Middle East File

John D. Barton, Professor of Teaching of Religion and Director, Center for Faith and Learning, Pepperdine University joins to discuss his new book Better Religion: A Primer for Interreligious Peacebuilding (Baylor University Press, 2022). 

In the twenty-first century, humanity faces both unprecedented existential threats and remarkable possibilities for development. While no one knows how things will unfold by century's end, it is increasingly clear that religion will play a major role in shaping the outcomes, for better or worse. In Better Religion, philosopher and religion scholar John Barton explores how grassroots interreligious peacebuilding can help ensure the "better." 

Written for academic and professional audiences, this "conceptual primer" will equip readers to understand religion in the twenty-first century and pursue constructive collaborations for human flourishing, all for the sake of the world we currently share and the world we want our grandchildren to inherit. Read More

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Bayar Mustafa Sevdeen, Dean of External Engagement and Research at the University of Kurdistan Hewler and Dr. Thomas Schmidinger Lecturer at the University of Vienna and a Visiting Professor Politics & IR at University of Kurdistan Hewler join to discuss the recent conference Syrian Religious Communities and the Transnational War. 

The conference brought together a wide range of contributors from within Syria and internationally to understand the diverse experiences of religious communities throughout the more than 11 years of conflict in Syria. 

The conference was jointly organized by the Center for Peacebuilding and Dialogue (CPD) at the University of Kurdistan Hewlêr (UKH), in collaboration with Socialists and Democrats Group (S&D) at the European Union Parliament, and the Religious Freedom Institute (USA).

Livestream: 

Conference Part 1 (Video) 

Conference Part 2 (Video)

Conference Part 3 (Video)

Conference Part 4 (Video)

Haider Elias, President, Yazda, joins the Middle East File to discuss We Cannot Return: Collapsed Security Threatens the Future of Yazidis & Minorities in Sinjar co-authored by Yazda and The Zovighian Partnership and published by the Wilson Center.

This first paper in a two-part series presents and recommends immediate solutions to strengthening security in Sinjar. Published by the Wilson Center, the series aims to equip national and international stakeholders with community-led and actionable recommendations to enable political support for all minority communities in Sinjar. 

Related: 

Ismail Royer, Director of the Islam and Religious Freedom Action Team at the Religious Freedom Institute, joins the Middle East File to discuss his / Islam in the Constitutions of Modern Arab States: the Case of Tunisia. 

The article is part of a Cornerstone Forum series looking at the implications of Tunisia’s new constitution on religious freedom, associated rights, governance, and stability. Ismail’s piece particularly looks at the history and meaning of the concept of maqasid ash-sharia (aims and purposes of law), where concerns over this concept come from, and how this concept could relate to contemporary developments in Tunisia. 

Related: 

Nury Turkel is the author of No Escape: The True Story of China’s Genocide of the Uyghurs (Hanover Square Press, 2022) and is interviewed by Jeremy P. Barker, Director, Middle East, Religious Freedom Institute. 

Nury Turkel is an attorney, author, foreign policy expert, and advocate with nearly two decades of experience working in the intersection of law, business, government, and the human rights community. He specializes in corporate governance and regulatory compliance, national security, foreign policy, digital authoritarianism, and forced labor and supply chain risk issues. He is currently serving as Chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom after being appointed as a Commissioner by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi in May 2020.

Hosted in partnership with the Religious Freedom Institute (www.RFI.org), the IRF Summit Authors' Corner took place at the IRF Summit 2022 (www.IRFsummit.org) in Washington, D.C. and featured interviews with authors on a range of books related to religious freedom issues around the globe.

See more interviews here: IRF Summit Authors' Corner

Purchase books here: IRF Summit Authors' Corner (Bookshop)

Mariam Ibraheem is the author of Shackled: One Woman’s Dramatic Triumph Over Persecution, Gender Abuse, and a Death Sentence (Whitaker House, 2022) and is interviewed by Jeremy P. Barker, Director, Middle East, Religious Freedom Institute.

Mariam Ibraheem is Co-founder and Director of Global Mobilization for Tahrir Alnisa Foundation. Mariam was imprisoned for her faith in December 2013 before later being sentenced to death on charges of apostasy and adultery. Mariam was imprisoned with her young son and ultimately would deliver her daughter in prison before ultimately being released. She remains a passionate advocate for the persecuted and oppressed around the globe. 

Hosted in partnership with the Religious Freedom Institute (www.RFI.org), the IRF Summit Authors' Corner took place at the IRF Summit 2022 (www.IRFsummit.org) in Washington, D.C. and featured interviews with authors on a range of books related to religious freedom issues around the globe.

