THE INTERVIEWS | المقابلات

PROGRAMS | البرامج
(Language of the interview or program episode is indicated after the title.)
 
​​Words of Revolution and Digital Security
 Leil Zahra Mortada | Interviewed by Tania El Khoury | Arabic​​
  • A discussion on solidarity, revolutionary initiatives, and digital security. 


Art as Interruption: On Homeland, Revolutionary Utterances, and Surveillance 
Heba Y. Amin | Interviewed by Adel Iskandar | English​
  • Heba Y. Amin discusses and reflects on her most jarring works, which include hacking the set of television series "Homeland" with subversive graffiti, a videographic documentation of long-lost online audio messages from the Egyptian revolution (Speak2Tweet), and how birds relate to surveillance, the Bible, and the British takeover of Jerusalem.  


Sectarianism in the Gulf
Toby Matthiesen | Interviewed by Mona Kareem | English​
  • A discussion on sectarianism in the Gulf after the 2011 Arab uprisings.
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Translating Knowledge Production in the Arab World into Public Awareness and Policy 
Sari Hanafi | Interviewed by Bassam Haddad | Arabic 
  • On the recent publication of his book, co-authored with Rigas Arvanitis, Knowledge Production in the Arab World: The Impossible Promise.


Counterrevolution in Egypt: The Role of Fear and Predominance of the Security Forces 
Khaled Fahmy | Interviewed by Ali El Raggal | Arabic 
  • On revolutions in Egypt throughout history 


Syrian Refugees and the Map of a Dangerous Journey
Alia Malek | Interviewed by Malihe Razazan | English

People-Biased Architecture and Passion for Architecture in Yemen 
Salma Samar Damluji | Interviewed by Nahla Chahal | Arabic
  • In this interview, Damluji speaks about her experience as an architect and her understanding of architecture.


Area C: Developmental Discourses and Colonial Looting
Lena Meari | Interviewed by Diaa Ali | Arabic 
  • The interview focuses on the concept of Area C, which came in accordance with the Oslo Accords, and the reflections of these divisions on deepening the colonial settlement reality in Palestine, the stand of the World Bank towards development in these areas and the role played by the Palestinian national authority in deepening these divisions and barriers.


Covering the Migration Crisis in Greece
Kostas Kallergis | Interviewed by Nada Ghandour-Demiri | English
  • Greek journalist and producer provides insights on the migration crisis in Greece and reflects on the role of journalists in covering this topic. 


Drawn to Palestinian Memory: Baddawi, a Graphic Novel
Leila Abdelrazaq | Interviewed by Julie Hakim Azzam | English
  • Author Leila Abdelrazaq talks about her graphic novel, which is based on her father's childhood in the Baddawi refugee camp in Lebanon.


Underground Iraqi Music, Part 1: A Universe of Music
Beshar al-Azzawi | Interviewed by Dima Yassine | Arabic
  • Independent Iraqi musician and composer Beshar al-Azzawi talks about his inspirations, creative process, and his desire to continue integrating Iraqi folklore into different musical genres from all around the world.  


The Human Right to Dominate 
Nicola Perugini | Interviewed by Noura Erakat | English
  • Nicola discusses his newly co-authored book The Human Right to Dominate.


ISIS and Women
Rafia Zakaria | Interviewed by Katty Alhayek | English
  • Author of The Upstairs Wife: An Intimate History of Pakistan discusses her articles on ISIS and women, and the challenges that she faces sharing her perspective on these issues with a wider audience. 


The Women's Movement in Morocco
Naima Benwakrim | Interviewed by Fateh Azzam | Arabic
  • A discussion and assessment of the Moroccan women’s movement’s struggle for equality and their human rights. 


The Students' Movement in Palestine 
Nael Halabi | Interviewed by Iyad Riyahi | Arabic 
  • This interview explores the realities of the student movement in Palestinian universities, in particular Birzeit University, as well as, the movement's overall role and current challenges. 

The Trade Union Movement in Palestinian Universities
Eileen Kuttab | Interviewed by Diaa Ali | Arabic 
  • On the personal experience of a pioneer in the Birzeit University Union and how she faced difficulties as a woman in a patriarchal environment.


Education in Syria during War
Saber Darwish, Alia Ahmad, and Sami Abdul-Karim | Interviewed by Katty Alhayek | Arabic 
  • In a series of three interviews, Syrian writers and activists share their perspectives about the realities of education for students inside Syria, as well as Syrians in neighboring countries.
  • Each guest focuses on education in varying locales: areas under opposition control, areas under government control, and areas with ISIS rule.  


Night in Gaza 
Mads Gilbert | Interviewed by Malihe Razazan | English
  • ​An interview with the Norwegian physician on his new book Night in Gaza, detailing his work in experience in the beseiged Gaza Strip during Israeli attacks. 


The Arab Spring from a Philosophical Perspective
Ahmad Barqawi | Interviewed by Osama Esber | Arabic
  • An interview with intellectual and writer Ahmad Barqawi on the Arab Spring from a philosophical perspective.


From Homs to Beirut: Darwish's Ard al-Samak
Hani al-Sawah | Interviewed by Moe Ali Nayel | Arabic 
  • Exclusive interview with Syrian rap artist Darwish on his latest solo album release 

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Before the Credit Crisis
Iyad Riyahi | Interviewed by Diaa Ali | Arabic
  • On the loan policies in the West Bank which gave people wide credit facilitations, Iyad emphasizes that the processes of lending are directly connected to the political condition.​

Yemen's Political Economy: An Anthropologist's Perspective 
Martha Mundy | Interviewed by Moe Ali Nayel | English
  • A discussion on the political, economic, and social challenges in Yemen. 

Writing on Revolution
Mohammed Rabie | Interviewed by Mona Kareem | Arabic 
  • An interview with Rabie on his thrid novel, nominated for the Arabic Booker prize. 


The African Community in Jerusalem: The Life of a Struggler 
Mahmoud Jiddah | Interviewed by Diaa Ali | Arabic  [Coming Soon]
  • An interview on his personal journey as an activist, fighter, and prisoner, as well as a historical discussion of the African community in Palestine. 
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Underground Iraqi Music, Part 2: From Nostalgia to the Reality of War
Nova Emad | Interviewed by Dima Yassine | Arabic 
  • Independent Iraqi musician and singer Nova Emad discusses how she uses her fusion music as a power to transcend social fragmentation.


The Patriarchal System is Lethal: Feminist Activism
Sawt al-Niswa | Interviewed by Moe Ali Nayel | Arabic 
  • A representation of Lebanon’s feminist collective Sawt al-Niswa.​

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Yemen Quietly Being Killed
Safa al-Ahmad | Interviewed by Adel Iskandar | English
  • In this broad-ranging and incisive interview with journalist and filmmaker Safa Al Ahmad, she delves into her recent coverage of Yemen reflecting on the humanitarian disaster there, the various actors on the ground, and the gendered dimensions of covering this conflict.
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Iraq: The Problems of Modernity and Rent
Abdel Amir al-Rekaby | Interviewed by Omar al-Jaffal | Arabic 
  • On the changes and activism in Iraq today 

Programs

QUICK THOUGHTS
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[On Syria, the Gulf, Palestine, and Social Media]
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Rabie Nasser
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Omar Assaf
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Kristina Stockwood
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Laila Shereen Sakr
  • A Profile of Syria Policy Research Center, with Rabie Nasser
  • The Gulf Centre for Human Rights' 2015 Report: Human Rights Defenders in Prison and in Peril throughout the Gulf and Neighboring Countries, with Kristina Stockwood
  • On the Teachers' Movement and Strikes in Palestine with Omar Assaf
  • What is Trending on Social Media in the Middle East , with Laila Shereen Sakr

