The Enlightenment Podcast

In Episode 26 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan sit down with Dr. Ghada Karmi, a Palestinian-born academic, physician, prolific author, and activist.

Dr. Karmi has held numerous prestigious positions, including Associate Fellow at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London and Research Fellow at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Exeter. She has also served as Vice Chair of the Council for Arab-British Understanding (CAABU), a leading organization advocating for stronger UK-Arab relations.

As an outspoken advocate for Palestinian rights, Dr. Karmi has written extensively on the Palestinian struggle, displacement, and identity. Her notable works include In Search of Fatima: A Palestinian Story, Married to Another Man: Israel’s Dilemma in Palestine, Return: A Palestinian Memoir, and One State: The Only Democratic Future for Palestine-Israel.

In this episode, they explore Dr. Karmi’s personal journey, her insights on Palestine’s ongoing struggle, and the future of advocacy for Palestinian rights.

📖 Explore Dr. Karmi’s books here: Amazon - Ghada Karmi

#GhadaKarmi #EnlightenmentPodcast #PalestinianRights #OneState #InSearchOfFatima #Return #HumanRights #MiddleEast #Podcast

In Episode 25 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan engage in a compelling conversation with Dr. Lena El-Malak, a Palestinian technology and data privacy attorney with profound expertise in public international law and refugee law. Dr. El-Malak earned her doctoral degree in public international law from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London.

She is the author of Stolen Nation: The Right to Reparation of Palestinian Refugees, a comprehensive legal analysis addressing the destruction and expropriation of Palestinian property during the Nakba. This work advocates for a law-based approach to enforce the right to reparation and examines the marginalization of Palestinian refugees' legal rights in political discourse.

In this episode, they delve into the complexities of reparations, the quest for justice, and potential solutions for Palestinian refugees.

📖 Get Stolen Nation here: https://www.amazon.com/Stolen-Nation-Reparation-Palestinian-Palestine/dp/0755652797

#LenaElMalak #EnlightenmentPodcast #StolenNation #PalestinianRefugees #Reparations #InternationalLaw #HumanRights #Podcast

In Episode 24 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan sit down with Raja Shehadeh, a distinguished Palestinian lawyer, human rights activist, and prolific, award-winning writer. In 1979, he co-founded Al-Haq, a pioneering Palestinian human rights organization that continues to do remarkable work in the field. 

Shehadeh's literary contributions have garnered significant acclaim. His book Palestinian Walks: Forays into a Vanishing Landscape won the Orwell Prize, a prestigious British award for political writing, in 2008.

More recently, his memoir We Could Have Been Friends, My Father and I was a finalist for the 2023 National Book Award for Nonfiction. 

We are excited to discuss his forthcoming book, Forgotten: Searching for Palestine's Hidden Places and Lost Memorials, which delves into the overlooked memorials and sites within historic Palestine. This work is scheduled for publication on March 6, 2025, in London. 

In this episode, they explore Shehadeh's extensive career, his unwavering commitment to human rights, and the inspiration behind his latest literary endeavor.

📖 Pre-order Forgotten here: https://profilebooks.com/work/forgotten/

💡 Learn more about Al-Haq:

Website: https://www.alhaq.org

X: https://twitter.com/alhaq_org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alhaq_org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alhaqorganization

#RajaShehadeh #EnlightenmentPodcast #AlHaq #PalestinianWalks #WeCouldHaveBeenFriends #Forgotten #HumanRights #Palestine #Podcast

In Episode 23 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan sit down with Miko Peled, an author and human rights activist born in Jerusalem. He is renowned for his influential books, including The General's Son: Journey of an Israeli in Palestine and Injustice: The Story of the Holy Land Foundation Five.

Miko is the founder and president of the Palestine House of Freedom (Dar Alhurriya), a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization dedicated to ending Israeli apartheid and establishing a free Palestine with equal rights for all.

In this episode, they discuss Miko's personal journey, his perspectives on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the mission of the Palestine House of Freedom.

Join us for this insightful conversation as we explore the path toward a just and peaceful resolution in the Middle East.

For more information about the Palestine House of Freedom, you can visit their official website: daralhurriya.org

Additionally, here's a video introducing the Palestine House of Freedom: https://youtu.be/D1b6fGmpAUs

You can also follow them on social media:

• Instagram: @palestinehouseoffreedom

• Facebook: Palestine House of Freedom
  

In Episode 22 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan sit down with Ahmed Eldin, an Emmy-nominated journalist, producer, actor, and activist of Palestinian descent. Ahmed has built an impressive media career, including roles with The Huffington Post, VICE, and AJ+.

His work includes the Emmy-nominated project Defining Middle Ground: The Next Generation of Muslim New Yorkers, and he has received various accolades, including a Webby Award. 

His documentary Queer Egypt Under Attack won multiple awards, including the Amnesty International UK Media Award for Digital Creativity and the British Journalism Award for Social Affairs, Diversity & Inclusion in 2023. The film focuses on the treatment of LGBTQI+ individuals in Egypt.

In this episode, they discuss Ahmed's diverse career, his advocacy for human rights, and the challenges faced by marginalized communities in the Middle East.

📽️ Watch Queer Egypt Under Attack here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnSV0UVleR

Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments!

#AhmedShihabEldin #EnlightenmentPodcast #QueerEgyptUnderAttack #LGBTQ #MiddleEast #HumanRights #Journalism #Activism #Podcast

In Episode 21 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan welcome their first Israeli guest, Professor Avi Shlaim, an Israeli-British historian of Iraqi Jewish descent. As an Emeritus Professor of International Relations at the University of Oxford, Professor Shlaim is renowned for his critical perspectives on the history of Zionism and Israel, being a prominent figure among Israel's "New Historians."

Born in Baghdad in 1945, Professor Shlaim and his family relocated to Israel in 1950. He pursued his education in history at Jesus College, Cambridge, and later obtained an M.Sc. in International Relations from the London School of Economics.

In this episode, they delve into his latest work, Three Worlds: Memoirs of an Arab-Jew, which has also been published in Arabic. The memoir offers a unique perspective on his personal journey and the broader historical context of Arab-Jews.

Join them as they explore Professor Shlaim's personal narrative, the intricate history of Arab-Jews, and his critical insights into Zionism and Israeli history.

📚 Learn more about Three Worlds: Memoirs of an Arab-Jew: https://www.amazon.com/Three-Worlds-Arab-Jew-Avi-Shlaim/dp/0861544633

In Episode 20 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan sit down with Atef Alshaer, a Professor in Arabic and Cultural Studies at the University of Westminster. With a career dedicated to exploring the intersections of literature, culture, and politics, Atef brings profound insights into Palestinian identity and resistance through poetry and storytelling.

With a BA in English Language and Literature from Birzeit University in Palestine and a Master’s and PhD from the University of London, Atef has authored numerous works, including Poetry and Politics in the Modern Arab World, A Map of Absence: An Anthology of Palestinian Writing on the Nakba. His acclaimed book New Palestinian Poetry won the Palestine Book Award in 2020.

In this episode, they discuss the power of Palestinian poetry, the enduring cultural impact of the Nakba, and how literature has preserved identity and resistance amidst occupation and displacement.

📚 Learn more about A Map of Absence: An Anthology of Palestinian Writing on the Nakba - https://www.amazon.com/Map-Absence-Anthology-Palestinian-Writing/dp/0863569900

In Episode 19 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan sit down with Amal Ghandour, a Lebanese-Jordanian author and blogger behind This Arab Life. With over three decades of experience in research and community development, Amal offers deep reflections on Arab identity, generational silence, and storytelling.

She is the author of two books: About This Man Called Ali and her latest, This Arab Life: A Generation’s Journey into Silence, released in October 2022. Amal holds an MS in International Policy from Stanford University and a BS from Georgetown, and her writings have appeared in Le Monde, The Daily Beast, and Canvas, among others.

In this episode, they delve into Lebanon’s history, rich culture, and strong ties with Palestine, offering thoughtful and nuanced insights into the region’s past and present.

📚 Explore more of Amal’s work on her Substack: https://substack.com/@amalghandour

We were privileged to sit down with Omar Dajani, Carol Olson Professor of International Law at McGeorge School of Law and a key figure in the Middle East peace process. 

With roots in Jaffa, Syria, and France, Omar brings a rich cultural perspective to his work. A Yale graduate, he served as legal advisor to the Palestinian negotiating team during pivotal peace talks, including the Camp David Summit, and worked with the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process in Jerusalem. 

As co-chair of A Land for All, a movement advocating for a two-state confederation in Israel-Palestine, Omar continues to push for innovative solutions to longstanding conflicts. His recent book, Federalism and Decentralization in the Contemporary Middle East and North Africa, explores institutional designs for addressing governance and identity challenges in the region.

Join us as we discuss his journey, the complexities of the peace process, and ideas for a shared future.

📖 Explore Omar Dajani’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/Federalism-Decentralization-Contemporary-Studies-Comparative/dp/1108831230

We were honored to interview Palestinian artist Sandra Watfa, whose work powerfully highlights themes of displacement, resilience, and Palestinian rights.

Born in Lebanon to a family displaced during the Nakba, Sandra’s art captures the grief and strength of the Palestinian experience. Her evocative collection Nakba: Palestinians' Ongoing Dispossession combines art and poetry to tell these enduring stories.

In this episode, we feature some of Sandra’s impactful work and a moving recording she wrote in November 2023, reflecting on the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

"Nakba: Palestinians' Ongoing Dispossession" on Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Nakba-Palestinians-Dispossession-Sandra-Watfa/dp/1915996139