| The London Circle | 16 Aug 2023

The Rabi’s Square massacre against peaceful protestors against the Military Coup which crushed the fledgling democracy in Egypt, was described as the worst massacre committed in modern times, and a crime against humanity. Yet 10 years on, very little has happened to restore justice to the countless victims.

When the Egyptian military invaded Rabi’a Square on the 14th of August and opened fire against the tens of thousands of protestors who had been holding a sit-in for several weeks, many had predicted that the world would not stand in silence amid the massacre that unfolded before the eyes of the world.

Yet, the world not only stood watching in silence but actually moved on, whilst the Egyptian people continue to suffer a failed and corrupt regime that has reduced the entire country and its people to rubble.

 

Maha Azzam talks to Anas Altikriti about Egypt, the Rabi’a Massacre and what should and could be expected on the democracy-flagging international community.

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Guests:

| Maha Azzam, President of the Egyptian Revolutionary Council

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| The London Circle | 09 Aug 2023

Why is the cause of the Uyghurs so complicated, and why is the world divided so deeply over where to stand thereon? Despite public denouncements of China over the cultural genocide perpetrated against the Uyghurs, little is being done in real terms to either bring the Chinese regime to account or to offer actual help and assistance to the victims.

In a recent United Nations vote, the majority of Muslim countries failed to vote against China over its treatment of the Uyghur Muslims. This as well as a widespread apathy on behalf of the Muslim world baffles the Uyghurs and their supporters around the world.

The measure of crimes committed against the people of East Turkistan is difficult to quantify and affects them on every level, even in the privacy of their own homes.

 

Anas Altikriti talks to Abdul Hakim Idris and Salman Butt about what the Uyghurs dream of achieving and what ought to be done on behalf of Muslims and global activist. 

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Guests:

| Abdul Hakim Idris, Centre for Uyghur Studies.
| Salman Butt, Stand4Uyghurs.

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| The London Circle | 02 Aug 2023

It’s been two years since Kais Saied mounted a coup on the Tunisian constitution, and more than 100 days since the arrest of the elected Speaker of the Tunisian Parliament Sheikh Rached Ghannouchi.
Where does Tunisia find itself now and what can the Tunisian people look forward to?

When Kaid Saied dissolved parliament and suspended the Constitution, many thought that it would be a matter of days, weeks at most, before things went back to normal and Tunisia resumed its progress towards creating the democratic state which its revolution in December 2010 promised.

However, two years on from that fateful night, Tunisia finds itself on the slippery and dangerous path towards oppression, authoritarianism and dictatorship, which most Middle Eastern states display.

Sheikh Rached Ghannouchi, the 82 year old elected Speaker of Parliament and head of Ennahda Party has now spent over 100 days in prison along with dozens of political prisoners, facing frivolous trumped up charges forced by the Saied Regime.

Ahmed Gaaloul of Ennahda party and Yusra Ghannouchi, daughter of Sheikh Rached discuss with Anas Altikriti where Tunisa and the Tunisian people find themselves, and to what future both can look forward.

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Guests:

| Ahmed Gaaloul
| Yusra Ghannouchi

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| The London Circle | 26 July 2023

In a recent trip to France, Muhammad Rabbani was stopped at the airport, held for an entire day and ultimately banned from entering the country, all because he dared criticise France’s treatment of its Muslim communities.

Anti-terror laws which allow security authorities to hold, interrogate and intimidate Muslim activists seem to be not only expanding, but also intensifying and becoming more frequent.

Despite upholding values of democracy, freedoms and human rights, yet several European countries, France and the UK included, seem to casually flaunt those values whenever convenient, causing not only serious inconvenience to the individual, but widespread intimidation and the waste of valuable security resources on individuals well known to harbour no threat whatsoever.

What can Muslim activists and organization do in light of a legal sphere that appears to be designed to create immense challenges for them and for their movement?

 

Muhammad Rabbani discusses with Anas Altikriti details of his recent experience at Paris airport which ended with him being banned from ever entering the country.

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Guests:

|  Muhammad Rabbani

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| The London Circle | 28 June 2023

As vile as Anti Semitism is, yet the loose and casual brandishing of that charge against anyone and everyone who dares criticize Israel or Zionism, threatens to devalue the term of its serious and dangerous implication.

In his newly published book, The Weaponisation of Anti Semitism, Asa Wistanley illustrates the time of Jeremy Corbyn at the helm of the Labour Party to being vilified and expelled from the party he represented for 4 decades, as an example of how Anti Semitism can be weaponized and used to eliminate pro-Palestinian voices.

 

From Zionism to British politics and media, passing through the waters of student activism to the status and future of the Labour party and the political Left, Asa Wistanley discusses an array of subjects with Anas Altikriti

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Guests:

|  Asa Winstanley, Journalist and Author

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| The London Circle | 21 June 2023

Since 9-11, countries around the world have quickly adopted legal procedures and laws which have resulted in human rights abuses and transgressions against personal and public rights in an unprecedented manner. Yet, the state of security has not improved, indeed it has worsened for millions around the world, and especially Muslims.

