Centre Stage

Dr. Omar Suleiman talks about the oppression of pro-Palestinian voices in the West, the growing Islamophobia and how it lends itself to racism. In this episode: Dr. Omar Suleiman (@omarsuleiman504), American Muslim scholar and civil rights leader Dareen Abughaida (@DareenAG),  Principal Presenter at Al Jazeera English  This episode is produced in partnership with the Islam and Muslims Initiative, an international platform that connects Muslims and non-Muslims in the realms of religion, politics, business, media, academia and civil society. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

We sit down with Peter Oborne to discuss the role of the media in shaping the narrative around the war on Gaza and the growing divide in the West between political stance and public opinion. Oborne has authored several books including The Rise of Political Lying and The Triumph of the Political Class. He was also the former chief political commentator of the Daily Telegraph and currently writes a political column for Middle East Eye.  In this episode: Peter Oborne (@OborneTweets), Journalist and Political Commentator Samantha Johnson  (@Rawaak), Presenter at Al Jazeera Digital This episode is produced in partnership with the Islam and Muslims Initiative, an international platform that connects Muslims and non-Muslims in the realms of religion, politics, business, media, academia and civil society. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

We sit down with former Israeli negotiator Daniel Levy to discuss the war in Gaza from historical, inter-faith, and geopolitical perspectives. Levy served under Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin during Oslo B negotiations. He also discusses the Palestinian right of return, the consequences of the Oslo negotiations and addresses anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.  In this episode: Daniel Levy, President of the US/Middle East Project, Former Israeli Negotiator Dareen Abughaida (@DareenAG),  Principal Presenter at Al Jazeera English  This episode is produced in partnership with the Islam and Muslims Initiative, an international platform that connects Muslims and non-Muslims in the realms of religion, politics, business, media, academia and civil society. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

In this episode, we hear from Palestine’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Husam Zomlot as he reflects on the war in Gaza, the double standards it exposed, the road to peace and responds to questions about Palestinian leadership and the decades-long aspiration for statehood and self-determination. In this episode: Husam Zomlot (@hzomlot), Palestine’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom Sandra Gathmann (@SandraGathmann), Al Jazeera Digital Presenter  This episode is produced in partnership with the Islam and Muslims Initiative, an international platform that connects Muslims and non-Muslims in the realms of religion, politics, business, media, academia and civil society. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

In this episode of Centre Stage, Dr. Ghassan Abu Sitta shares his experience as a surgeon in different hospitals in Gaza during the ongoing Israeli war. Dr. Ghassan Abu Sitta is one of the world’s leading specialists in plastic and reconstructive surgery. The British-Palestinian surgeon is a passionate and active humanitarian and has worked as a war surgeon in numerous war zones including Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen and Gaza. Since the start of Israel's war on Gaza, he has dedicated his time to treating thousands of civilians caught up in this brutal ongoing aggression. In this episode: Dr. Ghassan Abu Sitta, surgeon  Rawaa Auge (@Rawaak), presenter at Al Jazeera Digital This episode is produced in partnership with the Islam and Muslims Initiative, an international platform that connects Muslims and non-Muslims in the realms of religion, politics, business, media, academia and civil society. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Threads 

Dr. Rania Awaad discusses modern psychology concepts in Islamic tradition, the connection between ancient Islamic texts and modern psychology, the ancient roots of OCD treatment, bringing faith in Islam to clinical psychology, and the role of Islam and faith in medicine and medical disciplines.

In this episode of Centre Stage, Sarah Joseph explores issues related to the representation of Muslim women in mainstream media. We discuss the common tropes and stereotypes, and what needs to be done to alter this image in media. Sarah Joseph is an influential powerhouse in Muslim Media who is the founder, editor, and CEO of EMEL Media Group - a platform that has created a shift in the way Muslims are portrayed and marketed to. Sarah is listed as one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world and has lectured on Islam globally for over two decades.  In this episode: Sarah Joseph (@SarahIJoseph), editor and CEO of EMEL Media Group Samantha Johnson (@MissSamJohnson), a presenter and executive producer at Al Jazeera Digital This episode is produced in partnership with the Islam and Muslims Initiative, an international platform that connects Muslims and non-Muslims in the realms of religion, politics, business, media, academia and civil society. Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook  

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi talks with Jamal Elshayyal about her Pakistani heritage and her illustrious career at the heart of British politics. They cover a wide range of subjects, from her humble Yorkshire beginnings to the many rights of women in Islam, and why she chose to join the centre-right Conservative Party. Baroness Warsi is a member of the House of Lords and the UK’s first Muslim Cabinet Minister. She resigned in 2014 in protest over her Government’s response to Israel’s bombardment of Gaza. In this episode: Baroness Warsi is a leading campaigner against Islamophobia and has consistently been named as one of the world’s ‘500 most influential Muslims’ by the Middle East think-tank the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre. Jamal Elshayyal is a senior journalist and the manager of Content Strategy for OTT Platforms.  Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Former Catholic nun and author Karen Armstrong shares her perspective on Islam from her years of research with Al Jazeera's Samantha Johnson. In this episode: Guest: Karen Armstrong is a renowned religious historian and best-selling author whose work has been translated into 45 languages. Armstrong has been described as one of the most intelligent contemporary defenders of religion. Host: Samantha Johnson (@MissSamJohnson), a presenter and executive producer at Al Jazeera Digital. This episode is produced in partnership with the Islam and Muslims Initiative, an international platform that connects Muslims and non-Muslims in the realms of religion, politics, business, media, academia, and civil society.  Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

In the second episode of Centre Stage, Dr. Dalia Fahmy discusses what it is like to be a Muslim in the US. What form of discrimination are Muslims facing? How is Islamophobia being used for political gain? And is there a role for Muslims to play in combating islamophobia? In this episode: Guest: Dr. Dalia Fahmy (@DaliaFFahmy) is an associate professor of political science at Long Island University. She is well-published on the effects of Islamophobia on US foreign policy and American identity in politics. She is also a prominent personality speaking out against prejudice and islamophobia in the US and beyond. Host: Sami Zeidan (@SamiZeidan) is a principal presenter at Al Jazeera English. This episode is produced in partnership with the Islam and Muslims Initiative, an international platform that connects Muslims and non-Muslims in the realms of religion, politics, business, media, academia, and civil society.  Connect with us: @AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook