Fractured

From a perspective of global conflict and intense suffering, 2023 has certainly been a year to say farewell to. But for us at ReFOCUS, we also have to look back on all we’ve achieved, especially within the evolution of our Fractured podcast.

In this final episode of 2023, our core team discusses the topics that were most impactful as well as upcoming episodes and wishes for the coming year of production. From the one year anniversary of the #Women_Life_Freedom movement in Iran, to earthquake relief efforts in Herat, Afghanistan to Trans-rights in Africa and Greece to critical updates from Lesvos, Greece “Fractured” continued to bring important and under-reported stories and voices to the forefront of discussion. We’re deeply proud of the collective effort our community put forth to launch our podcast into new territory. As our director and lead editor Sude Fazlollah put it, “now we have a face” when celebrating our effort to film our bi-weekly episodes for YouTube and Spotify. After a brief holiday break we’ll be back with a new episode in mid-January, so until then Happy Holidays to all our listeners, viewers, guests, partners and supporters who make this programming possible.

Production: ReFOCUS Media Labs (@refocusmedialbs on all social media platforms)

Host: Rasheed Ghalli

Production team: Sude Fazlollah, Eli Fazlollah, Dawoud Nouri, Rasheed Ghalli, 

Mentorship: Douglas Herman

Producers: Sonia Nandzik-Herman, Douglas Herman

Graphic Design: Eli Fazlollah

3D-Design for ReFOCUS Promo Video: Sam Gualtieri 

SPECIAL THANKS to the extended ReFOCUS Family for their dedication, passion and creativity all year long. We’re not where we are today without all the effort from Florian Krauer, Louise Holm, Chryssa Kouroukli, Yaiza Pardinas, Matthew Goncalves O’Kelly, Jennifer Perez, Jule Pehnt, Majid Bakhshi, Nazanin Foroghi, Yaser Akbari, Dariia Stepanova, Paul “Al” Simon, Jaime Moro Saavedra, Joëlle Hübscher, Beni Rietmann, Jakob Mayr, Jurek Edel, Francisco Ibanez, Bart Van Son, Federico, and Myriam Rey.OUR PARTNERS:Choose Love, Allianz Foundation, Leave No One Behind, Europe Cares, Parea Center Lesvos,Music: Intro for Legends by Bonkers Beat Club and Mogul by Blue Steel on Epidemic Sound

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

For designs by Eli go to: ⁠https://refocusmedialabs.org/shop⁠

Get in touch: ⁠[email protected]⁠

According to the UNHCR there are currently around 4400 asylum seekers on Lesvos. Even though every month more than one thousand people are transferred to the mainland, more people keep coming. The island has been the hub of the so-called “refugee crisis” for years now, and nothing indicates a change in this matter. Even though Lesvos is no longer in the center of media attention, the conditions in Mavrovouni camp are far from perfect and the dysfunctional asylum procedure shows more and more gaps.

In this episode of Fractured we dive deep into the situation on Lesvos with Silvia Lucibello from Europe_Cares who coordinates Parea Community Center, and Lorraine Leete from Legal Centre Lesvos.

FOLLOW OUR GUESTS:

@parea.lesvos

@europe_cares

@legalcenterlesvos

Production: ReFOCUS Media Labs (@refocusmedialbs on all social media platforms)

Hosts: Sonia Nandzik-Herman, Rasheed Ghalli

Production team: Sude Fazlollah, Eli Fazlollah, Dawoud Nouri, Rasheed Ghalli, 

Mentorship: Douglas Herman

Producers: Sonia Nandzik-Herman, Douglas Herman

Graphic design: Eli Fazlollah

Music: Intro for Legends by Bonkers Beat Club and Mogul by Blue Steel on Epidemic Sound

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Donate to ReFOCUS: ⁠https://refocusmedialabs.org/donate⁠

Donate to Parea: https://www.europecares.org/donate

Donate to Legal Centre Lesvos: https://www.paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=N4NU5QA8F4MQC

For designs by Eli go to: ⁠https://refocusmedialabs.org/shop⁠

Get in touch: ⁠[email protected]⁠

According to the UNHCR there are currently around 4400 asylum seekers on Lesvos. Even though every month more than one thousand people are transferred to the mainland, more people keep coming. The island has been the hub of the so-called “refugee crisis” for years now, and nothing indicates a change in this matter. Even though Lesvos is no longer in the center of media attention, the conditions in Mavrovouni camp are far from perfect and the dysfunctional asylum procedure shows more and more gaps.

In this episode of Fractured we dive deep into the situation on Lesvos with Silvia Lucibello from Europe_Cares who coordinates Parea Community Center, and Lorraine Leete from Legal Centre Lesvos.

