Essential Middle East

Human Rights Watch said Rohingya Muslims are still awaiting justice and protection of their rights five years after the Myanmar military began a sweeping campaign of massacres, rape, and arson in 2017.

The anniversary comes after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled that The Gambia's legal case to hold Myanmar accountable over allegations of genocide against the Rohingya can go ahead at The Hague in the Netherlands. 

Rohingya activists say this is the first step in the fight for justice and accountability, but it could take years.

In this episode:

• Dr Ronan Lee (@Ronan_Lee), Doctoral Prize Fellow at Loughborough University London

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan. Our host is Sami Zeidan. George Alwer is the sound designer. Aya Elmileik is the lead engagement producer and Munera AlDosari is the assistant engagement producer. Omar al-Saleh is the executive producer.

Connect with us at:
@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

What comes to mind when you think of Libya?

Maybe the late Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, the 2011 revolution, or perhaps the western military intervention that toppled the longtime leader.

But how about a failed state? It is split between two governments, plenty of armed militias, and thousands of foreign fighters. On top of that, the UN is warning that mercenaries and foreign fighters pose a threat to the country.

In this episode:

• Sasha Toperich (@SashaToperich), Executive Vice President of Transatlantic Leadership Network (@TLN_DC)

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan. Our host is Sami Zeidan. George Alwer is the sound designer. Aya Elmileik is the lead engagement producer and Munera AlDosari is the assistant engagement producer. Omar al-Saleh is the executive producer.

Connect with us at:
@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

At least 45 people, including 16 children, were killed after Israel launched air strikes on the Gaza Strip in the occupied territories. The health ministry in Gaza said 360 people were injured in the attacks.

Now a truce is in effect after regional mediation efforts led by Egypt paid off. Israel and the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine agreed to cease attacks and ease humanitarian conditions on the Gaza Strip.

But with an air, land and sea blockade by Israel, life in Gaza is difficult, and the humanitarian situation is alarming. What lies ahead for the people living in the world's largest open-air prison? And will this truce last?

In this episode:

• Mariam Barghouti (@MariamBarghouti), Senior Palestine Correspondent at Mondoweiss (@Mondoweiss)

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan. Our host is Sami Zeidan. George Alwer is the sound designer. Aya Elmileik is the lead engagement producer and Munera AlDosari is the assistant engagement producer. Omar al-Saleh is the executive producer.

Connect with us at:
@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Political deadlock to a power struggle. Leaks, protests, and sit-ins at parliament. One would have thought Iraq had seen it all. There is a crisis brewing in the country, with fears of serious bloodshed yet to come.

In this episode:

• Rasha Al-Aqeedi (@RashaAlAqeedi), Middle East deputy editor at New Lines Magazine (@newlinesmag)

Episode credits:

This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan, and host Sami Zeidan. George Alwer is the sound designer. Aya Elmileik is the lead engagement producer and Munera AlDosari is the assistant engagement producer. Omar al-Saleh is the executive producer.

Connect with us at:
@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Cryptocurrencies have defied a lot of norms around the world. Its value climbed last year to more than 2.3 trillion dollars. But in the Middle East, cryptocurrency trading is not as popular.

In this episode: 

Glen Goodman (@glengoodman), Crypto expert and author of The Crytpo Trader

Credits:

This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan, Hayat Mongodin, and host Sami Zeidan. George Alwer is our sound designer. Aya Elmileik is our lead engagement producer and Munera AlDosari is our assistant engagement producer. Omar al-Saleh is our executive producer.

The leaders of the two most powerful countries, the US and Russia, were in the Middle East. Of course, each of them is trying to pursue their interests. President Joe Biden and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin didn’t meet with each other, but why were these two leaders there? And how will the outcome of their visits impact the region?

In this episode: 

Mahjoob Zweiri (@Profmzweiri), Director of the Gulf Studies Centre at Qatar University

Credits:

This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan, Hayat Mongodin, and host Sami Zeidan. George Alwer is our sound designer. Aya Elmileik is our lead engagement producer and Munera AlDosari is our assistant engagement producer. Omar al-Saleh is our executive producer.

Russia and Ukraine account for about 29% of global wheat exports, almost a third of the world supply. The main customers are from the Middle East and North Africa.

In fact, some countries like Egypt receive a quarter of their wheat from Ukraine, Libya almost half, and Lebanon more than 60%.

What could this massive disruption in the supply chain entail for many countries in the region?

In this episode:

Patrick Mardini, CEO of Lebanese Institute for Market Studies (LIMS)

Credits:

This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan, Hayat Mongodin, and host Sami Zeidan. George Alwer is our sound designer. Aya Elmileik is our lead engagement producer and Munera AlDosari is our assistant engagement producer. Omar al-Saleh is our executive producer.

Connect with us at:

@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

There’s a humanitarian crisis happening in China. Over a million Uighur and other Muslim minorities are forcibly held in mass detention camps in the Xinjiang province where they face countless human rights abuses from forced labor, coerced sterilization, and destruction of their culture and religious identity. 

Recently, unknown hackers broke into Xinjiang police servers leaking thousands of photographs and documents that provide solid evidence of Chinese government policy targeting the Uighur population. 

In this episode, Sami Zeidan speaks with an Uighur American activist who has several missing family members, including her sister, who has been detained. 

In this episode:

Rushan Abbas (@RushanAbbas), Director of Campaign for Uyghurs (@CUyghurs)

Credits:
This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan, Hayat Mongodin, and host Sami Zeidan. George Alwer is our sound designer. Aya Elmileik is our lead engagement producer and Munera AlDosari is our assistant engagement producer. Omar al-Saleh is our executive producer.

Connect with us at:
@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Just two years ago, the idea of having Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Emir of Qatar visiting Turkey and Egypt, would have been a crazy fantasy. Now, it became a reality.

In this episode:

Jamal Elshayyal (@JamalsNews), Senior Correspondent, Al Jazeera English 

Credits:
This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan, Hayat Mongodin, and host Sami Zeidan. George Alwer is our sound designer. Aya Elmileik is our lead engagement producer and Munera AlDosari is our assistant engagement producer. Omar al-Saleh is our executive producer.

Connect with us at:
@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

The UAE, Bahrain and Morocco are shaping up a new alliance with Israel. The Palestinian Authority rejected the move and described it as a free gift to Israel which continues to occupy Palestinian land.

In this episode:

Joost Hilterman (@JoostHiltermann), the Director of MENA program at the International Crisis Group

Credits:
This episode was produced by Khaled Soltan, Hayat Mongodin, and host Sami Zeidan. George Alwer is our sound designer. Aya Elmileik is our lead engagement producer and Munera AlDosari is our assistant engagement producer. Omar al-Saleh is our executive producer.

Connect with us at:
@AJEPodcasts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook