Voices Of The Middle East And North Africa

VOMENA Feb 13, 2020: The role of internal and external actors in Libya's crisis by VOMENA Team at KPFA

The tension between the countries entered a dangerous phase when on January 3rd the US assasinated Maj. Qassem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force, in a drone strike at Baghdad International Airport- the assassination had been ordered by Donald Trump. The killing of Qasem Soleimani put in mention a series of events that many people feared may lead to another devastating war in the middle east- but for now there seems to be a world-wide sigh of relief as the U.S. and Iran both appear to signal a desire to avoid further conflict- So how did it all begin? Why did the US decide to assassinate Soleimani, and what are the ramifications of the this move on Iranian domestic and regional policies as well as the future of any possible negotiations between the US and Iran? To explore these issues, shahram Aghamir spoke with Mohammad Ali Kadivar – an Assistant Professor of Sociology and International Studies at Boston College, whose work contributes to political and comparative-h

On Friday Nov 15, protests broke out in 30 cities across Iran after a surprise announcement by the government it would ration gasoline and raise prices by 50 percent to 300%. The protests swiftly turned into anti-government demonstrations targeting the theocratic regime as a whole. And, as in previous protests, demonstrators utilized twitter and other social media platforms to organize, to communicate with the outside world and document the typically heavy-handed response by the regime. In the first twenty four hours, hundreds of images and video clips showed security forces brutally attacking protesters - Amnesty International Verified video footage as well as eyewitness testimony from people on the ground and information gathered by human rights activists outside Iran reveal a harrowing pattern of unlawful killings by Iranian security forces: At least 106 protesters in 21 cities had been killed as of Wednesday, and tAmnesty International believes that the real death toll may be much higher, some reports

Protesters took to the streets of Baghdad once again on October 25 calling for radical changes to the existing political and economic system Ever since a new waves of protests erupted in Baghdad on October 1 and quickly spread several southern cities, Iraq has been rocked by demonstrations and acts of civil disobedience rooted in long-standing grievances over unemployment, inadequate services, economic mismanagement and corruption. The security forces have responded harshly; killing more than 260 protestors and injuring thousands more. Nevertheless, the unrest continues, and the protestors have expanded their demands to include an overhaul of Iraq’s political structure, which was established after the U.S. led invasion in 2003. To get a better picture of what is happening in Iraq and the role of the US and regional players in that country, shahram Aghamir spoke with NY Professor Sinan Antoon Guest: Sinan Antoon is a celebrated poet, novelist, translator, and scholar of modern Arabic literature and contem

On October 9, Turkey launched an offensive into northeastern Syria dubbed Operation Spring Peace in which Turkey provided air and artillery support to thousands of Syrian rebels in an assault on an area governed by Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). At the onset of the operation, Turkish president Erdogan stated “The main aim of the operation is to take out “PKK/YPG terror organizations from the area and to facilitate the return of Syrian refugees,". Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) are the main component of the Syrian Democratic Forces, but the Turkish government claims that the YPG is an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has been in conflict with the Turkish State since 1984. Ankara launched its assault two days after a green light was given by Donald Trump in which he announced that the U.S. would withdraw its forces from the area. Scores were killed in this Turkish offensive, and more than 300,000 people were displaced before a US-brokered ceasefire went into effe

Vomena Sept 27th, 2019: Presidential elections in Tunisia; Democracy movement in Algeria by VOMENA Team at KPFA

In the past two months, the Turkish Authorities have escalated their crackdown on Syrian refugees living in Istanbul arresting thousands and giving them an ultimatum until August 20th to move to the cities they obtained residency in when they first arrived into Turkey OR face deportations back to Syria. The deadline is now extended to the end of October. But the crackdown left thousands of Syrian refugees fearful for their future and the possibility of uprooting their families for the second time. Turkey hosts the largest number of Syrian refugees, an estimated 3.6 million people. Human Rights organizations are also reporting that Turkey is deporting Syrians back into Syria, a charge the Turkish government denies… International law prohibits the forcible return of anyone to a place where they would face a real risk of persecution,or a threat to life. To understand the background of these crackdowns and the status of Syrians in Turkey we speak with Professor Ayşen Üstübici. She is an Assistant Professor at K

Last May, Donald Trump unilaterally violated the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran, the United States and 5 other world powers, and followed this up by reimposing harsh economic, trade and financial sanctions against Iran- Back in July of 2015 Iran, the US, along with Russia, China, and the European Union had agreed to a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA.) Under this agreement, Iran would be protected from economic sanctions in exchange for accepting to subject its nuclear research program to international inspections. This agreement was widely seen as a crowning achievement of former president Barack Obama’s foreign policy but was vociferously opposed by Israel, Saudi Arabia and Zionist forces and their allies in the US. Once in power, the Trump administration decided to violate and terminate this hard-won accord, calling it a “bad deal” and it has since ramped up a new “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, a maneuver aiming to strangulate Iran’s economy which now extends as far as bribing Ir

Last May, Donald Trump unilaterally violated the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran, the United States and 5 other world powers, and followed this up by reimposing harsh economic, trade and financial sanctions against Iran. Back in July of 2015 Iran, the US, along with Russia, China, and the European Union had agreed to a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA.) Under this agreement, Iran would be protected from economic sanctions in exchange for accepting to subject its nuclear research program to international inspections. This agreement was widely seen as a crowning achievement of former president Barack Obama’s foreign policy but was vociferously opposed by Israel, Saudi Arabia and Zionist forces and their allies in the US. Once in power, the Trump administration decided to violate and terminate this hard-won accord, calling it a “bad deal” and it has since ramped up a new “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, a maneuver aiming to strangulate Iran’s economy which now extends as far as bribing Ir

Almost nine years after its Jasmine revolution, which precipitated a chain reaction of revolts in the Arab world, Tunisia is seen as the only one among the ten countries directly impacted by the Arab Spring to have succeeded in establishing a formal democracy and, as such, has been accepted into the world’s club of democratic countries. It is now poised for its third round of presidential elections since the 2010-2011 revolution. However, with a weak economy and an increasingly restive population struggling with poverty, and being surrounded by countries that are politically unstable and with the very notion of liberal democracy in serious jeopardy worldwide, how long can Tunisia maintain the trappings of a formal democracy if it does not at the same time alleviate the serious socio-economic problems that afflict its society? We pose these questions to US-based Tunisian scholar Mohammed Hammami, who spoke to us from his home in Tunis.

Sixty years ago, Algeria was known as a poster child for anti-colonial revolution and became a magnet for liberation struggles worldwide after reaching independence in 1962. Half-a-century later, the Algerian people are back in the streets, this time for a revolution against autocracy and corruption, national independence having failed to deliver the full emancipation that Algerian citizens feel they deserve. For the past six months, millions of Algerians of all ages and from all walks of life have been demonstrating in every major city in Algeria every Friday in massive numbers without fail, rain or shine, through the worst heatwave the country has known for years, through Ramadan and through the summer hiatus. Nothing has managed to break the movement’s momentum so far. Today we speak with Algerian scholar and activist Hamza Hamouchene about the movement, its endurance and its promise for the future of the country.

Yemen’s southern secessionist forces appear to have taken effective control of the port city of Aden, seat of the internationally recognized government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi. In this latest conflict, fighters loyal to Southern Transitional Council (STC), which seeks an independent south Yemen, began an offensive against the government forces on August 7. Both sides have been part of a military coalition, dominated by Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE), which intervened in Yemen in March 2015 against the Houthis and their allies after they removed Mr. Hadi from power earlier that year. The separatist fighters involved in the recent showdown are UAE trained while the government forces appear to be backed by the Saudis. What is the significance of this recent confrontation? How will it impact the ongoing war in Yemen? What do we need to know about South Yemen and its history? Who are the secessionist in Yemen today? Does the showdown in Eden signal a schism in the Saudi-UAE coalition? T

Since the overthrow of long-time dictator Muammar Al Qadafi in 2011, with the support of NATO, Libya was thrown into chaos with no foreseen end. For the past few years a power struggle has emerged between the internationally recognized government led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj and the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army led by General Khalifa Haftar who receives military support from regional powers, and the US and Russia The latest episode in this power struggle started in April with the advancement of General Haftar towards the Capital, Tripoli. The confrontations have so far claimed hundreds of lives. Also earlier this month an air strike by the Haftar forces on the Tajoura immigration detention centre in eastern Tripoli claimed the lives of at least 40 refugees and migrants, and injured more than 80. Amnesty International said that around 600 people were trapped in the detention center with no way to escape, AND called for the attack to be independently investigated as a war crime. Khalil Bendi

