The New Arab Voice

All eyes in America and the world are on the US presidential election this year. Incumbent President Donald Trump and the Democratic candidate former Vice-President Joe Biden represent two different visions for America but also its foreign policy. Amidst a climate of widespread disinformation, increasing polarization, a global pandemic and rising conflict and unrest, there is much at stake.The outcome of the election will not only have an impact on domestic issues but could potentially result in even more grave consequences for US foreign policy in the Near and Middle East.Join us as we discuss the many ways in which this election could impact the lives of Arab and Muslim communities within the US. Given many in the Arab and Muslim communities in America remain interested in, connected to, and concerned about their countries of origin, we’ll also examine how the results of the election could shape the direction of U.S. foreign policy towards the countries from which many in these communities originate.Our speakers will delve into the issues facing these diaspora communities as they head to the polls, from critical legal issues concerning immigration and freedom of speech, to the domestic and foreign dimensions of Islamophobia. On the foreign policy front, our speakers will weigh in on the potential changes to US relations with the Near and Middle East if a new administration takes office, and what future policies we can expect surrounding Israel and the Palestinian cause.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Speakers:Dalia Fahmy is Associate Professor of Political Science at Long Island University, a Senior Non-Resident Fellow at the Center for Global Policy in Washington DC, and a visiting scholar that the Center for the Study of Genocide and Human Rights at Rutgers University, and author of “The Rise of the Alt-Right: Understanding the Sociocultural Effects of Mainstreaming Anti-Muslim Sentiment."Khaled A. Beydoun, a native of Detroit, is a leading scholar on national security, the War on Terror, and civil rights. He is Associate Professor of Law and Associate Director of Civil Rights and Social Justice at the Damon J. Keith Center for Civil Rights, Wayne State University. Beydoun is the author of the critically acclaimed American Islamophobia: Understanding the Roots and Rise of Fear (University of California Press). He serves on the Michigan Advisory Committee of the US Commission for Civil Rights.Joe Macaron is a fellow at the Arab Center Washington DC primarily focusing his research on US strategy and politics, international relations, and conflict analysis in the Middle East. Macaron’s previous analyst roles include the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point and the Colin Powell Center for Policy Studies. A former journalist, he also advised the International Monetary Fund on public engagement in the Middle East and served in different capacities in the United Nations system.Omar Baddar is a Palestinian-American political analyst based in Washington, DC. Previously, he served as the deputy director of the Arab American Institute (AAI), Executive Director of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee of Massachusetts, and was a digital producer and presenter with Al Jazeera’s The Stream. He holds a master’s degree in political science, with research focusing on U.S. policy toward Palestine and Israel.Moderator:Mobashra Tazamal is a Muslim-American researcher and writer on global Islamophobia. Her work has been published in The Independent, Al-Jazeera, Middle East Eye, Religious Response, & The New Arab. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The New Arab Voice, we will cover the issue of accountability for Saudi Arabia two years on from the murder of Saudi Journalist Jamal Khashoggi, as well as the rallying of the gay community against an influencer armed with an Instagram account. October 2 marked two years since the gruesome murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. A royal insider turned dissident, Khashoggi was lured into the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to handle marriage paperwork before he was killed within minutes and his body was dismembered. The CIA and Agnes Callamard, the United Nations special rapporteur on extrajudicial, found “credible evidence” tying the crown prince and other senior Saudi officials to the killing. Since the outrage over the journalist's killing, Saudi Arabia's human rights record has only worsened. The kingdom has imprisoned and tortured multiple women's rights activists, journalists and dissidents. Exiled Saudi opposition figures have also been targeted. However, Riyadh is still welcomed on the world stage and set to host the upcoming G20 summit in November.To commemorate the two-year anniversary of his death, Khashoggi's friends, colleagues and supporters officially launched Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN). The US-based activist group, which is dedicated to promoting human rights and democracy in the Arab world, was a project Khashoggi initiated before his untimely death.Tune in to hear from Ines Osman, Director at MENA Rights Group, and Research Director for Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates at DAWN, Abdullah Alaoudh.Then we move onto Tunisia, where the gay community is under threat once more. Beauty influencer, Lady Samara, changed the tone of her Instagram live-streams when she started denouncing homosexuality. This sparked international outrage, which concluded in a wave of backlash from activists and rights groups fighting against hate speech online.Tune in to hear from Rasha Younes, LGBT Rights Researcher at Human Rights Watch, and Rania, one of the members of Mawjoudine - one of Tunisia's only LGBT organisations.Follow The New Arab on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more.(Produced by Gaia Caramazza and Danya Hajjaji. Music by Omar al-Fil @elepheel. