past few weeks in Sudan have been exceptionally violent. Two feuding generals, in charge of the biggest armed groups in the country, have launched their own personal war in Sudan. Nearly 500 people have died, and thousands have been forced to flee. The culprits are Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of Sudan’s armed forces, and Mohamad Hamdan Dagalo - popularly known as Hemedti - who heads the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Both Burhan and Hemedti rose under the rule of autocratic President Omar al-Bashir, when they were commanders during counter insurgency operations in Darfur in the early 2000s - what many now deem a genocide. Since then, the two leaders worked together, even ruling the country together since 2019. But theirs has only ever been a marriage of convenience. Internal rivalries and political disagreements eventually exploded earlier this month, and the RSF and the army have unleashed a war on Sudan - catching the country's helpless population in the crossfire. This week on The New Arab Voice, we examine the generals behind the violence in Sudan. Who are they? Why are they fighting? And will they ever make peace? For this episode, we sat down with Jihad Mashamoun (@ComradeJihad), an expert and analyst on Sudan; and David Shinn (@AmbShinn), the former US ambassador to Ethiopia and Burkina Faso. Sign up for the newsletter here. This podcast is written by Ali Abbas Ahmadi and produced by Hugo Goodridge. Theme music by Omar al-Fil. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email hugo.goodridge@newarab.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During his most recent campaign to become Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu promised that he would overhaul the judiciary. When the elections came around, the fourth in five years, his Likud Party, with the help of some far-right allies, were able to command a majority in the Israeli Knesset. Netanyahu quickly started his plans to reform the judiciary, and almost as quickly Israelis took to the street to protest against the planned changes. Week after week, and month after month, the protests intensified and the pressure grew on Netanyahu and his government. Eventually, the pressure became too great, and Netanyahu announced that he would suspend the bill and attempt to seek a consensus. This week on The New Arab Voice, we examine the protest movement that rocked Israel. What prompted the protests? Who was on the streets protesting? What were the demands of the protesters? Why did Netanyahu change course and suspend the reforms? And what is the state of the bill today? For this episode, we sat down with Amjad Iraqi (@aj_iraqi). Amjad Iraqi is a senior editor at the Israeli publication +972 Magazine (@972mag); and also serves as a policy analyst at the think tank Al-Shabaka (@AlShabaka), and was previously an advocacy coordinator at the legal center Adalah. This podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge. Theme music by Omar al-Fil. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email hugo.goodridge@newarab.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With the start of Spring we also saw the start of new diplomatic relationships being born. After years of intense rivalry, and to the surprise of many, Iran and Saudi Arabia announced that they had normalised relations. The two countries hadn't been on speaking turns since the Saudis executed a Shia cleric in 2016, and Iranian protesters had responded by burning down the embassy. With the restorations of relations, a new future awaits the two countries, which is likely to have a big impact on the region. Additionally, the deal was highly notably due to the involvement of China, who brokered the deal, and had the deal signed in their capital. This week on The New Arab Voice, we ask why have they chosen to normalise now? What is each side getting from the deal? And what’s the significance of China brokering the deal? Joining us to discuss Iran and Saudi Arabia, is Vali Nasr, (@vali_nasr) Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies; and Dr. Kristian Coates Ulrichsen (@Dr_Ulrichsen), Fellow for the Middle East at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy. Find our newsletter here. This podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge. Theme music by Omar al-Fil. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email hugo.goodridge@newarab.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three years into President Kais Saied’s rule and Tunisia is on the brink of an economic meltdown and widespread social collapse. Hundreds of thousands of Tunisians are barely surviving as standards of living plummet. Amid this climate of hopelessness, Saied has taken aim at opposition figures and other scapegoats, such as black African migrants. Arrests and attacks are becoming commonplace in the north African country, which slips ever further towards autocracy. This week, The New Arab Voice looks at what has happened in President Kais Saied’s Tunisia and who he has chosen to blame for the country’s ill fate. We speak with Seifeddine Ferjani (@Ferjani9arwi), the son of Said Ferjani, a Tunisian opposition figure currently detained in Tunisia. We include audio from a press conference with Kaouther Ferjani (@TheKaouther), Said’s daughter, and Temple Garden Chambers (@TG_Chambers) who filed an appeal to the UK foreign secretary to sanction top-ranking Tunisian officials, including the president. We also discuss creeping populism and social grievances in Tunisia with Fadil Aliriza (@FadilAliriza) founder and editor-and-chief of Meshkal; as well asTharwa Boulifi (@TharwaBoulifi) a young journalist in Tunisia. This podcast is written and produced by Rosie McCabe. Theme music by Omar al-Fil. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email hugo.goodridge@alaraby.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The settler attacks in the Palestinian town of Huwara were as shocking as they were brutal. Homes and businesses were set a blaze in a series of attacks that were described as a pogrom, and were the latest in a long list of Israeli violations of human rights and international law. The attacks in Huwara drew intense condemnation for government around the world, including in the US. The US is a long standing and traditional partner of the Israel and has consistently defended, ignored, or excused away their actions. But as the world becomes ever more away of the apartheid in Israel, this relationship is facing closer scrutiny from the voting public. This week on The New Arab Voice we explore how have relations between the two countries changed? Does Israel still enjoy unwavering support among Jewish Americans? And will the US stick with an increasingly far-right and openly racist government? We're joined by Lara Friedman (@LaraFriedmanDC), the President of the Foundation for Middle East Peace (@FMEP), Iman Abid (@imanabid_), the Director of Advocacy and organizing at the US Campaign for Palestinian Rights (@USCPR_), and Robert Lipton (@wiremother), a Jewish American research scientist and poet from California and campaigner for Jewish Voice for Peace (@jvplive). This podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge. Theme music by Omar al-Fil. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email hugo.goodridge@newarab.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on The New Arab Voice we're joined by journalist Ali Abbas Ahmadi to examine the deadly floods that hit Pakistan six months ago. The rains started to fall in June and would not stop until August, during which time, the might Indus River would flood, spreading devastation ; particularly in the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan. The floods killed 1,700 people and left tens of millions of Pakistanis homeless. The flood waters would also wash aways the livelihoods of millions; laying waste to farms, killing livestock, and destroying stores of grain and seeds. This week, we speak with one of the farmers who lost their land and livelihood, and ask what are the major challenges facing those affected? How has Pakistan dealt with food shortages, and how has the political instability added to the failure to provide support. We speak with Dr Zaffar Mahmood (@DrZaffarMehmoo1), an independent expert on food safety and food security, who has worked as a consultant with the Pakistani government and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation. And Marvin Pervez, the regional director of an NGO called Community World Service Asia (@communitywsasia). Him and his team work with people on the ground in Pakistan. Sign up for our newsletter here. This podcast is written by Ali Abbas Ahmadi and produced by Hugo Goodridge. Theme music by Omar al-Fil. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email hugo.goodridge@newarab.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week on The New Arab Voice we looked at the aftermath of the recent immense earthquake in Syria. This week, we're over the border in Turkey, which experience some of the worst devastation and the highest number of casualties. Immediately following the earthquake, the state's response was slow. The agency responsible for disasters, AFAD, missed the crucial window when the most number of people can be saved. It quickly became apparent to observers that there was a serious problem, and that these problems were being exposed at the worst possible time. As people questioned the response of AFAD, people also surveyed the devastation and asked why so many buildings had pancaked; trapping people inside. Soon, stories of buildings that don't meet regulatory codes and payoffs started to emerge. These questions have put a huge amount of pressure on the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who was rumoured to be considering a delay for the scheduled parliamentary and presidential elections. This week on The New Arab Voice, we ask whether the state’s response to the earthquake was adequate? Why did so many buildings, that were built in a known high-risk earthquake area, collapse with such ease? And can the country move forward under President Erdogan’s leadership, or is it time for a change. Joining us to talk Turkey is Ömer Özkizilcik (@OmerOzkizilcik), an independent foreign policy and security analyst based in Ankara; and Mustafa Gurbuz (@Mustafa__Gurbuz) a nonresident Fellow at Arab Center Washington (@ArabCenterWDC) and a senior adjunct faculty in the Arab World Studies program in the Department of Critical Race, Gender, and Culture at American University in Washington, DC. Sign up to our newsletter here. This podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge. Theme music by Omar al-Fil. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email hugo.goodridge@newarab.