As Russia's invasion of Ukraine caused global energy prices to spike, the US looked to its traditional gulf partners to increase supply. However, Mohamed bin Zayed and Mohamed bin Salman chose not to - refusing President Joe Biden's calls and even raising prices, whilst making overt gestures of support for Putin. In this episode, Iyad El-Baghdadi a…

Iyad and Ahmed delve into the relationship between language and thought, discuss ideas about a potential Arabic-language podcast, and even pivot to modern discoveries about the Earth's mantle; in true Intergalactic Tarboush form. Episode Timetags: 00:00 - Does language affect thought? 03:30 - Arabic & translating vs. rewriting 05:50 - The decline o…

Iyad and Ahmed continue talking about why the long-term prospects and strategic situation of Egypt are so depressing, why Steven Seagal is such an asshole and ideological polical opposition in Saudi Arabia. Episode Timetags: 00:00: Egypt's troubles 04:20: 'Syriana,' the movie 06:30: Alaska and global trade 07:30: Why is Steven Seagal such an asshol…

In this episode, Ahmed Gatnash speaks to Elham Saudi, co-founder and director of Lawyers for Justice in Libya, about the fight for accountability and how human rights defenders can work towards accountability in areas that are ordinarily pushed to the sidelines. Elham can be found on Twitter (@elham_lfjl) and at libyanjustice.org (@LibyanJustice). …

In this episode, Iyad and Ahmed discuss changes in world order and the relationship between citizenry and government in traditional versus modern 'great power' political structures. Episode Timetags: 00:50 - great power politics & world change 04:40 - how do we defend human rights in the "new world" 06:00 - the influence of modern citizenry on poli…

In this episode, Iyad and Ahmed discuss how a broad range of political and economic factors can impact democracy, and how the concept of a 'public sphere' can either strengthen or weaken democratic nations. Episode Timetags: 05:00 - Centralisation of political and economic activity & weakened democracy 06:00 - Economic inequality as a threat to dem…

In this episode, Iyad and Ahmed interview each other about their own book, The Middle East Crisis Factory. They discuss the origin and context of the book, detail various struggles that were overcome through the writing process, and share their reflections on the project 12 months on from its publication. Buy The Middle East Crisis Factory: https:/…

In this episode, Iyad and Ahmed discuss advancements in the world of technology and communication, and how they have impacted politics and humanity as a whole. Episode Timetags: 00:55 - Consuming information via podcasts 03:55 - Tweets & threads as sources of information 05:55 - Expansion of humanity via social media & communication 09:25 - Global …

In this episode, recorded prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Iyad and Ahmed discuss Putin's politics and its significance both regionally and globally. Episode Timetags: 01:00 - Predictions on Russia & Ukraine 04:50 - US foreign policy - Obama, Assad & chemical weapons 09:00 - Geopolitics & Russian motivations for the invasion 14:45 - Recent bo…

This is a repost of an interview on the Gaslit Nation podcast, hosted by Sarah Kendzior and Andrea Chalupa. Iyad discusses the origin of the Middle East Crisis Factory book, the context of the Middle East's struggle for democracy in the world, and how that shapes the work of Kawaakibi Foundation. Find the Gaslit Nation podcast online: https://www.g…

In this episode, recorded last year, Iyad and Ahmed switch gears a little and hone in on issues of religion. Topics include separating "life" from religious acts, and glorifying the divine through honouring the human being. Episode Timetags: 01:00 - Muslim leadership & human rights 03:40 - Charity fundraising & religious identity versus morality 08…

In this episode, Iyad and Ahmed discuss the revolutionary nature and potential of Bitcoin, sectarianisation in Yemen and around the region, and reframing perspectives on mental health. Episode Timetags: 01:00 - Human rights use cases of Bitcoin 05:50 - Financial situation in Libya 08:00 - Alex Gladstein's work on Bitcoin (article links below) 09:50…

