The London Circle

| 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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| The London Circle | 17 May 2023

When Kais Saied decided to mount a coup against the Tunisian constitution in the Summer of 2021, disband parliament and begin a steady process of sidelining his political detractors, the first and last bastion of the Arab Spring came tumbling down.

The Arab Spring was launched from the Tunisian capital Tunis in late 2010, and several Arab countries followed suit in what was widely recognised as one of the most significant phases of socio-political transformations in modern times. Yet, 13 years on, the picture couldn’t be more stark. With the Tunisian Parliament disbanded, the president holding almost absolute power and dozens of political prisoners languishing in prison facing a litany of politicised charges, among whom is the speaker of the aforementioned parliament.

Anas Altikriti discusses with Mouadh Ghannouchi and Ahmed Gaaloul how Tunisia and Tunisians got here, the dramatic events that saw the imprisonment of Sheikh Rached Ghannouchi as well as the factors which led to the collapse of the Jasmine Revolution and the recess of democracy, and prospects for the future for Tunisians.

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Guests:

|  Ahmed Gaaloul, Former Tunisian MP

|  Mouadh Ghannouchi, Tunisian Activist

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| The London Circle | 10 May 2023

The civil war in Sudan is well in its third week, with numbers of civilians killed, injured, and displaced, mounting every single day. Why have the old allies fell out and over what? Where does the fighting look like it’s heading and who among the regional powers

The split between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, has resulted in a full-blown civil war that has to date resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries, and an estimated 900,000 who have been driven to leave their homes.

In addition to internal reasons related to passing a law which stipulates RSF members within the armed forces, there are regional and international factors at play, making the scene even more complicated.

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Dr. Muhammad Elamin discusses with Anas Altikriti those factors and his analyses of how Sudan arrived at this point, and what we should expect for the foreseeable future.

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| The London Circle | 03 May 2023

Azzam Tamimi and Rabbi Weiss hit the road and travel across the United Kingdom to dispel the myth that the Palestinian cause is an Islam Vs Judaism issue, and to prove that much is shared once the barrier of Zionism is overcome and the history of its colonial project in Palestine is understood.

Whilst the mainstream media often project that the Palestinian issue is one where Muslims and Jews are at loggerheads for mere religious reasons, Pete Gregson was adamant to tell the truth through bringing together two supreme activists within their respective communities; Dr. Azzam Tamimi and Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss.

The Muslim and Jew Tour in its second week has attracted much attention for its portraying the Palestinian cause for what it really is, a struggle against a colonial settler project perpetrated by unreligious Jews who have constructed a narrative far from the origins of the Torah and essential Judaism, under the guise of an extreme nationalist colonial project termed Zionism.

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Anas Altikriti discusses these issues with his guests: 

|  Azzam Tamimi, Palestinian Broadcaster and Author

|  Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss, Naturi Karta USA

|  Pete Gregson, One Democratic Palestine

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| The London Circle | 26 April 2023

The question of what exactly does ‘Extremism’ mean, or who is an extremist, seems to be irrelevant to a 20-year government strategy which claims to pursue eradicating violent extremism. Prevent as a government strategy has been in place since 2003, has proven a significant tool to marginalize the Muslim community and particularly minors within that community. Despite failing to curb extremism, or to prove its worth, no political party is willing to question its validity, never mind its ethical value or its efficiency.

A token independent review set up by the government was dismissed very early on, due to the Chair appointed, William Shawcross, noted for his long record of Islamophobic stands and statements, and the final report proved as had been expected by numerous experts. The People’s Review was published to respond to the Shawcross to much acclaim, but very little mention in the mainstream media.

The authors of the People’s Review on Prevent join Anas Altikriti to discuss this thorny but incredibly important topic.

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Anas Altikriti discusses these issues with his guests: 

|  Layla Aitlhadj, Director at PreventWatch @preventwatch9398 

|  John Holmwood, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, Nottingham University @uniofnottingham 

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