Dissidents and Dictators

In this episode, recorded at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, we hear from Pastor Seungeun Kim, a prominent Korean human rights activist and leader of a modern-day underground railroad. He passionately serves North Korean defectors and works tirelessly on their behalf, rescuing and helping them become self-sufficient. Note: This episode is recorded in Korean.

Hanna Liubakova is a Belarusian journalist, analyst, and non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council. After protesting Alexander Lukashenko’s regime, Liubakova was forced into exile, yet she fearlessly continues to report on the developments in her home country. In this episode, recorded at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, she reveals the Lukashenko regime’s abuses of political prisoners and its corrupt assistance to Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and she offers a beacon of hope in the fight against tyranny.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has increased its efforts to stifle dissent beyond its borders, discreetly intimidating individuals from various religious, political, and dissenting groups. The Uyghur diaspora's experience of such repression has worsened since the 2016 crackdown, leaving Uyghurs across the globe facing the pressure of state violence and harassment even in their supposed places of refuge. In this episode, we hear from Yalkun Uluyol, David Tobin, and Rushan Abbas as they shed further light on the extent of the CCP’s efforts to project its authoritarian rule beyond its border. Featured Guests: Yalkun Uluyol, research assistant at Koc University David Tobin, lecturer in East Asian studies at the University of Sheffield Rushan Abbas, founder and executive director at the Campaign for Uyghurs

In 2009, Swazi human rights lawyer Mzwandile Masuku launched, with the late renowned human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko, the only law firm in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) fully dedicated to public interest litigation against the kingdom’s repression law and pro-bono legal representation of ordinary Swazis. In this episode, recorded at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, Masuku advocates for the protection of human rights lawyers, the rights of detained individuals to a fair trial, and nonviolent democratic reform.

Nazanin Boniadi is an award-winning actress and Iranian human rights activist who focuses on the unjust conviction and treatment of Iranian youth, women, and prisoners of conscience. In this episode, recorded at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, Boniadi speaks on the “Women, Life, Freedom” protests in Iran and unearths the rich history of her home country that the oppressive regime has diluted.

Note: This episode is recorded in Spanish. Abraham Jiménez Enoa is an exiled Cuban journalist and author of “La isla oculta,” a collection of stories of ordinary Cubans living under the dictatorship. In this episode, recorded at the 2023 Olso Freedom Forum, Jiménez Enoa shares his experience calling for action against the tyranny that oppresses ordinary Cubans.

Aug. 9 marks the third anniversary of the Belarus presidential elections, followed by nationwide protests and violence. Alexander Lukashenko has increasingly turned to Russia, which provided him with resources and diplomatic support to help him stay in power. This episode looks at Lukashenko’s role in the conflict in Ukraine and the strategies the international democratic community can pursue to contain the threat Lukashenko poses. Featured Guests: • Hanna Liubakova • Pavel Latushka • David Kramer

Kristen Ulmer is a high-performance facilitator and thought leader on fear and anxiety, drawing from her experience as the world’s most “fearless” female extreme skier for 12 years and studying Zen for 15 years. In this episode, recorded at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, Ulmer provides strategies to conquer our fear and anxious feelings.

Note: This episode is recorded in Spanish. Víctor Navarro is a Venezuelan human rights activist who was arbitrarily detained in 2018 and held in El Helicoide, Venezuela’s largest and most notorious prison. In this episode, recorded at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, Navarro shares how he struggled to find his voice and identity under the regime's oppression and how he is using technology to fight tyranny.

Malcolm Bidali is a former Qatari migrant worker and the co-founder of Migrant Defenders, a Kenya-based civil society organization defending the rights of migrant workers in the Gulf. While in Qatar, he became an anonymous whistleblower about brutal conditions for migrant laborers before Qatar’s 2022 FIFA World Cup. In May 2021, the Qatari regime unmasked his identity and subjected him to solitary confinement for nearly a month for "disseminating false news and receiving payments from foreign agents to spread disinformation." In this episode, filmed at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, Bidali shares his story and experience with the atrocious human rights violations perpetrated against migrant workers in the Gulf. Learn more about Malcolm and his work at https://linktr.ee/noaharticulates

Lisa Yasko is a member of Ukrainian Parliament, the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Interparliamentary Cooperation, and the Ukrainian Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. In this episode, recorded at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, Yasko reveals the reality of living in Ukraine during the Russian invasion and the powerful role of being a mother while navigating the war.

