Medya News Sarah Glynn Podcast

Today’s review looks at the prospects for war and peace in a time of genocide. It begins by looking at the impacts of Israel’s genocide on the wider practice of international politics.  It looks at Turkey’s continued war on North and East Syria and their attacks on the Tishreen Dam and on the civilians protesting to protect it. It discusses the meeting between the SDF's Mazloum Abdi, and Masoud Barzani, head of the KDP, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. And it examines the possible peace process in Turkey.

Today’s review looks at the situation in Syria through the lens of American Imperialism, focussing especially on how this has empowered Islamist groups, and on the roles of Turkey and Israel.

As Kurds and their friends go onto the streets in defence of Rojava – or, more properly, of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria – this week’s review looks at the latest developments in Turkey’s attempt to use brute force and brutal mercenaries to crush the Kurds, and to extinguish the beacon of hope they have created. The survival of the one part of Syria that prioritises women’s rights and the peaceful co-existence of different ethnicities and religions – the part that can provide an example for a new inclusive society - hangs in the balance.

As Syria’s map takes on new colours, this review looks at an extraordinary week of events and at the aims of the different actors, especially focussing on the evolution and nature of Hayʼat Tahrir al-Sham, whose forces have charged through the hollowed-out shell of Assad’s regime.

In three days, the political landscape of Syria has changed. Turkish backed Islamists have taken advantage of the power vacuums created by Israel’s wars and have taken control of Aleppo. Syrian Government forces have melted away in their path, and Russia has proved too busy with Ukraine to stop the advance. As the SDF prepares to defend Kurdish areas against expected attacks, this week’s review explores the background to what is happening and the different players involved, as well as the story so far.

In an with Sarah Glynn, Leendert Verbeek shares critical observations from the Council of Europe's election mission in Turkey, highlighting concerns over press freedom, biased media and undemocratic electoral processes.

Sarah Glynn talks to one of two Scottish women who came to observe the elections at the invitiation of the DEM Party. Hazel describes the militarisation of the region and the psychological pressure on voters. She witnessed the mass voting by soldiers brought in from outside the region, and saw the anger and worry in Şirnak (Şirnex) after their election was stolen by imported votes. And she emphasises the power of Kurdish resistance.

As we approach the anniversary of Jina Amini’s death at the hands of Iran’s “Morality Police”, Sarah Glynn talked politics with Gordyaen Jermayi, a human rights activist originally from Rojhelat or East Kurdistan - the part that's in Iran. Below are some highlights – lightly edited for clarity. You can listen to the interview at the link above.

With tightening immigration rules leading to ever more catastrophes, political rhetoric hardening, and more and more of the world being made uninhabitable, Sarah Glynn talks politics with two researchers who've written critically about migration control, Manja Petrovska and Nidžara Ahmetašević. Manja is a researcher at the University of Amsterdam, and Eur Asian Border Lab, where she focuses on how the European Union has outsourced its border controls. Nidžara is a journalist from Sarajevo, who writes about human rights, migration, war crimes and the role of the media.

Sarah Glynn talks politics with Rojîn Mûkrîyan, who chaired the first session of the conference on Iran that was held at the European Parliament in Brussels last week.