In this Interview Khalil Bendib talks with the Israeli scholar Ilan Pappé about his book "On Palestine" which he co-authored with Noam Chomsky. Published in the aftermath of Israel's offensive on Gaza known as "Operation Protective Edge" which left thousands of Palestinians dead and cleared the way for another Israeli land grab. Khalil asks Pappe about where he agrees and disagrees with Chomsky, the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement and the comparisons with apartheid in South Africa.

An exclusive interview with Samer N. Abboud (@samer_abboud ‏), Associate Professor of historical and political studies at Arcadia University about his latest book "Syria: Hot Spots In Global Politics" With more than 500,000 people killed and at least half of the population displaced, Syria’s conflict is considered the most deadly of the twenty-first century. In his new book, Professor Samer Abboud provides an in-depth analysis of Syria’s descent into civil war, then the Involvement of regional and international players. In this interview, VOMENA's Shahram Aghamir discusses with Abboud the consequences of Russian military involvement after 2015, the economic interests of Iran and other actors, the US role, and plans of reconstruction in Syria. The interview starts with the latest offensive on Idlib province one of the last strongholds of the armed groups fighting Al Assad regime.

In recent months, the Trump administration’s plan to add a citizenship question on the 2020 US census, has garnered significant controversy and media attention. For now the supreme court decide to bloc the question but the decision is not yet final. The census is supposed to count all people living in the United States regardless of citizenship status, and is crucial for determining how federal funds are distributed and how congressional districts are drawn. The legal challenge to the citizenship question sites concern of an undercount, especially in immigrant communities. But there are other critical questions left out of this conversation, like, why is the Trump administration refusing to add a box for the Middle Eastern and North African-identifying peoples on the upcoming 2020 census form? Today, the exact number of people of Southwest Asian or Middle Eastern and North African background in the United States isn't exactly known. Arabs alone are estimated to be more than 3 million in the US, and acco

This week, we’ll cover the crackdown on Sudanese protesters and the ongoing fight for democracy in Sudan. We speak with McGill University political scientist Khalid Medani Later in the program, we mark the 10th anniversary of Iran’s 2009 mass protests. We speak with Iranian-German documentary filmmaker Ali Samadi Ahadi about his searing film “The Green Movement” which integrates animation and live-footage, testimonials and blog posts to tell the story of the courageous people who took part in the protests.

For hundreds of millions of Muslims around the world, Ramadan is a month for fasting, praying and family get-togethers. In the Arab World, Ramadan also happens to be the time when people feast on their favorite TV series and soap opera. This week, we speak with CUNY anthropologist Professor Christa Salamandra about Syrian dramas and how the ongoing war in Syria has impacted the drama scene in the country. Also, Vomena’s Khalil Bendib speaks with Tunisian journalist and researcher Asma Ghribi about the struggle for gender equality in Tunisia and the recent changes in family law. *The Netflix show referenced in the interview with Prof. Salamandra "Al Hayba": https://www.netflix.com/title/81003648

This week, we bring you an exclusive interview With Samer N. Abboud (@samer_abboud ‏), associate professor of historical and political studies at Arcadia University about his new book "Syria: Hot Spots In Global Politics" With more than 500,000 people killed and at least half of the population displaced, Syria’s conflict is considered the most deadly of the twenty-first century. In his new book, Professor Samer Abboud provides an in-depth analysis of Syria’s descent into civil war, then the Involvement of regional and international players. And the consequences of Russian military involvement after 2015.

What does justices mean to those who have been tortured by state actors? How should we hold governments accountable for killing and torturing their citizens? This week, we speak with Robert Bahar about a new exceptional documentary, "The Silence of Others", which chronicles how the victims of Franco’s 40-year dictatorship in Spain, have been seeking justice, decades after the crimes were committed and why for them and many others forgetting is NOT an option. https://youtu.be/beqRVfwBydg