Note: This episode is recorded in Uyghur. An Uyghur survivor of China’s concentration camps, Gulbahar Haitiwaji, was tricked into returning to China in 2016 after seeking asylum; she vanished into the camps. When she was finally released in 2019, Haitiwaji publicly shared her account, describing life inside the camps and the brutalities Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples have suffered. Kalbinur Sidik, an Uzbek survivor of China’s genocide and eyewitness to the camps, was forced to work as a Chinese-language instructor in the internment camps in 2017. In this episode, recorded at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, both women joined forces to share their stories of survival.

Félix Maradiaga is a Nicaraguan democracy advocate arrested in 2021 for leading a nonviolent movement against President Daniel Ortega. After being imprisoned for three years, he was forcibly exiled to the United States and saw his citizenship revoked alongside 222 other political prisoners. In this episode, recorded at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, Maradiaga shares his prison experience, his reunion with his wife and daughter, and his ideas on fighting dictatorship.

In this episode, recorded at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, American political scientist and author Francis Fukuyama discusses how democracy can be a resilient tool in denouncing authoritarianism and dissecting the principles of liberalism, the false strength of dictatorships, and what the future holds for democracy.

Ketakandriana Rafitoson is a prominent Madagascan human rights defender, political scientist, and anti-corruption activist. In this episode, recorded at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, Rafitoson addresses the mass corruption within Madagascar and how it impacts ordinary citizens' lives. Russian and other dark sponsors continue to influence the country’s elections, but Rafitoson provides hope in the fight against political corruption.

In Cameroon, while thousands of minority Anglophones have peacefully protested for their rights, Paul Biya’s regime has responded viciously. Cameroonian human rights lawyer and activist, Felix Agbor Nkongho, has fought to bring global attention to the blood-stained crisis. In this episode, recorded at the 2019 Oslo Freedom Forum, Agbor Nkongho speaks about his work transforming cruelty into positive, nonviolent activism.

Thae Yong-Ho is a North Korean defector and the former deputy ambassador of North Korea to the United Kingdom. He is the highest-ranking official to have ever defected from North Korea, fleeing to the South with his wife and two children in 2016. In this episode, recorded at the 2019 Oslo Freedom Forum in New York, Yong-ho speaks about the oppression he experienced inside North Korea, his escape, and his hopes for a united and free Korea.

Arthur Holland Michel is a Peruvian-born writer and researcher focused on artificial intelligence, advanced surveillance technologies, and drones. In this episode, recorded at the 2021 Oslo Freedom Forum, Michel reveals how little the average person knows about modern surveillance technologies and its power.

Wai Hnin Pwint Thon is a Burmese human rights activist. Her father, Ko Mya Aye, is a leader of Burma’s 88 Generation Students Group and is currently detained by the Burmese military. In this episode, recorded at the 2021 Oslo Freedom Forum, Pwint Thon calls out the Burmese military’s violence and urges the international community to support Burma’s struggle for peace and democracy.

Dr. Essam Daod is a psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and co-founder of the mental health aid organization, Humanity Crew. During a 2015 humanitarian rescue mission, Daod provided medical aid to refugees in Greece, triggering his trauma and PTSD. In this episode, recorded at the 2021 Oslo Freedom Forum, we hear Daod’s story, through which we learn that only when we care for our mental health can we care for others.

Ahmed Albasheer is an Iraqi comedian and political satirist best known for hosting “The Albasheer Show,” a weekly program that humorizes Iraqi politics. In this episode, recorded at the 2021 Oslo Freedom Forum, Albasheer shows the power of humor in challenging corruption, war, repression, sectarianism, and authoritarianism in Iraq.

When bank accounts are closed or currency devalued, pro-democracy activists have turned to Bitcoin to keep their advocacy afloat. Simultaneously, in El Salvador, populist leader Nayib Bukele has used Bitcoin to further his authoritarian agenda. In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, activists from Belarus, Russia, and Togo discuss whether Bitcoin is compatible with liberal democracy. Featured Guests: Anita Posch, host of “The Anita Posch” Show Jaroslav Likhachevskiy, co-founder, BYSOL Farida Nabourema, Togolese human rights defender Nelson Rauda, Salvadoran investigative journalist, El Faro Leonid Volkov, Russian anti-corruption advocate

