Share
The Thinking Muslim
How Did Syria Move From Torture To Triumph? With Robin Yassin-Kassab
Join our Patreon to get access to exclusive monthly calls: https://www.patreon.com/TheThinkingMuslim
Syria has finally been liberated after 13 years of struggle. We mourn the lives of all that have fallen and celebrate with Syrians. But the horrors of Assad’s gulags are coming to light for the world to see. The scenes from Seydnaya, the slaughterhouse, have shocked many of us. Reflecting on the horrors and looking at some of the challenges, I am honoured today to have a Syrian who has been at the heart of this struggle.
Robin Yassin-Kassab is the author of the novel The Road from Damascus. He is co-author with Leila al-Shami of the Rathbone-Folio prize-shortlisted book Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War. And he is the chief English editor of the ISIS prisons museum – which may soon become the Syria Prisons Museum
Let me remind all viewers that to help us continue to engage critical thought at this time, Please consider becoming a Patron. https://www.patreon.com/TheThinkingMuslim
You can also support The Thinking Muslim through a one-time donation: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/Donate
Listen to the audio version of the podcast:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vXiAjVFnhNI3T9Gkw636a
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-thinking-muslim/id1471798762
Sign up to Muhammad Jalal's newsletter: https://jalalayn.substack.com
Purchase our Thinking Muslim mug: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/merch
Find us on:
Patron. https://www.patreon.com/TheThinkingMuslim
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thinking_muslim
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Thinking-Muslim-Podcast-105790781361490
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkingmuslimpodcast/
Telegram: https://t.me/thinkingmuslim
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thinkingmuslim.bsky.social
Host: https://twitter.com/jalalayn
Website Archive: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com
Timestamps:
0:00- Introduction
2:16 – Reflections
8:13 – Syria another Libya?
15:20 – Prisons – Torture state
22:57 – Information accessing
25:13 – HTS discipline
31:48 – Syrians re-migrating
35:02 – Israelis in Syria
41:47 – International community crippling revolution
More episodes
View all episodes
Syria The Blessed Revolution - Live
03:41:17|This live event was held on Youtube to show solidarity with the Syrian revolution. Here’s a list of speakers and their respective timestampsTimestamps:0:00- Introduction 9:00 - Omar Suleiman - Justice24:10 – Tox – On ground feeling32:44 – Dilly Hussain – Freedom 37:47 – Azzam Tamimi – The Left46:02 – Ali Hammuda – Quranic view59:45 – Shadee Elmasry – Propaganda 1:05:35 – Imam Tom – America1:13:50 – Saifullah – Filmmaker experience 1:17:36 – Razzan Saffour – Syrians experience 1:28:03 – Moazzam Begg – Assad1:36:40 – Robin Yassin – Prisons1:47:37 – Maryam Abdulrahman – Faith 1:54:55 – Ismail Patel – Palestine 2:02:30 – Taji Mustafa – Ummatic thinking 2:10:20 – Abdul Wahid – Islam vilification 2:22:23 – Arslan Hidayat – Uyghurs view2:29:30 – Mohammad Abdulrahman – Martyrdom 2:40:38 – Sikander Iqbal – Victory 2:48:31- Mufti Mangera – Al-Sham2:51:00 – Imran Muneer – Muslim activism 2:57:48 – Mufti Mangera - Al-Sham3:06:41 – Bilal Abdulkareem – Revolution Subverting 3:11:40 - Abdullah Jabbar – Aid3:15:35 – Haitham Al-Haddad – Advice3:34:17 – Yasir Qadhi – Final wordsUnderstanding HTS and the New Syria with Bilal Abdul Kareem
55:14|Join our Patreon to get access to exclusive monthly calls: https://www.patreon.com/TheThinkingMuslimSyria is now free. But what does the future hold for a revolution that we believed had all but been decimated? The most recent spectacular offensive has given the rebel groups control over the country's major cities. There now is an appetite for change and unity. I have been struck by the jubilation felt by most Syrians as the tyrant fell. Many who escaped his brutality are returning. The optimism has to be maintained, and the positivity it expresses should not be replaced with the pessimism shown by some partial commentators who are wishing for Syria to fail.But challenges remain. How do we navigate these? And what of the people who are now at the centre of the new government? I have the pleasure of having Bilal Abdul Kareem on the show to help us understand the complexities of the road ahead and analyse the current players.Bilal Abdul Kareem is a video journalist who has been covering the conflict in Syria since 2012. He has produced reports for CNN, Channel 4, BBC, and Sky News and runs his own news channel, On The Ground News.Let me remind all viewers that to help us continue to engage critical thought at this time, Please consider becoming a Patron. https://www.patreon.com/TheThinkingMuslimYou can also support The Thinking Muslim through a one-time donation: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/DonateListen