Blood Brothers

In this episode of the Blood Brothers Podcast, Dilly Hussain speaks with the chairman of Islamic political party Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain, Dr Abdul Wahid. #BloodBrothersPodcast​ #Coronavirus​ #COVID19​ Dr Wahid who is a frontline GP in London describes how work has been for him since the UK officially went into lockdown last month. They discuss the mental impact of social distancing for the elderly and the steps Dr Wahid has personally taken while caring for his mother who lives with him. Dr Wahid also explains why the NHS has been working to maximum capacity and what preventative measures the UK government could have taken to avoid this huge strain on the healthcare service, as well as exploring the values and policies a hypothetical Islamic government or polity would have implemented during such a crisis. The crux of the podcast covers the various responses and reactions from Muslim communities in the UK and beyond to the pandemic, from panic buying, hoarding food and toiletries, shopkeepers overpricing, debates pertaining to the closure of mosques and whether COVID-19 is a punishment or test from Allah.

In this episode of the Blood Brothers Podcast, Dilly Hussain speaks with journalist, author and anti-Islamophobia activist CJ Werleman. #COVID19​ #Coronavirus​ #Islamophobia​ The Australian columnist explains why China's entire handling of COVID-19 and the "statistics" it is sharing with the international community cannot be trusted, as well as how the pandemic has affected the persecuted Uyghur Muslims of Xinjiang. CJ also discusses how Muslims in India are being boycotted, lynched and blamed for spreading COVID-19 due to Islamophobic propaganda spread by pro-BJP and Hindutva media outlets and politicians. Topics of conversation also include the situation of Palestinians during the pandemic under Israeli occupation, consistency in opposing oppression, and CJ's personal journey from someone who held Islamophobic views to now advocating for persecuted Muslims around the world.

In this episode of the Blood Brothers Podcast, Aki Hussain speaks with natural nurse Kate Shemirani. #BloodBrothersPodcast​ #KateShemirani​ #NaturalNurse​

In this episode of the Blood Brothers Podcast, Dilly Hussain speaks with assistant professor at the University of Manitoba, Dr Jason Kindrachuk. #Coronavirus​ #5G​ #COVID19​ Dr Kindrachuk, who is a virologist at the Canada Research Chair, addresses various claims and theories that have gained widespread traction regarding 5G telecommunications and the COVID-19 pandemic. He highlights the important principle that "correlation does not equate to causation" - referring to the many coincidences that have been cited between the timing of particular events and the outbreak of epidemics. The Canadian scientist shares his personal experiences when working in West Africa during the Ebola crisis, and the dangers of peddling anti-vaccination theories that will have life-and-death implications in developing nations. Topics of discussion also include the possibility of COVID-19 being used for biological warfare, whether the source of COVID-19 virus was an animal or engineered in a laboratory, and the timescale of a mass vaccine.

In this episode of the Blood Brothers Podcast, Aki Hussain hosts consultant cardiologist Dr Billal Patel from Blackpool. #BloodBrothersPodcast​ #Coronavirus​ #COVID19​ Dr Patel, who is a frontline consultant cardiologist at Blackpool Hospital, describes how work has been after he returned from 2 weeks of self-isolation due to experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. He also simplifies the way in which COVID-19 spreads, incubates and attacks the body, and explains why people really need to start taking the virus seriously. Topics of discussion also include why the Muslim community are specifically vulnerable to contracting Coronavirus, the cultural barriers that prevent BME communities from accessing information about COVID-19, and what state Dr Patel thinks the UK will be in the coming months.

In this episode of the Blood Brothers Podcast, Dilly Hussain speaks with frontline GP Dr Siema Iqbal from Manchester about the Coronavirus pandemic. #BloodBrothersPodcast​ #COVID19​ #Coronavirus​ Dr Iqbal explains why the UK's National Health Service (NHS) is reaching a breaking point due to the COVID-19 pandemic and what that actually means in real-life terms. She also shares her thoughts on how the UK government has handled the virus from initially proposing "herd immunity" to now opting for a partial lockdown with less than two weeks away from the expected peak of the pandemic. Topics of discussion also includes the timescale for mass testing kits to be made available, the theory behind social distancing and isolation, and why Muslim communities are more vulnerable to contracting COVID-19.

In this special episode of the Blood Brothers Podcast, Dilly and Aki Hussain host former MMA fighter and coach Khalid Ismail. #BloodBrothersPodcast​ #KhalidIsmail​ #MMA​ Khalid offers a wealth of insight into the world of professional mixed martial arts (MMA), including the physical and mental preparation required in training camp as a fighter and a coach. The veteran MMA coach also shares the lessons he learnt when he experienced serious injuries during the peak of his fighting career, and his realisation of the strengths and weaknesses of the human body. In addition to providing various health and fitness advice, Khalid explains how the morals and values of a fighter is as important, if not more important, than their physical abilities.

In this exclusive episode of the Blood Brothers Podcast, Dilly and Aki Hussain host the WBO European Super Welterweight Champion Hamzah Sheeraz. #BloodBrothersPodcast​ #HamzahSheeraz​ #Boxing​ The undefeated boxer shares his thoughts and feelings after becoming a European champion last November and what he's doing in preparation for his first title defence on Saturday 11th April at the 02 Arena. The east Londoner also explains the values and morals which have shaped him since childhood, and how the same mindset is shared by his entire team in keeping him headstrong and humble during his journey. Topics of discussion also include the role of Islam in Hamzah's life as a professional boxer, handling fame and wealth, and how contact sports can help deter youth from a life of crime and gangs.

In this informative episode of the Blood Brothers Podcast, Dilly Hussain hosts the erudite Ottoman historian Dr Yakoob Ahmed. #BloodBrothersPodcast​ #DrYakoobAhmed​ #OttomanHistory​ Dr Ahmed who is currently a lecturer at Istanbul University, explains what initially led him to study history as a postgraduate, and subsequently going onto specialise in Ottoman history, specifically the 'Hamidian period' (Reign of Caliph Abdulhamid II). Dilly also questions Dr Ahmed about a number of controversial practices widely attributed to the Ottomans, and whether any of those positions had scholarly support and any Islamic basis. Topics of discussion also include how Islamic the Ottoman Dynasty was in terms of their state institutions, governance and laws, as well as the importance of reconnecting with Ottoman history in the political, spiritual and intellectual revival of the Ummah. This episode of the Blood Brothers Podcast was in partnership with Family Break: https://familybreak.org.uk/​

In this special episode of the Blood Brothers Podcast, Dilly Hussain speaks with Shaykh Mohamed Yaffa from Halifax, Canada. #BloodBrothersPodcast​ #ShaykhMohamedYaffa​ #BlackHistoryMonth​ Shaykh Yaffa explains the daily challenges of being black, Muslim and immigrant in Canada at a time of heightened racism and Islamophobia. He also also shares his thoughts on the ignored Islamic history of Africa and anti-black racism which began during the Abbasid Caliphate. Topics of discussion also include Shaykh Yaffa's experience while studying in Pakistan and the forced conversion of African slaves to Christianity by European colonialists. This episode of the Blood Brothers Podcast was in partnership with Family Break: https://familybreak.org.uk/​