The New Arab Voice

Protests are back in Syria. Twelve years since the start of the uprisings against the Assad regime, Syrians are still protesting. In the southern province of Suweida huge protests have erupted, in part, fuelled by the continuing fall in living standards across the country, but also for the same reasons that brought people out to the streets in 2011. They have now entered their fourth week, and so far, look set to continue. This week on The New Arab Voice, we look at the protests in Suweida. What do they want? What are their demands? Who is protesting, and are they the same people from 2011, or new people? And why have the protests seemingly been permitted to continue with their defiance?Also, we look at the August 10th Movement. The August 10th Movement announced their formation just before the protests in Suweida, and declared themselves to be peaceful and non-sectarian. We ask, who they are? What do they want? And what prospects do they have to challenge the regime?Joining us to talk about the protests, we have Jospeh Daher, (@JosephDaher19). Joseph works at the University of Lausanne and is a co-director is the Syrian Trajectory Project.And, Wafa Ali Mustafa (@WafaMustafa9). Wafa is a Syrian journalist and activist, who now lives in Berlin. For a decade now, Wafa has campaigned tirelessly for Syria’s disappeared.This podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge. Theme music by Omar al-Fil. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice.

We've been off for a few week, but now we're back!While we were on holiday, Jordan took the opportunity to implement a new cybercrime law that has set alarm bells ringing among human rights defenders. The cybercrime law contains some incredibly vague language, which critics say will allow the government to target free speech, and effect the basic rights of Jordanians. It will also limit the ability of Jordanians to call out corruption or human rights abuses in the country. This week on The New Arab Voice, what’s in Jordan’s new cybercrime bill? How will it impact Jordanians? Why are the cracking down in this way and what does King Abdullah have to gain from this? And what does it mean for democratic hopes in the country. To help guide us through Jordan's cybercrime bill, we're joined by Marwa Fatafta (@marwasf) a digital rights advocate and works as the MENA policy and advocacy manager at Access Now (@accessnow), a global digital rights organisation.We also speak with Jamal Al Tahat (@JamalAlTahat1) to guide us through the thinking of the Jordanian state. Jamal is  is a senior consultant at Democracy for the Arab World Now or DAWN (@DAWNmenaorg). He has spent decades advocating for democratisation in Jordan.And finally, we speak with Issam Ureiqat (@IsamUraiqat). issam is the Director of Al-Hudood (@AlHudoodNet), an online satire publication that was recently blocked in Jordan because of jokes the website made about the royal family. This podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge. Theme music by Omar al-Fil. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice.

Iraq is known for its high temperatures. But with the impacts of climate change becoming ever more pronounced, the summer heat in Iraq has become unbearable for many, and also threatens to make large areas of the country uninhabitable. As Iraq inches towards this unbearably hot future, its ability to adapt is decreasing year after year. The Iraqi population has been growing while the water supply is dwindling and in most cities, public electricity is already too unreliable to guarantee access to air conditioning for all.This week on The New Arab Voice, we ask how are Iraqi cities being impacted by climate change? Who is most affected by it? What resources do Iraqis have to deal with increasing heat? And beyond climate change, what factors are fuelling climate injustice in the country?To help us understand these issues, we speak with Dr Biyar Zaza, a resident doctor working the largest public hospitals in Erbil, the Rojhalat hospital. Zeinab Shuker (@zfshuker), a sociologist and visiting climate fellow at Century International (@TCFdotorg). Nabil Musa, the founder of Waterkeepers Iraq (@WaterkeepersIQ) - a global network of activists advocating on behalf of the world’s rivers. And Khaled Suleiman (@ksulaiman), a Kurdish Iraqi environmental journalist.This podcast is written by Lyse Mauvais (@lyse_mauvais) and produced by Hugo Goodridge. Theme music by Omar al-Fil. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice.

Riad Salameh spent 30 years at the top of Lebanon’s Central Bank. Some called him a magician. But in recent years, his tricks have been revealed to devastating effects.In 2019 the Lebanese economy dramatically collapsed and many inside and outside the country pointed the finger of blame at Riad Salameh. Despite the economic problems, he stayed on. But on the last day of July, Riad Salameh walked out of Lebanon’s Central Bank for the last time. This week on The New Arab Voice, we sat down with Karim Bitar (@karimbitar) to discuss the departure of Riad Salameh, his time at the Central Bank, the accusation that have been levelled at him by people in Lebanon, and abroad, and what the future holds for the Lebanese Central Bank. Sign up to our newsletter here. This podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge. Theme music by Omar al-Fil. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice.

The release of Patrick Zaki was some rare good human rights news from Egypt. After being sentenced to three years in jail, he was then pardoned the next day by President Abdel Fatah el-Sisi, and was able to return to Italy. Patrick had been hanging in legal limbo since 2020, when he was first arrested, and subsequently charged with “disseminating false news” and “inciting to protest”.His release was warmly welcomed by human rights defenders and lead to questions as to whether we could see more releases and presidential pardons, particularly as the work of the National Dialogue builds up. The National Dialogue was first announced by the president last year, but was then delayed, only starting work this year. It has been tasked with discussing political, economic, and social issues in Egypt. Some opposition members in Egypt are hoping that it could serve as platform to steer the country back to democracy. Others are more skeptical.This week on The New Arab Voice, we look at the case of Patrick Zaki and why he was arrested, the state of human rights in Egypt, and the National Dialogue and whether it will be able to make an impact. Joining us to discuss human rights in Egypt is Dr. Aida Seif el-Dawla, a retired professor of psychiatry, and one of four founders of the El Nadim Center for the Psychological Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence and Torture, an Egyptian independent NGO, founded in 1993.And to help us understand the National Dialogue, we speak with Mirette Mabrouk, a senior fellow and the Director of the Egypt and Horn of Africa programme at the Middle East Institute. Sign up to our newsletter here. This podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge. Theme music by Omar al-Fil. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice.