Iyad and Ahmed discuss human rights and political activism around the world, and why it seems to fail so often. Follow us on Twitter @ArabTyrantMan, and join our Patreon to support our work and gain access to exclusive clips and pre-release episodes: https://patreon.com/kawaakibi Episode Time tags: 2:00 – Feelings of pointlessness in human rights a…

In this episode, Iyad and Ahmed discuss productivity and novel sleeping concepts, European imperialism and its impacts on various languages and races, and the future of cryptocurrency in and outside of the United States. Episode Timetags: 0:28 – Sleep routines and productivity 06:35 – Imperialism, language & Native American DNA across the Americas …

In this episode, Iyad and Ahmed discuss the concept of futurism and its relation to our work, as well as optimism versus pessimism in the spheres of religion, politics and human rights activism. Episode timetags: 00:30 - Futurism - tradition and modernity 05:50 - Pessimism in the Muslim community 08:45 - China's growth - birth rates, power and risk…

A continuation of the previous episode, Iyad and Ahmed discuss new changes in world politics, human rights activism and the podcast! Follow us on Twitter @ArabTyrantMan and join our Patreon to support our work and gain access to exclusive clips and pre-release episodes. Episode timestamps: 0:30 - The growth of Arab Tyrant Manual 5:00 - Overhauling …

In this episode, Iyad and Ahmed discuss knowledge bases, mortality and the fascinating science behind the cosmos. Episode timetags: 01:00 - Too many tabs! Too much information 03:15 - Iyad’s near-death experience 6:00 - Reflections on the new podcast format 09:25 - Interesting facts about birds’ lungs, dinosaurs and evolution 12:00 - Interesting fa…

Iyad and Ahmed officially launch a new podcast - Intergalactic Tarboush! Their first conversation includes all sorts of interesting titbits from the worlds of politics, science and human rights activism. Episode timetags: 00:48 - Intro to Intergalactic Tarboush 01:30 - Knowledge bases - using Roam as a writing tool 03:45 - Gorillas, evolution and r…

Iyad and Ahmed kickstart the podcast again after a long hiatus - with updates on various developments at the Kawaakibi Foundation, in their personal lives and in global human rights. Follow us on Twitter @ArabTyrantMan and join our Patreon to support our work and gain access to exclusive clips and pre-release episodes. Episode timestamps: 0:30 - In…

Iyad El-Baghdadi and Ahmed Gatnash discuss the release of the ODNI report confirming US intelligence's conclusion that MBS directly ordered the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Now that two years of gaslighting by the Trump administration are finally over, we can turn to the important question: what does justice for Jamal look like?Iyad's article in the …

In this episode, Ahmed talks to Gene Bunin, founder of the Xinjiang Victims Database - a unique initiative to track the crimes being committed against individuals in the western region of China and investigate the fate of those missing. Find the database online at: https://shahit.biz/ https://twitter.com/shahitbizFind us on Twitter at @gatnash and …

Ahmed Gatnash and Iyad El-Baghdadi reflect about the podcast, how far it's come, and plans for the future, as well as discussing Joe Biden's election victory and Trump's defeat, and what they mean for the MENA region and the global struggle for human rights.Support our work on Patreon here:www.patreon.com/kawaakibi…

In September, Ahmed spoke to Joey Ayoub, Lebanese writer and researcher, about tankies, genocide denial, red-brown alliances and the uncomfortable affinity between large parts of the political left and authoritarianism.Find Joey on Twitter @joeyayoub, and us at @gatnash and @arabtyrantman. Support our work:www.patreon.com/kawaakibiFor full show not…

Ahmed talks to Timour Azhari and Joey Ayoub about the massive popular movement against the entire political order which has rocked Lebanon for over 2 weeks. It has led to the end of the government already, but can it achieve the real goal - total systemic change?Catch our guests on Twitter:https://twitter.com/timourazharihttps://twitter.com/joeyayo…

Ahmed Gatnash speaks about the recent protests in Egypt, which surprised almost everyone but show that the lessons of 2011 have still not been fully absorbed.For a text version of the article: https://arabtyrantmanual.com/9-lessons-from-egypt/Support our work:https://www.patreon.com/kawaakibiBy Iyad El-Baghdadi & Ahmed Gatnash

Human Rights Foundation and Arab Tyrant Manual present this panel from this year's Oslo Freedom Forum, in which Iyad el-Baghdadi and Karen Attiah discuss the Saudi government's use of surveillance software. They go into detail on Jamal Khashoggi and his legacy, as well as the hack of Jeff Bezos and what activists can do to keep safe.Support us for …

Celebrities are notoriously shy of politics, advised to stay neutral for the sake of their careers. But what do you do when you can no longer be silent?Denise Ho, a singer and actress from Hong Kong, and Amr Waked, an Egyptian actor, discuss their journeys into activism, what it meant for their careers, the regimes they fight against and how their …

At the Oslo Freedom Forum last year, 7 activists from the Arab region found ourselves in a room together. This is the discussion which followed - on identity, exile, activism, trauma and healing, whether the Arab Spring failed, and different visions of what the future holds.It was nuanced and surprisingly self-critical, but there was no cynicism or…

This episode is a recording of Iyad El-Baghdadi's recent press conference, in which he speaks about the recent revelations from intelligence agencies that the Saudi government potentially poses a threat to his life.https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/may/07/cia-warns-arab-activist-of-potential-threat-from-saudi-arabiaYou can find a video versi…

What is the purpose of nonviolence? What are its limits? Surely it couldn't work against someone as brutal as the Nazis...could it? In this episode, Iyad and Ahmed speak to Jamila Raqib, Executive Director of the Albert Einstein Institution - an organisation dedicated to advance the worldwide study and strategic use of nonviolent action. She tells …

Ahmed Gatnash (@gatnash) discusses Libya with Nadine Dahan (@NadineDahan), a journalist and independent analyst focussed on Libya, human rights and transitional justice in the MENA region. As well as analysing the current crisis, started by Haftar's attempt to invade the capital Tripoli, they also provide a run-down of what's happened Libya since 2…

Abderrahmane Weddady, the brother of regular Arab Tyrant Manual contributor Nasser Weddady, has been charged with "spreading fake news" and jailed pending trial in his home country of Mauritania. His crime? Revealing a massive Ponzi scheme which cost 7000 families their homes, and uncovering direct links to the president's family.In this episode, N…

On Friday, November 23nd, Raed Fares was assassinated in northern Syria by masked gunmen suspected of being affiliated with al-Qaeda. This episode features an interview we recorded with him at the Oslo Freedom Forum in 2017, in which he told us what the Syrian revolution meant to him, and why he would not give up hope. Raed will be remembered forev…

In Togo, protests are gathering steam against the 50-year rule of the Gnassingbé family. In this episode, Farida Nabourema, a blogger and human rights activist who has been a fearless critic of corruption, dictatorship and colonialism, tells Iyad and Ahmed about the Fauré Must Go movement. We may call this the Arab Tyrant Manual, but that certainly…

Ahmed and Iyad do a roundup of major news from 2018, and discuss the outlook for the world in 2019. Where were we vindicated over the last year? Which countries will have popular uprisings this year? Why are Arab countries normalising relations with Assad again after 8 years of brutality? What are the big corruption scandals we're anticipating? And…

Sudan is in the middle of an uprising. That alone is notable, but Sudan is also one of the most fascinating and under-studied countries in the region, and has had more successful uprisings than any other country in the MENA region. In this episode, Ahmed @gatnash and @Anas_Abdalla take a historical dive into all the steps that have led to this junc…

In this very special episode, we go through the history of our project from the early days of the Arab Spring through to the present. Our project is a child of the Arab spring, and if you're interested in the evolution of resistance, this is a must listen. On this New Year's Eve we're also taking a big step forward in launching our Patreon, which w…

Ahmed and Iyad discuss the aftermath of the murder of Jamal Khashoggi and current narratives around authoritarianism in the Middle East. Has Mohammed Bin Salman won? Is the Arab spring over? Is the current state of repression in the Arab world a sustainable "new normal"?Mentioned in the episode:The Arab Winter is Coming - Hassan Hassanhttps://www.t…