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a short break The New Arab Voice is back and we're picking up where we left off. The 6 February earthquake that rocked Turkey and Syria remains the most pressing humanitarian issue in the region. The death toll rises everyday, and simultaneously the need for aid also increases. This week on The New Arab Voice, we're focusing in on the northwestern region of Syria, which bore the brunt of the damage and deaths in Syria. Before the earthquake hit the region, a catastrophic humanitarian crisis had a firm grip on the north west. Over a decade of war and displacement, the spread of disease, and an ever worsening economic situation had push the more than 4 million people who live the northwestern Syria to the brink. The earthquake pushed them over the edge. For this episode, we're examining the response to the earthquake in Syria, and asking whether enough was done to save as many lives as possible. We look at what the Assad regime did to help the region, and ask how they are exploiting the crisis for their own gains. And we take a critical look at the aid delivery mechanism in northwestern Syria and how they might be improved. Joining us to discuss the north west is Hazem Rihawi (@HRihawi82), the senior programs manager at the American Relief Coalition for Syria (@ARC4Syria), a secular, non-political coalition of Syrian diaspora led humanitarian organisations that provide multi-sector relief inside of Syria. And Natasha Hall (@NatashaHallDC), a senior fellow with the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (@CSISMidEast). Sign up to our weekly newsletter here. This podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge. Theme music by Omar al-Fil. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email hugo.goodridge@alaraby.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on The New Arab Voice, we're looking back on a week that has changed Turkey and Syria forever. On Monday morning, as people slept in their beds, a massive earthquake erupted in southern Turkey. It was felt as far off as Iraq, but at the epicentre and the surrounding area, the devastation was almost immediate. The New Arab's Levant Correspondent Will Christou (@will_christou) rushed to the scene, where he witnessed widespread destruction, brief moments of joy as survivors where pulled from the rubble, and ultimately tragedy and grief. On this week's episode, we speak with Will about what he's seen, where he's been, and what his experience has been. Also, we speak with Kristyan Benedict (@KreaseChan), Crisis Response Manager for Amnesty International UK, about the unfolding crisis in Syria, and the desperate situation of the people who were already experiencing a humanitarian crisis before the earthquake. If you want to help relief efforts in Turkey and Syria, you can find information about donating below. International Red Cross Molham Team UNICEF You can subscribe to our newsletter here. This podcast is produced by Hugo Goodridge. Theme music by Omar al-Fil. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email hugo.goodridge@alaraby.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on The New Arab Voice, we're casting a look over the Egyptian economy and its recent fiscal troubles. Earlier in January, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) signed off on a $3 billion loan for Egypt; the fourth loan the country had received since 2016. The loan was granted following continued anaemic growth and a dramatic fall for the Egyptian pound, which lost over half its value. The economic problems have severely impacted the people of Egypt, with a third of the country's population now living in poverty, and another third on the brink of poverty. At the heart of the reforms demanded by the IMF, is an end to the control of the Egyptian military over large swathes of the national economy. This week, we're asking: Why is the economy in such a bad way? What the terms of the IMF deal? Can Egypt implement the reforms to bring about a stronger growth outlook? How much control does the military have over the economy? And how will they respond to the strict conditions that could undermine its position? Joining us, we have Umberto Profazio (@profazio), a Maghreb Analyst at the NATO Defence College Foundation (@NATOFoundation), and Associate Fellow for the Conflict, Security and Development Program at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (@IISS_org). Also joining us, we speak with Marina Ottoway, a Middle East Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center (@WilsonCenterMEP) and a long-time analyst of political transformations in Africa, the Balkans, and the Middle East. Previously, Marina worked at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, during which she played a central role in launching the Middle East Program. Sign up to our newsletter here. This podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge. Theme music by Omar al-Fil. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email hugo.goodridge@alaraby.