to the audio version of the podcast:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vXiAjVFnhNI3T9Gkw636aApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-thinking-muslim/id1471798762Sign up to Muhammad Jalal's newsletter: https://jalalayn.substack.comPurchase our Thinking Muslim mug: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/merchFind us on:Patron. https://www.patreon.com/TheThinkingMuslimTwitter: https://twitter.com/thinking_muslimFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Thinking-Muslim-Podcast-105790781361490Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkingmuslimpodcast/Telegram: https://t.me/thinkingmuslimBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thinkingmuslim.bsky.socialHost: https://twitter.com/jalalaynWebsite Archive: https://www.thinkingmuslim.comTimestamps:0:00 – Introduction 2:30 – HTS ideology 5:55 – Justice – Islamic call8:41 – Jolani – positive?11:50 – Bilal too pessimistic?14:34 – New Syria 16:31 – Toleration of Journalists 17:49 – Capability to govern20:11 – Israel 23:30 – How far is Israel in Syria26:00 – Assad central to resisting Israel?28:06 - Where Islam fits?33:28 – New government and the West35:54 – Syrian Prisons39:38 – SDF43:35 – Iran and Hezbollah46:25 – Iran’s role in Syria49:18 – Anti-Imperialist left52:18 – Syrian MindsetAssad Was a Tyrant, Not an Anti-Imperialist with Moazzam Begg
46:57|Join our Patreon to get access to exclusive monthly calls: https://www.patreon.com/TheThinkingMuslimThis episode was filmed on Saturday, before Damascus fell.The Syrian revolution began in 2011 as a grassroots, civil society uprising against one of the most tyrannical rulers in the Muslim World. Bashar al-Assad like his father before him, presided over a state of terror, with disappearances, secret police repression and a punitive state machinery that governed through fear. Assad styled himself as an anti-imperialist when in reality he had colluded with the West in past conflicts and after 9/11 Syria became a favourite place for the Americans to render suspects for horrific torture.Today we have Moazzam Begg who is the senior director of CAGE and author of enemy combatant – a book about his time as a detainee first in Bagram and then in Guantanamo. He also spent time in Syria during the revolution, as part of his investigation into the Assad regimes complicity in the CIA torture programme.Let me remind all viewers that to help us continue to engage critical thought at this time, Please consider becoming a Patron. https://www.patreon.com/TheThinkingMuslimYou can also support The Thinking Muslim through a one-time donation: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/DonateListen to the audio version of the podcast:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vXiAjVFnhNI3T9Gkw636aApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-thinking-muslim/id1471798762Sign up to Muhammad Jalal's newsletter: https://jalalayn.substack.comPurchase our Thinking Muslim mug: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/merchFind us on:Patron. https://www.patreon.com/TheThinkingMuslimTwitter: https://twitter.com/thinking_muslimFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Thinking-Muslim-Podcast-105790781361490Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkingmuslimpodcast/Telegram: https://t.me/thinkingmuslimHost: https://twitter.com/jalalaynWebsite Archive: https://www.thinkingmuslim.comTimestamps:0:00 - Introduction1:41 – Assad anti-imperialist?7:07 – Syria’s torture campaign12:42 – The Left on Syria16:24 – Why dismiss Syrians?19:05 – Russia 22:48 – The opposition27:33 – ISIS vs Opposition 31:59 – Post-Assad Syria34:36 – Minorities 36:40 – Assad against Israel?39:17 – Palestinian resistance on Syria42:48 – Islamic activism 45:26 – Will we be able to visit SyriaWhat they are not telling you about the Syrian Rebellion with Sami Hamdi
01:15:49|Join our Patreon to get access to exclusive monthly calls: https://www.patreon.com/TheThinkingMuslim The demands of the people were snuffed out by a deranged dictator who decided he would burn his country, before giving up power. We thought the revolution had ended, and the millions of Syrians dispersed around the world were never to see their homeland again. This all spectacularly changed this past week, where, to everyone’s surprise, the opposition was able, for the first time, to take over Aleppo and are now fighting to expand their territory. Many questions remain, and a deliberate propaganda campaign waged by Iran and Russia with the help of their social media proxies has confused many who had not followed the events.They hope to throw out false news to make us believe its all too confusing. To help us untangle the political realities I have back on the show Sami Hamdi who joins us today from the US.Let me remind all viewers that to help us continue to engage critical thought at this time, Please consider becoming a Patron. https://www.patreon.com/TheThinkingMuslimYou can also support The Thinking Muslim through a one-time donation: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/DonateListen to the audio version of the podcast:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vXiAjVFnhNI3T9Gkw636aApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-thinking-muslim/id1471798762Sign up to Muhammad Jalal's newsletter: https://jalalayn.substack.comPurchase our Thinking Muslim mug: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/merch Find us on:Patron. https://www.patreon.com/TheThinkingMuslimTwitter: https://twitter.com/thinking_muslimFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Thinking-Muslim-Podcast-105790781361490Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkingmuslimpodcast/Telegram: https://t.me/thinkingmuslim Host: https://twitter.com/jalalaynWebsite Archive: https://www.thinkingmuslim.comTimestamps0:00 - Introduction 1:50- Rebellion – Why now?8:48 – Turkey – did they know?17:29 – Is HTS moderated? 24:37 – Division in rebellion groups30:30 – Is this another Libya?43:45 – American policy on Syria 52:20 – Kurdish role1:02:02 – Syria undermining Gaza?1:10:03 – Did Hezbollah fail?Syria: Can The Tyrant Assad Fall? With Razan Saffour
59:05|Join our Patreon to get access to exclusive monthly calls: https://www.patreon.com/TheThinkingMuslim It’s been a spectacular week in Syria. The world had written off the rebellion that began in 2011, believing Assad, with the support of Russian air power and Iranian militias, had consolidated his rule. In the past weeks, it has been reintegrated into the Arab League, and it just seemed the best the revolution could accept is a rump state in Idlib. There are many who have not followed the developments in Syria over the past 13 years of revolution, and the Thinking Muslim will dedicate some of our shows to reveal the facts and provide important analysis. Today, we have Razan Safoor to give her own account of the Syrian revolution. Razan is a Syrian researcher and an activist. Recently she has been speaking to the international press about developments. So we are honoured to have her with us today.Let me remind all viewers that to help us continue to engage critical thought at this time, Please consider becoming a Patron. https://www.patreon.com/TheThinkingMuslimYou can also support The Thinking Muslim through a one-time donation: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/DonateListen to the audio version of the podcast:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vXiAjVFnhNI3T9Gkw636aApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-thinking-muslim/id1471798762Sign up to Muhammad Jalal's newsletter: https://jalalayn.substack.comPurchase our Thinking Muslim mug: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/merch Find us on:Patron. https://www.patreon.com/TheThinkingMuslimTwitter: https://twitter.com/thinking_muslimFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Thinking-Muslim-Podcast-105790781361490Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkingmuslimpodcast/Telegram: https://t.me/thinkingmuslim Host: https://twitter.com/jalalaynWebsite Archive: https://www.thinkingmuslim.comThe South African Imam on Justice and Struggle – Moulana Ebrahim Bham
47:55|Join our Patreon to get access to exclusive monthly calls: https://www.patreon.com/TheThinkingMuslimMoulana Ebrahim Ismail Bham was born and raised in South Africa. He has attained his masters in the Islamic sciences and theology under great traditional scholars. Shaykh Ebrahim I. Bham is known to be one of the most active scholars in South Africa for education, development and advocacy.Let me remind all viewers that to help us continue to engage critical thought at this time, Please consider becoming a Patron. https://www.patreon.com/TheThinkingMuslimYou can also support The Thinking Muslim through a one-time donation: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/DonateListen to the audio version of the podcast:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vXiAjVFnhNI3T9Gkw636aApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-thinking-muslim/id1471798762Sign up to Muhammad Jalal's newsletter: https://jalalayn.substack.comPurchase our Thinking Muslim mug: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/merchFind us on:Patron. https://www.patreon.com/TheThinkingMuslimTwitter: https://twitter.com/thinking_muslimFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Thinking-Muslim-Podcast-105790781361490Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkingmuslimpodcast/Telegram: https://t.me/thinkingmuslimHost: https://twitter.com/jalalaynWebsite Archive: https://www.thinkingmuslim.comTimestamps0:00 - Introduction2:05 – Hamidia Masjid7:40 – South African Muslims14:18 – South Africa ICJ19:11 – Nalendi Pandor bravery22:38 – Justice in Islam29:30 – How do we stay motivated?35:22 – Accountability in Islam40:37 – non-Muslims Islam queries44:11 – Balance of Ummatic causeWhat next for US Muslims? With Imam Tom Facchine and Mobeen Vaid