Jamal Khashoggi, the veteran Saudi journalist and former royal advisor, is missing and presumed kidnapped. He was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.In this episode we replay a conversation Jamal had with Ahmed, Iyad and Nasser at the Oslo Freedom Forum earlier this year to understand more about Jamal and why this might be happening…

Where in the world could you find out that your deceased grandfather voted in a constitutional referendum 3 years after he died? In this episode, Ahmed and Nasser discuss the recent elections in Mauritania, in which an empowered opposition threaten to undo President Ould Abdelaziz' hopes for a constitutional amendment to allow himself third turn. N…

How do you get one of the world's most beloved ex-footballers to speak out about an innocent political prisoner in Iran? In this episode (part 2 of a 2-part show), Iyad El-Baghdadi and Maryam Nayeb Yazdi talk about a campaign they ran for Arash Sadeghi, and what activists can learn from it.Maryam can be found on Twitter at @MaryamNayebYazd. Iyad an…

In this episode (part 1 of another 2-part show), Iyad El-Baghdadi (Twitter: @iyad_elbaghdadi) interviews Maryam Nayeb Yazdi (Twitter: @MaryamNayebYazd), a Canadian-Iranian human rights activist, about her journey into activism, and she tells us more about the country since 2009. Maryam has joined the team of HRANA, who publicise human rights news f…

A discussion between Belabbes Benkredda, Founding Director of the Munathara Initiative, and Iyad El-Baghdadi, Nasser Weddady and Ahmed Gatnash, on the public sphere, what teaching young people to debate can do for the world, and how to normalise civilised exchange of ideas and evaluation of them on their merits.Belabbes is currently Senior Research…

Part 2 of the conversation with Buzzfeed News' Megha Rajagopalan, continuing the discussion on China but also touching on the effects of Facebook on various South Asian countries like Cambodia, Myanmar and Sri Lanka, including amplifying communal violence, and inadvertently empowering autocrats.The BBC video mentioned near the end of the episode:ww…

Part 1 of a meandering conversation between Ahmed and Megha Rajagopalan, BuzzFeed News' China bureau chief and Asia correspondent, about surveillance and censorship in China - the high-tech police state they've built, WeChat and other tech companies, Chinese memes, the effect it's having on other south Asian countries, as well as comparisons and co…

We attended the Oslo Freedom Forum last month. Ahmed (@Gatnash) sat down with Alex Gladstein (@Gladstein) to get an introduction to the forum, and speak about their goals and some of their achievements, as well as some of Alex's research on dictatorships use of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and other development statistics.You can follow Ale…

In this conversation, Ahmed and Nasser discuss the Catch-22 of economic reform in the Arab World - the conflicting pressures on regional governments from established business interests and burgeoning youth populations create a true 'rock and a hard place' and allow us to understand much better the situation in Jordan, as well as the economic reform…

An emergency episode about the 9 women's rights activists arrested in Saudi Arabia in the last week. They are: Dr Eman al-Nafjan, Loujain al-Hathloul, Dr Aisha al-Mana', Dr Madeha Al-Ajroush, Professor Aziza Al-Yousef, Dr. Ibrahim Al-Modaimeegh, Mohammad Al-Rabea and Abdulaziz Al-Mesha’al. You can find out more about them here, courtesy of Al-Qst, …

In this experimental episode format, Iyad gives his take on the dynamics of the UAE-Saudi alliance and the possibility of fractures appearing. Let us know your thoughts, and join the conversation on #ArabTyrantManualBy Iyad El-Baghdadi & Ahmed Gatnash

A wide-ranging conversation in which Ahmed Gatnash and guest Nasser Weddady, touching on American air strikes on Syria, coup-proofing, Syrian regime relations with Nazis, emergent models of digital surveillance in China and the gulf, the Arab league, the perks of allying with authoritarian regimes and the long-term prospects of the Arab world.Find …