The people of northern Syria were recently dealt a terrible blow. At the UN Security Council, on 11 July, permanent member Russia vetoed the extension of UN deliveries through the Bab al-Hawa crossing. It had served as a vital lifeline for the over 4 million people who live in the north west, and are in desperate need of help. Following the Russian veto, the Assad regime stepped in and said that they would grant permission to the UN for the delivery of aid. This offer was quickly and firmly rejected by opposing members of the Security Council, who are all to aware of the Assad regime's history of weaponising aid. This week on The New Arab Voice, we examine the humanitarian needs in northern Syria, why the cross border aid is so vital, what alternatives might be available, and the terms of the Assad regime's offer and why it is so unacceptable. Also we explore the diplomacy of the United Nations Security Council. Why is the council making decisions about aid? How is Russia using the issue of aid at the UN? How does the veto work, and should it be abandoned? And is it time for reforms at the UN?To guide us through aid efforts and issues in northern Syria, we're joined by Natasha Hall (@NatashaHallDC), senior fellow with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (@CSISMidEast).And to untangle UN diplomacy, we speak with Richard Gowan (@RichardGowan1), UN Director for the International Crisis Group (@CrisisGroup).Find our newsletter here. This podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge. Theme music by Omar al-Fil. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice.

The recent violence in the Jenin refugee camp was a shocking and violent development. The incursion left 12 dead, over a hundred wounded, and a trail of destruction to infrastructure that will make life in the camp even more difficult. As Israeli soldiers made their way through the camp, Palestine activists in London took to the streets to express their anger and opposition to the events in the West Bank, and to the British government's relationship with the government in Israel. This week on The New Arab Voice we look at the state of Palestine activism is the UK. What are Palestine activists doing to get their message across? Are they seeing any success? How might legislation like the 'Anti-Boycott Bill' effect the work of Palestine activists? And should the movement seek greater cooperation with the UK government. The struggle for Palestine in the UK is ongoing, but there is a precedent in the country for successful campaigns.The former apartheid regime in South Africa was an appalling crime, and during the life of this regime, campaigns in the UK, through intense efforts, manage to raise awareness and effect real change in South Africa, via the UK. This week, we look at how that anti-apartheid campaign managed to achieve its success, and what lessons can be learnt, to help those fighting against Palestinian oppression.Joining us to talk about the recent events in Jenin, we speak with Qassam Muaddi (@QassaMMuaddi), The New Arab's West Bank correspondent.To explain the state of Palestine activism in the UK, we're joined by Jeanine Hourani (@jeaninehourani), a Palestinian organiser and a PhD candidate at the University of Exeter looking at women’sresistance and mental health in Palestine.And to remind us of the struggle face by anti-apartheid campaigners , we speak with famed activist Lord Peter Hain (@PeterHain).This podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge. Theme music by Omar al-Fil. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice.

When the prison at Guantanamo Bay was opened, it was announced that it would hold terror suspects, picked up by the US in their War on Terror. It quickly became a dungeon that tortured its inmates and violated some of the most basic principles of humanity. Subsequent presidents, although not all, have said that they will close down the site and release the prisoners. However this task has been fraught with difficulties. While the vast majority have been never been found guilty, or even been charged with a crime; those that have been charged, have claimed that the evidence against them was extracted by torture, and was only given to make the abuses stop. Such is the case of Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri.In May, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention condemned his continued detention, and the torture that he suffered in prison, and how he had been denied rights to guarantee and fair trial. This week on The New Arab Voice, we look at the case of Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, how the torture he endured at the hands of his captors is playing into his trial, how efforts to close the prison have failed, and what needs to happen to ensure that victims of Guantanamo get justice. We speak with Katie Carmon, a lawyer for the Military Commissions Defense Organization, and one of the lawyers representing Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri.Also, Andy Worthington (@GuantanamoAndy), an investigative journalist, activist, and author of The Guantanamo Files.And Mansoor Adayfi (@MansoorAdayfi), a Yemeni national who was picked up by the US 2002, accused of being a member of a terrorist organisation and sent to Guantanamo, where he would remain until 2016. Adayfi has accused the US of torturing him during his interrogations  Sign up to the newsletter here. This podcast is written by Nadine Talaat and produced by Hugo Goodridge. Theme music by Omar al-Fil. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice.

The golfing world was upturned at the start of June, with the news that a deal had been struck between the PGA and the Saudi-funded LIV Golf. After months of warring words and a flurry of lawsuits the two sides agreed to come together and put hostiles aside. The deal will see a return of some of the biggest names in golf and also see a huge investment into the game by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.Like the initial creation of LIV Golf, this investment has created controversy and prompted claims of sportswashing. The PGA has been accused of ignoring the appalling human rights abuses of the Saudi regime and whitewashing the reputation of the like of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. This week on The New Arab Voice, we look at the recent deal between the PGA and LIV Golf, the implications for human rights and sportswashing, the Saudi Public Investment Fund, and what the Gulf nation hopes to achieve with such spending. To talk about Saudi Arabia and human rights, we’re joined by Joey Shea (@joey_shea), a Human Rights Watch (@hrw) researcher in the Middle East and North Africa Division investigating human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. And to explain all about the Saudi PIF and what they hope to achieve, we speak with Imad K. Harb (@harb3imad), the Director of Research and Analysis at Arab Center Washington DC (@ArabCenterWDC)This podcast is written and produced by Hugo Goodridge. Theme music by Omar al-Fil. Other music by Blue Dot Sessions. To get in touch with the producers, follow then tweet us at @TheNewArabVoice.