•    Hosted by Bassam Haddad, Adel Iskandar, and  Nour Joudah
THE PANOPTIC GAZE AND THE IVORY TOWER

[Episode 4 of Reclaiming Academic Freedom] 
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Muna Sharif
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Jared Austin
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Arshad Ali
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Danya Zituni

•    Hosted by Tareq Radi
This episode of Reclaiming Academic Freedom examines the state’s use of university campuses as sites of surveillance and recruitment and its effects on students and faculty. | English
MUSIC PRODUCTION CYCLE IN PALESTINE: SPOTLIGHT ON SAMER JARADAT'S "LETTERS TO PALESTINE" 
*Coming Soon​*
[Episode 4 of The Independent and Alternative Music Scene in the Arab World] 
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Samer Jaradat
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Raneem Nabulsi
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Dina Shilleh
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Dania Jarrar

•    Hosted by Huda Asfour
In this episode, part two of "Music Production Cycle in Palestine," Huda talks more with producer and percussionist Samer Jaradat and interviews 3 of the pianists from the recently-released  "Letters to Palestine" album. |  Arabic

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​FROM UNDERGROUND TO ARABIC STREET RAP:
SHAD 3ASAB 
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[Episode 5 of The Independent and Alternative Music Scene in the Arab World] 

•    Hosted by Moe Ali Nayel
In this first episode in a series on Arabic rap, Status speaks to some up and coming rappers at a joint performance in Beirut, and gets feedback from the audience and fans. |  Arabic
THE POETIC SCENE IN LIBYA

[Episode 3 of In Their Own Voices: The Audio Divan of Modern Arabic Poetry] 
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Abdul Baset Abu Bakr Mohammed
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•    Hosted by Osama Esber
In light of the recent political transformations in Libya, this interview covers the literary condition and the role of social media in the new poetic generation.  | Arabic

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​POETRY BETWEEN THE EAST AND WEST

[Episode 4 of In Their Own Voices: The Audio Divan of Modern Arabic Poetry] 
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Mohammed Oudaimah

•    Hosted by Osama Esber
An interview with Mohamed Oudaimah about his approach to poetry, the concept of anthology, and non-Arab influences.  | Arabic

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​THE POET AND THE REAL WORLD
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[Episode 5 of In Their Own Voices: The Audio Divan of Modern Arabic Poetry] 
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Ibrahim al-Masri
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•    Hosted by Osama Esber
This interview focuses on the experiences of Egyptian poet Ibrahim Al-Masri, his concept of poetry, and his work with Egyptian prose.  | Arabic

Panels, Lectures, and Conferences 
Black-Palestinian Solidarity
American University in Beirut
Moderated by Rania Masri
​The Evolution of Solidarity in the Ferguson-Gaza Era - Kristian Davis Bailey
From Bil'in to Balitmore: Settler Colonialism and Reciprocal Solidarity - Ajamu Baraka
African-American Support for Palestine vs. the Black Misleadership Class- Glen Ford 

Why Bombing ISIS is Not a Solution
Rami Khouri | Interviewed by Moe Ali Nayel | English
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​Grassroots Refugee Initiative: Basmeh & Zeitooneh
Fadi Hallisso | Interviewed by Moe Ali Nayel | Arabic
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Causes and Dynamics of the Syrian Uprising: From Civil Protests to the Implications of the Russian Intervention
Lecture by Bassam Haddad
Men of Capital: Security and Economy in Mandate Palestine
Lecture by Sherene Seikaly
The Palestinian Economy: Fragmentation and Colonization  [Coming Soon​]
Birzeit University

  • 14 September 2015
  • An Arab Studies Institute/George Mason University/Carnegie Project
Egyptian Revolutionary Experiences and Future Visions  [Coming Soon​]
University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB)

  • 22-26 January 2016
  • Sponsored by UCSB and the Arab Studies Institute