Finland and Sweden want to join NATO after Russia invaded Ukraine. But Turkey was quick to object and even threatened to block their bid. So why is Turkey rejecting this and what could happen?

In this episode:

Galip Dalay (@GalipDalay), Researcher and Turkey Analyst 

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

International backlash has been growing against India’s governing Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), after the party’s national spokeswoman Nupur Sharma and Delhi media operation head Naveen Kumar Jindal made disparaging remarks about Prophet Muhammad.

Meanwhile, Muslims in India have been going through uneasy times - from violence, persecution, to repeated calls to literally wipe them out. So why is this happening in the world’s biggest democracy and who is behind it?

In this episode:

Salil Shetty (@SalilShetty), Former Secretary-General of Amnesty International

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

Tunisia is the birthplace of the Arab Spring. The country inspired a wave of protests in the region that toppled at least four Arab presidents. But now the country has a serious constitutional crisis, some are even calling it a coup.

In this episode:

William Lawrence (@WillLawrence111), Professor at the American 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.

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

Russia’s war on Ukraine is forcing the European Union to look for alternatives to Russian gas imports which amount to about 40 percent of consumption every year. Qatar and other Middle Eastern countries can play a crucial role.

In this episode:

Henning Gloystein (@hgloystein), the director of energy at Eurasia group in London.

Credits:
This episode was produced by Hayat Mongodin, Khaled Soltan, 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 killing of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh has brought mainstream media outlets under the spotlight. We look at why mainstream media have been accused of dropping their objectivity, impartiality, and accuracy when they cover stories related to Palestine and Palestinian lives and deaths.

In this episode:

Ali Abunimah (@AliAbunimah), Executive Director of the Electronic Intifada

This episode was produced by Hayat Mongodin, Khaled Soltan, 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.

Defense for Children International Palestine says 500 to 700 Palestinian children are arrested and prosecuted in the military courts each year. In this episode, we take a closer look at their detention in Israeli prisons.

In this episode:

Brad Parker (@baparkr), Senior Adviser, Policy and Advocacy at @DCIPalestine, based in New York. 

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

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

This is the premiere episode of the Essential Middle East podcast. 

The war in Russia-Ukraine has attracted thousands of foreign fighters fighting on both sides from around the world including the Middle East. Some call them mercenaries while others call them volunteers. So why are they joining the fight?

In this episode:

Wael Al Zayat, CEO of Emgage, a national Muslim American civic organization and Middle East policy expert based in DC

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

Dissecting the news and current affairs in one of the world’s most misunderstood and complicated regions. Join host Sami Zeidan, every Thursday.