With fully fledged criminal and civil laws that address a vast array of crimes and misdemeanors, one would be justified in questioning the need for an extra layer of laws that target acts that are deemed to fall under the ambiguous term, terrorism.

From Guantanamo to the illegal rendition of suspects to be tortured by brutal regimes, the western world, constantly holding claim to the bastion of freedoms and human rights, has committed or has been complicit in the committing of some of the most heinous transgressions and crimes.

What got us here, and why is it that Muslims appear to be in the hairlines of these laws?

Asim Qureshi of Cager UK discusses these and more with Anas Altikriti

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Guests:

|  Asim Qureshi, Author and Research Director, Cage UK

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| The London Circle | 14 June 2023

The legacy of student campaigning in the UK is nothing short of fantastic, with students constantly campaigning against the ruling establishment in the UK and across the world.

However, things have changed with the politicization of this crucial arena of civic manifestation, and have reduced it to a shadow of its former self.

British students have always campaigned for justice, whether it be within the UK or anywhere else across the world. To note but one example, the NUS’ historic stand against Apartheid in South Africa was one of the most powerful tools of bringing down that regime.

However, today student activism resembles a shadow of its former glorious self, with utterances, statements and political and ideological opinions being combed through meticulously and students being punished for something they said years and years ago when they were students. Indeed, students winning elections are being sacked for statements they made when they were minors and threatened with their future careers.

Anas Altikriti discusses with Shaima Dallali and Lubaba Khalid the state of UK student activism, its achievmentds and the conditions that are now set to stifle its ability to freely express any stand on controversial issues.

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Guests:

|  Shaima Dallali, Activist
|  Lubaba Khalid, Young Labour BAME Representative

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| The London Circle | 07 June 2023

The global attention on the recent Turkish elections was remarkable affirming Türkiye’s status as a world power with great influence. But what of the challenges it faces and the ongoing impact of the earthquake and the fall in the value of the Lira? 

Türkiye has undergone what is nothing short of a miraculous transformation on every level over the course of the AK Party’s rule. The evidence of this is the level of attention, interest and often interference afforded to its recent elections by global media, which were heavily, sometimes unreasonably, critical of the party in government since 2002.

 

However, local and regional challenges are looming, and the devastating impact of the Earthquake earlier this year continues to mark efforts to see the economy recover. The rise of nationalism, xenophobia even, during the campaigning, the issue of the refugees and the value of the Lira, will be issues of contention in coming months and years.

 

Anas Altikriti, discusses with Dr. Mehmet Karakus, Director of the Yunus Emre Institute in London, these and many more.

 

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Guests:

|  Mehmet Karakus, Director of the Yunus Emre Institute, London

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| The London Circle | 31 May 2023

How effective is the attempt to bring China to account at the ICC in The Hague, and how could justice be delivered when the process is so lengthy, arduous and convoluted with political posturing on all sides?

The case of the Muslim Uyghurs of China is one that is known all across the world. Presidents, Prime Ministers and leaders have spoken out against the cultural genocide being committed be Beijing in countering calls for the independence of Eastern Turkistan and the liberation of the Uyghur people.

In a way, the very concept of international institutions and agencies is being tested in terms of efficacy, particularly after so many international crimes went unpunished and the perpetrators unaccounted. On the other side, the ICC was successful in bringing the cases of Bosnia and Rwanda to name but two to a satisfactory conclusion. So where will the case for the Uyghurs go?

 

Anas Altikriti discusses with Rodney Dixon KC the prospects, potentials and permutations of the Uyghur case at the ICC.

 

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Guests:

|  Rodney Dixon KC, Counsel for Uyghur Groups at the ICC

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| The London Circle | 24 May 2023

The charge of Anti-Semitism has become a ready tool to stifle, intimidate and even ruin the lives of pro-Palestinian voices, and particularly those who display anti-Zionist tendencies.

The conflation of Anti-Zionism and the criticism of the state of Israel with Anti-Semitism has become an effective tool of intimidation, which has shown its teeth in virtually every single arena, not least the political. Commentators, writers, activists and even ordinary folk showing a rudimentary interest in the Palestinian issue, and who dare criticize their tormentor, are sure to come in for the most severe kind of intimidation with the accusation of anti-Semitism ready to be deployed.

Anas Altikriti discusses with David Miller, himself a victim of such a campaign, and Nasim Ahmed the type of campaigns which face the criticism of Israel and Zionism, and how those should be countered.

 

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Guests:

|  Nasim Ahmed, Researcher, Middle East Monitor

|  David Miller, Former Professor of Sociology

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