See more interviews here: IRF Summit Authors' Corner

Purchase books here: IRF Summit Authors' Corner (Bookshop)

Bob Fu is the author of The Politics of Inclusive Pluralism: Proposed Foundation for Religious Freedom in a Post-Communist, Democratic China (Pickwick, 2020) and is interviewed by Todd Huizinga, Senior Fellow for Europe, Religious Freedom Institute. 

Bob Fu is the founder/president of China Aid and dedicates himself to advancing religious freedom for all in China. He earned his PhD in the field of religious freedom from the University of Durham. He is editor-in-chief of the Chinese Law & Religion Monitor Journal.

Hosted in partnership with the Religious Freedom Institute (www.RFI.org), the IRF Summit Authors' Corner took place at the IRF Summit 2022 (www.IRFsummit.org) in Washington, D.C. and featured interviews with authors on a range of books related to religious freedom issues around the globe.

See more interviews here: IRF Summit Authors' Corner

Purchase books here: IRF Summit Authors' Corner (Bookshop)

Pastor John Cao is author of Living Lyrics: Poems from Prison (China Aid, 2021) and Julian Marley of China Aid is interviewed by Jeremy P. Barker, Director, Middle East Action Team, Religious Freedom Institute. 

Living Lyrics is a collection of prison poems written by Pastor John Cao. Cao received a seven-year prison sentence in March 2018 for his Christian faith. Cao, a legal resident of North Carolina, made many trips to his native China for humanitarian work before his detention in March 2017. Those observing Cao's case believe his imprisonment is part of the ongoing campaign by the Chinese government to suppress the church. Inside Living Lyrics is a collection of Pastor Cao's prison poetry in both English and Chinese, alongside photos and information about his life and work. Each poem is a testimony to Pastor Cao's exemplary faith, heart for the Gospel, and his commitment to take up the cross of discipleship even in the face of immense persecution.

Hosted in partnership with the Religious Freedom Institute (www.RFI.org), the IRF Summit Authors’ Corner took place at the IRF Summit 2022 (www.IRFSummit.org) in Washington, D.C. and featured interviews with authors on a range of books related to religious freedom issues around the globe.

See more interviews here: IRF Summit Authors' Corner

Purchase books here: IRF Summit Authors' Corner (Bookshop)

Mustafa Akyol is author of Why, As a Muslim, I Defend Liberty (Cato Institute, 2021) and is interviewed by Jeremy P. Barker, Director, Middle East Action Team, Religious Freedom Institute. 

Mustafa Akyol is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute’s Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity, where he focuses on the intersection of public policy, Islam, and modernity. Since 2013, he has also been a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times, covering politics and religion in the Muslim world. He is the author of Reopening Muslim Minds: A Return to Reason, Freedom, and Tolerance (2021), The Islamic Jesus: How the King of the Jews Became a Prophet of the Muslims (2017), and Islam without Extremes: A Muslim Case for Liberty (2011).

Hosted in partnership with the Religious Freedom Institute (www.RFI.org), the IRF Summit Authors’ Corner took place at the IRF Summit 2022 (www.IRFSummit.org) in Washington, D.C. and featured interviews with authors on a range of books related to religious freedom issues around the globe. 

See more interviews here: IRF Summit Authors' Corner 

Purchase books here: IRF Summit Authors' Corner (Bookshop)

Ewelina U. Ochab and David Alton are the authors of State Responses to Crimes of Genocide: What Went Wrong and How to Change It (Springer Nature, 2022) and are interviewed by Jeremy P. Barker, Director, Middle East Action Team, Religious Freedom Institute. 

Ewelina Ochab is a human rights advocate, author, and co-founder of the Coalition for Genocide Response. She works on the topics of genocide, persecution of minoriites around the world, with primary projects including Daesh genocide in Syria and Iraq, Boko Haram atrocities in West Africa, atrocities against the Uyghurs, the situation of the Rohingyas, among others. 

Lord David Alton served for 18 years as a Member of the House of Commons and now serves as an Independent Crossbench Life Peer in the UK Parliament. He has been a stalwart advocate for human rights around the world bringing international attention to some of the most grave abuses.  

Hosted in partnership with the Religious Freedom Institute (www.RFI.org), the IRF Summit Authors' Corner took place at the IRF Summit 2022 (www.IRFsummit.org) in Washington, D.C. and featured interviews with authors on a range of books related to religious freedom issues around the globe. 

See more interviews here: IRF Summit Authors' Corner 

Purchase books here: IRF Summit Authors' Corner (Bookshop)