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on The New Arab Voice, we’re looking at the Afghan economy under the Taliban. We examine the economic trade between the hardline group and the Chinese, who this month signed a major oil extraction deal to start tapping into Afghanistan’s vast natural reserves. The Taliban have welcomed this foreign investment, claiming new injections of cash will help revitalise the faltering, crisis-riddled economy. Beijing, it would seem, is strengthening its control over the regional trade of rare earth minerals and emboldening its leverage over the Taliban, furthering its own security ambitions. However, given the history of unsuccessful mining projects, chronic instability and billions in frozen Afghan funds, will the acclaimed rewards of this deal ever be reaped? The New Arab Voice sat down with Jeffrey Grieco, president and CEO of the Afghan American Chamber of Commerce (@AAchamberofcomm) to discuss the current state of the Afghan economy and China’s growing role. We also speak with researcher Jiayi Zhou (@jzyhou) from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (@SIPRorg) about China’s historic relations with Afghanistan and the rationale behind its continued involvement. And Shah Mehrabi, an economics professor (@montgomerycoll) and co-chair of the Afghan Trust Fund about the role of the West in Afghanistan and the critical issue of releasing the country’s frozen foreign reserves. This podcast is written and produced by Rosie McCabe. Theme music by Omar al-Fil. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email hugo.goodridge@alaraby.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on The New Arab Voice, we're looking at the trial of the volunteers who helped migrants on the Greek island of Lesvos. Last week, a group of volunteers appeared in court, facing numerous charges related to voluntary work they undertook to help migrants that were arriving on the island by boat. Despite the long history of cooperation between the organisations and the Greek authorities, they were arrested, charged, and many were detained for long periods of time. One of those arrested and charged was Seán Binder (@sean_binder_). Seán sat down with The New Arab Voice this week to talk about his work on Lesvos, his arrest and detention, the build-up and his eventual trial, and how the targeting of volunteers, like him, will affect vital search and rescue work at sea. Also joining us this week is Serhat Çubukçuoğlu (@suhac), a senior fellow in the Department of Strategic Studies at Trends Research and Advisory. We speak with Serhat about the historical relationship between Greece and Turkey, the points of contention, how migrant issues affect their relationship, and what the future may hold. This podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge. Theme music by Omar al-Fil. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email hugo.goodridge@alaraby.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The New Arab Voice is back for a brand new season! For our first episode, we examining the troubling news that unfolded at the start of the new year. When Israel's new National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, went to the Al-Aqsa compound on 3 January, it was seen as a provocation by a far-right religious nationalist, intended to anger the Palestinians, muslims, and incite resentment and tensions. The Al-Aqsa compound has a lengthy history, that some believe dates back to the time of the early Old Testament. It has seen wars, conquests and earthquakes. It is a site that holds a significance of the three main Abrahamic faiths. With his incursion at Al-Aqsa, many accused Ben-Gvir of seeking to disrupt the status quo of the ancient and holy site. But what is the status quo? Why does it exist? When did it come into play? Is it time for a new status quo? What are the risks associated with tampering with the status quo? Joining us to talk about Al-Aqsa and the politics of the status quo, we have Nur Arafeh, a fellow at the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center (@CarnegieMEC), where her work focuses on the political economy of the MENA region, business-state relations, peacebuilding strategies, the development-security nexus and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Also, Dr. Nimrod Goren (@GorenNimrod), the Senior Fellow for Israeli Affairs at the Middle East Institute (@MiddleEastInst) and the founder and head of Mitvim (@Mitvim) - The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies. Sign up to our newsletter here. This podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge. Theme music by Omar al-Fil. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email hugo.goodridge@alaraby.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're coming to the end of 2022 and so is this season of The New Arab Voice. On this episode, we're looking back at some of the biggest events that hit the region over the past 12 months. Do you remember the currency crisis in Turkey? The Taliban's talks in Oslo? The murder of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh? Efforts to revive the JCPOA? Egypt's imprisonment of political activist Alaa Abdel Fatah? The political crisis in Iraq? The war crimes trial of a Syrian colonel in Germany? If you've forgotten, we'll be reminding you of all the key details this week. To look at 2022 in the MENA region, we're joined by a host of journalists, editors, and correspondents from The New Arab. The New Arab Voice will be back with a brand new season and brand new stories on 13 January 2023. This podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge, with additional help from Rosie McCabe. Theme music by Omar al-Fil. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email hugo.goodridge@newarab.