01:10:21|Join our Patreon to get access to exclusive monthly calls: https://www.patreon.com/TheThinkingMuslim Now that the US elections are over, I want to explore deeper issues today with my guests. Is political participation really the principal way by which we are going to proceed, and who best should be charged from within us to undertake this task? Some have argued that to progress, we have to play the ‘long game’ and adopt the Zionist prototype of influence.Let me remind all viewers that to help us continue to engage critical thought at this time, Please consider becoming a Patron. https://www.patreon.com/TheThinkingMuslimYou can also support The Thinking Muslim through a one-time donation: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/DonateListen to the audio version of the podcast:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vXiAjVFnhNI3T9Gkw636aApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-thinking-muslim/id1471798762Sign up to Muhammad Jalal's newsletter: https://jalalayn.substack.comPurchase our Thinking Muslim mug: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/merch Find us on:Patron. https://www.patreon.com/TheThinkingMuslimTwitter: https://twitter.com/thinking_muslimFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Thinking-Muslim-Podcast-105790781361490Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkingmuslimpodcast/Telegram: https://t.me/thinkingmuslim Host: https://twitter.com/jalalaynWebsite Archive: https://www.thinkingmuslim.comTimestamps:0:00 - Introduction 2:50 – Satisfied with results?7:18 – Will Trump be a problem?13:20 – Trump vs the globalists?18:20 - America First Ideology?20:36 - Trumps cabinet27:35 – US Empire in trouble?36:16 – Muslim’s moving forward42:49 – Islamic ethics?51:00 – What are the guardrails?56:32 – Prioritisation in communities1:04:00 Mid Terms1:05:15 US Muslims and exceptionalismCan Muslims Resist Modernity? with Hasan Spiker
01:51:34|How do Muslims deal with what looks like the comprehensive success of Western civilisation. Is it time to accept defeat, as one writer put it? Or does Islam have something to offer the world that can move us beyond this dysfunctional world.Our guest today is Hasan Spiker, he argues that modernity is not neutral. The assumption is that modernity is regarded as universal is false. He argues that modernity is Western and its embrace is a means to Western hegemony and domination. He is the author of this soon to be published work, published on the 26th November – The Unraveling of Intelligibility.Join our Patreon to get access to exclusive monthly calls: https://www.patreon.com/TheThinkingMuslimHow do Muslims deal with what looks like the comprehensive success of Western civilisation. Is it time to accept defeat, as one writer put it? Or does Islam have something to offer the world that can move us beyond this dysfunctional world.Our guest today is Hasan Spiker, he argues that modernity is not neutral. The assumption is that modernity is regarded as universal is false. He argues that modernity is Western and its embrace is a means to Western hegemony and domination. He is the author of this soon to be published work, published on the 26th November – The Unraveling of Intelligibility.Let me remind all viewers that to help us continue to engage critical thought at this time, Please consider becoming a Patron. https://www.patreon.com/TheThinkingMuslimYou can also support The Thinking Muslim through a one-time donation: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/DonateListen to the audio version of the podcast:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7vXiAjVFnhNI3T9Gkw636aApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-thinking-muslim/id1471798762Sign up to Muhammad Jalal's newsletter: https://jalalayn.substack.comPurchase our Thinking Muslim mug: https://www.thinkingmuslim.com/merchFind us on:Patron. https://www.patreon.com/TheThinkingMuslimTwitter: https://twitter.com/thinking_muslimFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Thinking-Muslim-Podcast-105790781361490Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkingmuslimpodcast/Telegram: https://t.me/thinkingmuslimHost: https://twitter.com/jalalaynWebsite Archive: https://www.thinkingmuslim.comTimestamps:0:00 – Introduction1:58 – Muslims Disempowered? 4:34 – What is Modernity?9:42 – Metaphysics and progress 14:51 – Islam and modernity19:00 – The 5 Bifurcations24:20 – Importance of Sharia25:36 – Separating sacred from spirit27:58 – Sharia vs Spiritual29:57 – The second bifurcation 37:43 – Protestantism and secularism 41:02 – Nation-state and modernity 44:06 – Liberalism development49:52 – The third bifurcation 53:02 – Reasoning religious belief 56:38 – Empirical vs Metaphysics 59:10 – The fourth bifurcation 1:08:21 – non-recognition of Metaphysics1:11:40 – The final bifurcation1:13:47 – The west’s Machiavellianism 1:17:20 – Liberalism’s Façade 1:19:18 – Gaza western hegemony1:27:17 – Ideologies and modernity 1:31:58 – Islams counter-hegemony 1:41:41 – City of Love1:45:51 – Strength of modernity 1:50:30 – Islam will save modernity