FOLLOW OUR GUESTS:

@parea.lesvos

@europe_cares

@legalcenterlesvos

Production: ReFOCUS Media Labs (@refocusmedialbs on all social media platforms)

Hosts: Sonia Nandzik-Herman, Rasheed Ghalli

Production team: Sude Fazlollah, Eli Fazlollah, Dawoud Nouri, Rasheed Ghalli, 

Mentorship: Douglas Herman

Producers: Sonia Nandzik-Herman, Douglas Herman

Graphic design: Eli Fazlollah

Music: Intro for Legends by Bonkers Beat Club and Mogul by Blue Steel on Epidemic Sound

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

Donate to ReFOCUS: ⁠https://refocusmedialabs.org/donate⁠

Donate to Parea: https://www.europecares.org/donate

Donate to Legal Centre Lesvos: https://www.paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=N4NU5QA8F4MQC

For designs by Eli go to: ⁠https://refocusmedialabs.org/shop⁠

Get in touch: ⁠[email protected]⁠

How many layers of discrimination can one person carry? Yuli, the guest of our latest episode, says that she holds the worst possible combination in the world: “black, trans, sex worker.” On top of that she is a refugee and struggles with stigma related to that fact that she had to flee her home. In a very honest conversation with us, Yuli and Moran from Safe Place International reveal all issues related to those multiple discriminations in Greece.

FOLLOW OUR GUESTS:

@safeplaceintl

@positivevoicegr

@gmoraan@madamkikimadamkiki

Production: ReFOCUS Media Labs (@refocusmedialbs on all social media platforms)

Hosts: Sonia Nandzik-Herman, Rasheed Ghalli

Production team: Sude Fazlollah, Eli Fazlollah, Dawoud Nouri, Rasheed Ghalli, Majid Bakhshi

Mentorship: Douglas Herman

Producers: Sonia Nandzik-Herman, Douglas Herman

Graphic design: Eli Fazlollah

Music: Intro for Legends by Bonkers Beat Club and Mogul by Blue Steel on Epidemic Sound

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

To support this podcast and ReFOCUS citizen journalism program go to: ⁠https://refocusmedialabs.org/donate⁠

For designs by Eli go to: ⁠https://refocusmedialabs.org/shop⁠
Get in touch: ⁠[email protected]⁠

This Is Who You Are. There Is Nothing Wrong with You!

Almost every LGBTQI+ refugee carries a double stigma. One related to their sexual orientation, the other to the fact that they had to flee their country. Masi and Sulah from Safe Place International clarify how sexual orientation is the reason for many people to seek asylum and on the other hand how it still remains the main ground for discrimination in their hosting country. They share with us specifically the nuances of the situation of LGBTQI+ refugees in Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

FOLLOW OUR GUESTS:

@safeplaceintl

@pachedugroup

Production: ReFOCUS Media Labs (@refocusmedialbs on all social media platforms)

Hosts: Sonia Nandzik-Herman, Rasheed Ghalli

Production team: Sude Fazlollah, Eli Fazlollah, Dawoud Nouri, Rasheed Ghalli, Majid Bakhshi

Mentorship: Douglas Herman

Producers: Sonia Nandzik-Herman, Douglas Herman

Graphic design: Eli Fazlollah

Music: Intro for Legends by Bonkers Beat Club and Mogul by Blue Steel on Epidemic Sound

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

To support this podcast and ReFOCUS citizen journalism program go to: ⁠https://refocusmedialabs.org/donate⁠

For designs by Eli go to:⁠ ⁠https://refocusmedialabs.org/shop⁠
Get in touch: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Starting on October 7th multiple earthquakes devastated the Herat region of Eastern Afghanistan within a week.The final number of dead is still unknown as many bodies are still covered with dust after whole villages of poorly constructed clay houses have been destroyed. The country is now facing an escalating humanitarian crisis, following on top of a collapsed economy and instability constantly deepening ever since the Taliban took over power in the country. Yet the topic is heavily underreported. In this episode of Fractured our citizen journalists Yaser Taheri and Zobair Ahadi echo the International Red Cross appeal: “Let’s not add ‘forgotten’ to the long list of tragedies that this resilient nation has already endured.”

HOW YOU CAN HELP:INTL RED CROSS- https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/

Production: ReFOCUS Media Labs (@refocusmedialbs on all social media platforms)

Hosts: Sonia Nandzik-Herman, Rasheed Ghalli

Production team: Sude Fazlollah, Eli Fazlollah, Dawoud Nouri, Rasheed Ghalli, Majid Bakhshi

Mentorship: Douglas Herman

Producers: Sonia Nandzik-Herman, Douglas Herman

Graphic design: Eli Fazlollah

For designs by Eli go to: ⁠https://refocusmedialabs.org/shop⁠

Music: Intro for Legends by Bonkers Beat Club and Mogul by Blue Steel on Epidemic Sound

To support this podcast and ReFOCUS citizen journalism program go to: ⁠https://refocusmedialabs.org/donate⁠

Get in touch: ⁠[email protected]⁠

According to the UNHCR data, 29,485 Iranians fled their country in 2022. Big part of this group were activists and artists who due to their activity couldn’t freely create in their homeland or couldn’t stay free period. Recently three award-winning filmmakers Mohammad Rasoulof, Mostafa Aleahmad and Jafar Panahi have been arrested in Tehran for “inflaming and disrupting the psychological safety of the community.” The film community, including the largest festivals, actively fights to release them.

In this episode of Fractured we are trying to paint a picture of the life of Iranian artists who not only create but also provoke the government to change and understand their reasons for escaping their country. In a fascinating conversation with Vassilis Koukalani - an actor, theater director and a star of the AppleTV show “Tehran” we are going deep into the everyday reality of Iranian artists and activists as well as refugees who fled to Greece.

Production: ReFOCUS Media Labs (@refocusmedialbs on all social media platforms)

Hosts: Sonia Nandzik-Herman, Rasheed Ghalli

Production team: Sude Fazlollah, Eli Fazlollah, Dawoud Nouri, Rasheed Ghalli, Majid Bakhshi

Mentorship: Douglas Herman

Producers: Sonia Nandzik-Herman, Douglas Herman

Graphic design: Eli Fazlollah

For more designs by Eli on the Women Life Freedom movement go to: ⁠https://refocusmedialabs.org/shop⁠

Music: Intro for Legends by Bonkers Beat Club and Mogul by Blue Steel on Epidemic Sound

To support this podcast and ReFOCUS citizen journalism program go to: ⁠https://refocusmedialabs.org/donate⁠

Get in touch: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Mahsa (Jina) Amini, a Kurdish woman was killed by the morality police in Tehran on September 16th 2022. Morality police claimed that Mahsa died of a heart attack, however other women detained with her testified that she was treated very brutally by the police for resisting the assaults. The official reason for arresting Mahsa was the accusation that her hijab was not covering her hair enough and that her jeans were too skinny. Mahsa’s death started another wave of protests in Iran. Young people went out on streets demanding democratic changes. #WomenLifeFreedom movement spread not only in Iran but also outside its borders.The regime responded with brutal force arresting, torturing and killing many protesters. As the resistance grew, a widespread Internet blackout was imposed along with nationwide restrictions on social media. 

In the first episode of season three of Fractured we cover the topic of the freedom movement in Iran with a star of Apple TV show called “Tehran” - Shila Ommi and an activist and an artist - Eli Fazlollah.

Production: ReFOCUS Media Labs (@refocusmedialbs on all social media platforms)

Hosts: Sonia Nandzik-Herman, Rasheed Ghalli

Production team: Sude Fazlollah, Eli Fazlollah, Dawoud Nouri, Rasheed Ghalli, Majid Bakhshi

Mentorship: Douglas Herman

Producers: Sonia Nandzik-Herman, Douglas Herman

Graphic design: Eli Fazlollah

For more designs by Eli on the Women Life Freedom movement go to: https://refocusmedialabs.org/shop

Music: Intro for Legends by Bonkers Beat Club and Mogul by Blue Steel on Epidemic Sound

To support this podcast and ReFOCUS citizen journalism program go to: https://refocusmedialabs.org/donate

Get in touch: [email protected]

It’s been 2 years since the Taliban took over power in Afghanistan. Since then, the regime has faced international condemnation over the human rights situation, including restrictions they have imposed on women’s education. Afghanistan is also fighting a humanitarian crisis, with almost half of its population – 23 million people – receiving assistance from the World Food Programme last year. In this episode we are painting a picture of today's Afghanistan two years into Taliban regime.

Correction: at 24:12 - our quest mentioned United States when he meant United Nation

Guest of the episode: Julian Busch

Host of the episode: Sonia Nandzik-Herman

Editing: Majid Bakhshi

Production: Sonia Nandzik-Herman, Douglas Herman, ReFOCUS Media Labs 

Music: ES_No Time for Fear - Christian Andersen on Epidemic Sound and ANBR - Thoughts

Contact: [email protected]

Hundreds of witnesses have testified to the existence of “black sites” – places where people who came to Europe to claim asylum are denied any rights. In this episode we focus on an investigative piece by Lighthouse Reports which revealed that security forces along the Bulgarian-Turkish border are using secret facilities to systematically detain people seeking refuge before illegally deporting them, which is a clear violation of international law. 

Guest of the episode: Maria Cheresheva

Host of the episode: Sonia Nandzik-Herman

Editing: Majid Bakhshi

Production: Sonia Nandzik-Herman, Douglas Herman, ReFOCUS Media Labs 

Assistant producer: Paul Simons

Music: ES_No Time for Fear - Christian Andersen on Epidemic Sound and ANBR - Thoughts

Contact: [email protected]