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on The New Arab Voice we're examining MENA representation in TV, film and gaming. Communities from the region have historically been demonised on screen, condemned to either silence or sterotypes. However, the past year has brought major release that have diversified who we see on screen and the stories that are shared on global platform. We explore a number of these releases include Netflix comedy series Mo and the film Farha about Palestine during the 1948 Nakba. We also delve into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, looking at what they've done well in terms of representation and what they can do better. Also in this episode, we plug in and have a look at the mistakes that video games have made, when it comes to the representation of Arabs and Muslims, and also the cultural errors that video game publishers have made. On this episode, we speak with Saeed Taji Farouky (@saeedtaji), a Palestinian-British filmmaker and film educator, Tariq Raouf (@tariq_raouf), a Palestinian-American freelance writer based in Seattle, Swara Salih (@spiderswarz), a Kurdish-American writer, podcaster, and the co-hosts the Middle Geeks podcast (@TheMiddleGeeks), and finally, Nazih Fares (@nazihfares), the head of communication and localization at Four Winds Entertainment (@The4winds_Ent). Sign up to the weekly newsletter here. This podcast is written and produced by Rosie McCabe and Hugo Goodridge. Theme music by Omar al-Fil. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email hugo.goodridge@alaraby.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on The New Arab Voice we’re looking at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Middle Eastern and North African teams have made history during the tournament, causing major sporting upsets like Saudi Arabia’s win over Argentina and Morocco's victory against Belgium. While Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia didn’t progress to the knock-out stages, Morocco remains in the running for the coveted trophy - just three games away from footballing glory. During the tournament, we’ve witnessed a tidal wave of support from fans across the region, not just for their national teams but for fellow Arab and African nations. This pan-Arab solidarity has been expressed through mass celebrations inside and outside the stadiums, as well as the waving of the Palestinian flag. On the episode, The New Arab Voice speaks to Moroccan football fans Amine Hafed (@amine.elhafid) and Mehdi Merin (@yomehdi4reel) about their experiences after the Atlas Lions clinched a spot in the final eight. We asked them what lies behind this success and whether having a World Cup in the Middle East has made a difference for Arab teams on the pitch. Joining them are Algerian football journalist Maher Mezahi (@mezahimaher) and The New Arab’s Shahla Omar (@shahlasomar), who assess the football we’ve seen so far, displays of pan-Arab solidarity and give their predictions on what we’ll see happen next. Finally, we spoke to Emile Badarin, a Palestinian research fellow based at the College of Europe, Natolin Campus in Warsaw about the visibility of the Palestinian cause during the tournament and the football fans who refused to speak to Israeli journalists. You can sign up for our newsletter here. This podcast is written and produced by Rosie McCabe, with help from Hugo Goodridge and Basma Elatti. Theme music by Omar al-Fil. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email hugo.goodridge@alaraby.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on The New Arab Voice were examining the ongoing protests in Iran and how they have developed, 77 days on from when they began. Since Iranians took to the streets, following the tragic murder of Mahsa Amini at the hands of Iran's morality police, protesters have demanded change and an end to the Islamic Republic. Their peaceful protesters have been met with bloody repression. The Iranian regime's security services have repeatedly beaten and opened fire on unarmed Iranians. Over 400 hundred have been reported as killed, but it believed that the true number is higher. During the recent protests, Iran's Kurdish community have borne the worst of the regime's revenge, including a massacre in city of Zahedan, which killed over 90 people. As Iranian have been killed on the streets, the international community has condemned the violence, but so far has failed to formulate a cohesive and comprehension plan to help Iran secure a fair and representative democracy. On this episode of The New Arab Voice, we exploring how the protest movement has changed over the past 77 days, why the country's Kurdish communities are being targeted so heavily, what the international community is doing about the violence, and whether they could be doing more to help. Joining us this week is Dr. Allan Hassaniyan (@AllanHassaniyan), a lecturer in Middle East politics at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter (@UniofExeter), and Dokhi Fassihian (@DokhiFassihian) an expert on issues of human rights and democracy and a member of the Middle East Institute’s Iran Program Advisory Council (@MiddleEastInst). You can sign up to our newsletter here. This podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge. Theme music by Omar al-Fil. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email hugo.goodridge@alaraby.co.uk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.