| 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.

 

-----------

Guests:

|  Ahmed Gaaloul, Former Tunisian MP

|  Mouadh Ghannouchi, Tunisian Activist

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

| 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.

-----------

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

| 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.

-----------

 

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

| 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.

-----------

 

Anas Altikriti discusses these issues with his guests: 

|  Layla Aitlhadj, Director at PreventWatch @preventwatch9398 

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

| The London Circle | 19 April 2023

Relationship and Sexual Education (RSE) has been one of the most talks about subjects when it comes to schools and education, for the past few years,  particularly amongst Muslim families. 

The marginalisation of the core family unit of a mother and father in favour of same sex couples, followed by the introduction of multi-gender and non-gender identities, has left the overwhelming majority of parents concerned for the way their children are being educated, particularly from a moral and ethical standpoint. 

-----------

 

Anas Altikriti discusses these issues with his guests: 

|  Yusuf Patel who founded RSEIslamic

|  Antonia Tulley, a Roman Catholic and long term campaigner for the protection of children in education

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

| The London Circle | 12 April 2023

Pakistan is uniquely placed to play a crucial role in the way future geopolitics will unfold. Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) is one of the oldest political parties in Pakistan, and its perspective of events locally and regionally is of great importance.

 

One of the Nuclear states that straddle a dynamic region bridging the Far and Middle East, and an indispensable player in the geopolitics of one of the most volatile regions in the world today, Pakistan is a country and a nation that is often underplayed for its strategic location and its immense resources, natural, demographic and mineral. Whether its local politics or whether its neighbouring of Afghanistan, Iran, India and China, or indeed its possession of nuclear capabilities, Pakistan’s role should never be underestimated in shaping the map of the region and the power structures therein.

 

JI has been a present and an active and influential player in Pakistani politics for over 80 years, during which time it was part of several governments and ruling coalitions. Where does it find itself today, and how does it see local, regional and international events of concern?

-----------

 

Anas Altikriti discusses these issues with his guests: 

| Asif Luqman Qazi, Director of Foreign Affairs, Jamaat e Islami, Pakistan @JIPOfficial 

| Muhammad Abdus Shakoor, Vice President of Alkhidmat Foundation, Pakistan @AlkhidmatPakistan 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

| The London Circle | 05 April 2023

The significance of Al-Aqsa Mosque not just for Muslims but also for the world in general. The discussants also observe the rise in global solidarity with the Palestinians as opposed to a decline in world sympathy with Zionism. 

-----------

 

Anas Altikriti discusses these issues with his guests: 

| Ismail Patel @FriendsofAlAqsafoa 

| Robert Andrews @EuropalforumOrgUk

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

| The London Circle | 29 Mar 2023

The most profound social phenomena are those which take place behind closed doors and create victims who are virtually invisible. Domestic abuse, as abhorrent as most would deem it, is nonetheless far more prevalent and is creating much wider effects than initially expected.

 

Why is this disease so widespread, and how does it take grip within a community that holds such sublime teachings and high values as the Muslim community does, and what implication does it bear for all parties, the victim first and foremost, but the abuser and the community at large? What are Mosques and Islamic centres, as well as local governments doing to raise awareness and curb this scourge? Since domestic abuse and violence is so widely present throughout society as a whole, is it fair to assume that it has little to do with culture and religion and more so with popular conceptions and attitudes which bring around the theme of toxic masculinity and how young men perceive women and who they hold as role models?

-----------

 

Anas Altikriti discusses these issues with his guests: 

| Huda Jawad, Campaigner against Domestic Abuse

| Shams Adduha, Director, Ebrahim College

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

| The London Circle | 22 Mar 2023

A failed state riddled by sectarianism, corruption, violence and instability, Iraq 20 years on provides a damning indictment of the US President and British Prime Minister who for months, sold the war project to the world.

Over a million Iraqis dead, countless displaced, immeasurable corruption levels, a rotten political system, failed governments, terrorist organisations and sectarian militias roaming the streets of Iraq spreading fear, havoc and intimidation and much much more, are the legacy of the March 2003 war, deemed by many to have been illegal, unprovoked and unnecessary.

Anas Altikriti discusses with Marco Carnelos and Matt Kennard what happened to allow the war to happen, and what has taken place in Iraq as well as throughout the Middle East region and beyond ever since. Also, the panel discusses how the world and history see the architects and perpetrators of this horrific war.

-----------

 

Anas Altikriti discusses these issues with his guests: 

| Marco Carnelos, Former Diplomat and Freelance Journalist

| Matt Kennard, Chief Investigator, Declassified UK

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

| The London Circle | 15 Mar 2023

The changes seen throughout the Middle East over the past few years have signalled radical transformative realities that will have an impact on future alliances and conflicts that will have serious political, economic, security and demographic consequences. Whether it be the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) conflict, the alliances and disputes throughout the Arab world, the Iranian question, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Libya or the impact of Turkey and its internal and external challenges, the region is certainly a changing landscape which allows for a variety of scenarios regarding crucial themes. Along with the perspectives of Western perspectives thereon and the impact of the Russian-Ukranian war and the remnants, if any, of the Arab Spring are interesting factors in forecasting the next phases or phases of this most volatile and fascinating region. 

-----------

 

Anas Altikriti discusses these issues with his guests: 

| Daud Abdullah, Director, Middle East Monitor @MiddleEastMonitor 

| Nasim Ahmed, Political Analyst

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.