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email gaia.caramazza@alaraby.co.uk) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we examine the implications of the Bahrain-UAE-Israel normalisation deal and the aftermath of the fire that devastated the Moria refugee camp.Tune in as we analyze how Bahrain joined the United Arab Emirates in normalising relations with Israel last week. President Donald Trump warned of similar US-brokered deals with "five or six" other unknown Arab nations.With hundreds of Palestinians demonstrating against what they perceived to be Arab leaders selling out their quest for self-determination for narrow geopolitical interests, Emiratis and Bahrainis have also expressed their dissatisfaction with their governments’ decision, risking arrest in two countries with human rights records deplored by rights groups.Then, hear how thousands of asylum seekers on the Greek island of Lesbos fled for their lives as a huge fire ripped through the camp of Moria, the country's largest and most notorious migrant facility. Hear from experts on the ground, and refugees who are struggling with yet another threat to their livelihood.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more.(Produced by Gaia Caramazza and Danya Hajjaji. Music by Omar al-Fil @elepheel. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email multimedia.english@alaraby.co.uk) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Disney's "Mulan" remake is facing fresh boycott calls after it emerged some of the blockbuster's scenes were filmed in China's Xinjiang, where widespread rights abuses against the region's Uighur Muslim population have been widely documented.The latest furore exploded as soon as the end credits rolled after the movie began showing on the Disney+ streaming platform last week.Viewers spotted that Disney included "special thanks" to eight government entities in Xinjiang -- including the public security bureau in Turpan, a city in eastern Xinjiang where multiple internment camps have been documented.In this episode of our podcast, we examine how the live-action remake not only sidestepped human rights abuses in Xinjiang and cast a lead who later expressed support for Hong Kong's police, but also remolds the legend of Hua Mulan to suit the propaganda and historical narratives of the Chinese Communist Party. Featuring comments from Uighur activist Rahima Mahmut and Hong Kong-born writer Janet Ng.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more.(Produced by Gaia Caramazza and Danya Hajjaji. Music by Omar al-Fil @elepheel. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email multimedia.english@alaraby.co.uk) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to the recorded live discussion on the aftermath of the Beirut Explosion. For a video version, click here (Will redirect to YouTube). During the panel discussion, speakers mapped out the humanitarian and urban landscape post-blast and explored questions such as: Can community-led accountability and recovery help build back better? How does the local community create a community led relief effort as a continuation of their revolution and protest movement? How do we ensure that reconstruction efforts are inclusive, and don’t lead to further fragmentation? --------------------------------------------------------------------Speakers:Mona Fawaz is Professor of Urban Studies and Planning and Coordinator of the Masters in Urban Planning, Policy and Design at the American University of Beirut (AUB). She recently co-founded the Beirut Urban Lab at AUB, a regional research center invested in working towards more inclusive, just, and viable cities. Carmen Geha is an Activist and Associate Professor of Public Administration, Leadership, and Organizational Development at AUB and founder of Khaddit Beirut. She is also a Research Associate at the Center for Inclusive Business & Leadership (CIBL) for women, a regional reference for readying gender-inclusive employers across the Arab MENA region. Moderator:Luna Safwan is a Lebanese freelance journalist and communication specialist. She has previously worked as a reporter and editor for several Pan Arab and International news outlets. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more.(To get in touch, e-mail events.english@alaraby.co.uk)The statements, analysis, opinions and conclusions in this Webinar, and any related written materials are those of the guest speakers and do not necessarily represent those of The New Arab. The information and materials contained in the Webinar may contain inaccuracies or errors and we expressly exclude liability for any such inaccuracies or errors to the fullest extent permitted by law) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this episode, we’ll be examining the recent escalation of attacks by Iran-backed militias against anti-corruption activists in Iraq following the widespread anti-government protests that rocked the country last year.Anger and grief has resurfaced in Iraq in the past weeks, as the southern city of Basra experienced a pattern of killings of anti-corruption activists. On Aug. 20, prominent activist Reham Yacoub was gunned down inside a car by unidentified men carrying assault rifles on the back of a motorcycle. She was 29 years old. Yacoub, a doctor by profession, ran a women’s health and fitness centre in Basra. In 2018, she participated in anti-government protests, during which she led women’s marches. Yacoub has been receiving death threats since then. Reports suggest her name was on a hit list compiled by powerful Iran-affiliated militias that have led the crackdown on Iraqi civil society and political activism.Visit our website and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for our compelling journalism from the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond.(Produced by Danya Hajjaji with Gaia Caramazza. Music by Omar al-Fil @elepheel. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email multimedia.english@alaraby.co.uk) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we’ll be examining the controversial peace deal between the United Arab Emirates and Israel, as well as the verdict on the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri.Tune in every Friday midday for our latest episodesVisit our website and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for our compelling journalism from the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond.This episode was hosted and produced by Danya Hajjaji. Music by Omar al-Fil @elepheel. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email multimedia.english@alaraby.co.uk) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we tackle the aftermath of the massive explosion that shook Lebanon’s capital Beirut on August 4.The cataclysmic blast at Beirut’s port claimed the lives of at least 171 people and injured around 6,500 others. About half the city was left damaged or destroyed, with hundreds of thousands made homeless. As the explosion sank Beirut even further into the depths of Lebanon’s economic crisis, few will be able to afford to repair or rebuild their homes.The tragedy has revived anger at a political elite whose alleged negligence has been blamed for the blast, as reports suggest the authorities knew for years of the presence of dangerous stocks of ammonium nitrate that triggered the explosion, close to the residential, commercial and cultural heart of Beirut.With the absence of a proactive government, Beirut’s residents assembled task forces to care for each other and rebuild their city. As the world mourned with Lebanon, donations poured in for NGOs engaging in direct relief efforts on the ground. One of them is London-based Impact Lebanon, a little known organisation that has quickly mobilised to lead the overseas appeal for aid to Beirut. The New Arab spoke to to Impact Lebanon co-founder Diana Abbas, who says her organization felt a responsibility to take action amid the initial confusion of the devastating explosion.At the time of this episode’s release, Impact Lebanon has already exceeded £5 million in donations on its fundraiser for Beirut. The organization has since raised its target to £7.5 million. Should our listeners want to make a donation, they can find the fundraiser on the websites of Impact Lebanon and JustGiving, or by clicking here.To read The New Arab’s full profile of Impact Lebanon, click hereMake sure to follow The New Arab’s coverage of the Beirut blast on our website www.newarab.co.uk and social media channels Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more.This episode was hosted and produced by Danya Hajjaji, and researched by Narjas Zatat. Music by Omar al-Fil @elepheel. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email multimedia.english@alaraby.co.uk) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to The New Arab Voice. Our podcast bringing you the most compelling stories and deep-dives from the Middle East, Africa, Asia and beyond.For this episode, we’ll be examining the significance of Joe Biden’s direct address to the Muslim American community, the forced sterilisation of Uighur Muslim women in China and the Me Too movement’s long-overdue arrival to Egypt.But first a tribute to Beirut: As Gaia and Danyah, The New Arab podcast team, were finalizing this episode, a colossal blast devastated Lebanon’s capital Beirut. We unfortunately didn’t have the time to do a deep dive this story deserves, but we will dedicate special coverage to the tragedy in future episodes. The death toll currently stands at 140, with more than 5,000 injured. Hundreds are missing, many of them workers near the blast site. The number of victims is expected to rise as rescue workers continue to search through the rubble. As many as 300,000 people were made homeless, according to the governor of Beirut. We at The New Arab Voice encourage our followers to consider donating to an organisation of their choice working on the ground in Lebanon, such as the Lebanese Red Cross https://www.supportlrc.app/donate/donate.htmlMake sure to follow The New Arab’s coverage of the Beirut blast on our website www.newarab.co.uk and social media channels  Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more.(Produced by Gaia Caramazza and Danya Hajjaji. Music by Omar al-Fil @elepheel. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice or email multimedia.english@alaraby.co.uk) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to the recorded live discussion on how the #BlackLivesMatter movement is shining a light on global racism and police brutality beyond American cities, from London to JerusalemThe murder of George Floyd, an unarmed African-American man, by police in Minneapolis, USA propelled the Black Lives Matter movement to global headlines. Mass protests in the US have since forced an urgent reckoning about systemic racism and police brutality.Beyond the US, many are interrogating the same issues in their own countries. In the UK, growing demonstrations are demanding an end to systemic racism and police violence against Black people, who are more than twice as likely to die in police custody than other groups.On Tuesday, 7 July 2020, our speakers discussed the connections between state repression and institutional racism beyond the US and think through the possibilities for international solidarity.For video version, check our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/tETcVYLrBdESpeakers:Marcia Rigg is an activist and public speaker. She is the sister of Sean Rigg, who died in police custody in 2008 following prolonged restraint by Brixton police officers in London. She is a member of the United Families and Friends Campaign (UFFC), a coalition of those affected by deaths in police, prison and psychiatric custody in the UK.Loubna Qutami is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Asian American Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Qutami is also the former Executive Director of the Arab Cultural and Community Center (ACCC) in San Francisco and a founder and the former international general coordinator of the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM).Moderator:Malia Bouattia is an activist, a former president of the National Union of Students, and co-founder of the Students not Suspects/Educators not Informants Network.Follow us on Facebook/Alaraby.en, Twitter/@The_NewArab, and Instagram/TheNewArab for more or visit our website newarab.co.uk(The statements, analysis, opinions and conclusions in this Webinar, and any related written materials are those of the guest speakers and do not necessarily represent those of The New Arab. The information and materials contained in the Webinar may contain inaccuracies or errors and we expressly exclude liability for any such inaccuracies or errors to the fullest extent permitted by law) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.