In 2019, Tanzania outlawed child marriage, but marriage laws have yet to be amended and child marriage remains a serious issue. In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, Zuhura Abdul Sakaya, a young Tanzanian advocate for girls' and women’s rights, discusses the situation in Tanzania, the lifelong consequences for girls, and the next steps in the struggle against child marriage. Featured Guests: Zuhura Abdul Sakaya, Tanzanian youth advocate Leyla Hussein, global advocacy director of The Girl Generation, psychotherapist, and anti-FGM activist

For years, Nicaraguan dictator Daniel Ortega has abused opponents almost entirely free from the world’s attention. But in 2018, democracy advocate, Félix Maradiaga, took the country’s future into his own hands, exposing Ortega’s rampant crimes. In this episode, recorded at the 2019 Oslo Freedom Forum, Maradiaga discusses how he rallied the world to pay attention. In 2021, Maradiaga was arrested and held in solitary confinement. In February 2023, he and 221 other prisoners of conscience were released and sent to the United States.

The Chinese government goes to extreme lengths to silence criticism and instill fear among Chinese, Uyghur, Hong Kongers, Tibetan, Taiwanese, and religious communities abroad. In this episode, frontline activists discuss transnational repression and the Chinese government’s various methods of monitoring, surveilling, and intimidating dissidents abroad. Featured Guests: Joey Siu, Hongkongese-American human rights activist Tenzin Yangzom, Campaign manager of Students for a Free Tibet Zumretay Arkin, Uyghur-Canadian activist and program & advocacy manager of World Uyghur Congress Jenny Wang, Human Rights Foundation

Much of France's African empire fell away during decolonization, but 15 nations still use the CFA Franc and thus remain under its control. France has historically devalued the CFA Franc to buy cheaper goods at the expense of the 183 million Africans in the CFA zone. In this episode, recorded at the 2023 South by Southwest (SXSW) conference, participants discuss their battle against monetary colonialism and how Bitcoin can play a role in helping change the tide. Farida Nabourema, Togolese democracy advocate Magatte Wade, Senegalese entrepreneur

This episode, recorded at the 2023 South by Southwest (SXSW) conference, explores the struggle for human rights and democracy in the digital age. Increasingly sophisticated technology has provided new avenues for authoritarian regimes to target activists, stifle dissent, and encroach on civil liberties. Panelists discuss how regimes abuse technology and share insight into how the tech industry can unite to protect human rights globally. Featured Guests: Manal al-Sharif, Saudi women’s rights activist & cyber security expert Scott Carpenter, policy director at Jigsaw Felicia Anthonio, campaign manager for Access Now’s #KeepItOn campaign Arthur Holland Michel, author & surveillance expert

One of the greatest financial innovations in the past five years is the stablecoin — a virtual asset pegged to the dollar but used heavily by individuals who can’t access their country’s currency. In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, we hear from the creator of the world’s biggest stablecoin, Tether, and a Nigerian entrepreneur who can attest to the remarkable rise of stablecoins in her own country. Featured Guests: Alejandro Machado: Co-founder of the Open Money Initiative Paolo Ardoino: Chief technology officer, Tether Ire Aderinokun: Co-founder and VP of engineering, Helicarrier

Featured Guests: Anjan Sundaram: Author and journalist Alex Gonzalez Davidson: Environmental activist and president of Mother Nature Cambodia Mónica López Baltodano: Nicaraguan human rights lawyer John Unzima: Ugandan journalist and environmental activist This episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, explores the intersections between human rights, technology, and environmental advocacy. Participants discuss the perils faced by environmental activists, journalists, and others who work to protect the environment in countries ruled by authoritarian regimes.

Saudi Arabia’s murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi; Belarus’ hijacking of a plane to arrest opposition journalist Roman Protasevich; and Rwanda’s forceful rendition of “Hotel Rwanda” hero Paul Rusesabagina are some of the most well-known examples of transnational repression by authoritarian regimes. They are part of a larger trend of regimes aggressively reaching across the globe to silence or intimidate dissidents in exile. This panel discussion, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, examines the practice of transnational repression, mainly as it targets independent journalists. Featured Guests: Megha Rajagopalan: Investigative journalist Rushan Abbas: Executive director of Campaign for Uyghurs Masih Alinejad: Iranian journalist and activist Can Dündar: Turkish journalist and documentarian

Thanks to the Winter Olympics in Beijing, and Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup, 2022 was dubbed “sportswashing’s biggest year.” This episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, shares powerful, behind-the-scenes stories and tips on raising awareness of how authoritarian regimes weaponize global games to whitewash their abuses. Karim Zidan: Author and journalist Malcolm Bidali: Labor rights activist and blogger Chemi Lhamo: Tibetan activist and community organizer Lise Klaveness: President of the Norwegian Football Federation, lawyer, and human rights advocate

This episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, explores the correlation between the rise in authoritarian regimes and modern slavery. Looking to history and learning from the present, panelists discuss how slavery has been wielded as a way for those regimes to maintain power and how affected communities have stood in resistance to change the future. Featured Guests: 1. Amy Rahe: Managing Director at the Freedom Fund and anti-trafficking advocate 2. Filmon Debru: Eritrean human trafficking survivor Leonardo Sakamoto: Brazilian journalist and anti-forced labor advocate 3. Jessie Bruner: Associate Director of Strategy and Program Development at the Center for Human Rights and International Justice at Stanford University

Over 17.6 million Ukrainians — more than 40% of the country’s population — require humanitarian assistance. HRF’s partner organization, Renegade Relief Runners, focuses on delivering essential supplies, including food, clean water, and medical aid, to Ukraine’s most heavily impacted regions. In this episode, Renegade Relief Runners co-founders Julia Abratańska and Chris Tiller discuss Ukraine’s current humanitarian needs, the challenges local aid groups face, and what the international community can do to support aid work.

In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in Taiwan, we hear from Chung Ching Kwong (鄺頌晴), a Hong Kong political and digital rights activist. Kwong discusses the parallels between Taiwan and Hong Kong and urges the international community to press their governments to hold China accountable.

In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in Taiwan, we hear from Wu’er Kaixi (吾爾開希), general secretary of Taiwan's Parliamentary Human Rights Commission. Born in China as an Uyghur national, Wu’er Kaixi was one of the founders and key organizers of the 1989 Tiananmen student movement. Listed as No. 2 on the Chinese government’s most wanted student leaders after the June 4 massacre, Wu’er Kaixi fled the country to live in exile. He currently resides in Taiwan, where he remains an active human rights and democracy activist, political commentator, and columnist.

In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in Taiwan, we hear from Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit (塔納通·宗龍倫吉), a pro-democracy activist and leader of the opposition Future Forward Party in Thailand. As a result of his advocacy for freedom and democracy, Juangroongruangkit was stripped of his parliamentary seat by the ruling military junta.

In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in Taiwan, we hear from Freddy Tshiong-Tso Lim (林昶佐), the lead vocalist of the Taiwanese metal band Chthonic and a member of Taiwan’s parliament. He shares how Taiwan can help play a critical role in protecting and promoting human rights, in the face of authoritarian aggression.

In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in Taiwan, we hear from Areej al-Sadhan (阿雷潔·薩丹), activist and sister to Red Crescent humanitarian worker Abdulrahman al-Sadhan who was imprisoned during a mass crackdown in Saudi Arabia. Areej remains outspoken on the ill-treatment of her brother and other activists and publicly denounced Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s brutal human rights abuses.

In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in New York, we hear from Garry Kasparov, chairman of the Human Rights Foundation (HRF). Widely considered history’s greatest chess player, Kasparov retired from the sport in 2005 to devote his time to human rights activism. An outspoken advocate for democracy and ardent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kasparov speaks on the war in Ukraine, a battle between freedom and tyranny.

In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in New York, anti-rape activist, beauty pageant queen, and author Toufah Jallow speaks on breaking the culture of silence around sexual violence in The Gambia and inspiring the #IamToufah movement, Gambia’s #MeToo. Jallow founded the Toufah Foundation to create a community of support for sexual violence survivors and to advocate for accountability and reforms.

In recent years, FIFA has earned a reputation for granting the hosting rights of its most prestigious competition, the World Cup, to countries ruled by authoritarian regimes. In December, Qatar hosted the 2022 World Cup, despite global concerns regarding the country’s poor human rights record. In this episode, we hear from Håvard Melnæs, editor of the Norwegian soccer magazine Josimar, as the 2022 World Cup entered its final stages. Håvard and his team use critical and investigative journalism to shed light on the corruption, cronyism, and sportswashing running rampant in the sport.

In August 2021, the Taliban forcibly reclaimed control of Afghanistan, promising to institute a modern form of Islamic government. Instead, the regime has systematically implemented gender-specific measures against women, in direct contrast to their initial claims of substantial reform. The progress of Afghanistan’s civil society has declined under the Taliban’s draconian governance of women’s rights, a microcosm of a larger theocratic system. In this episode, we hear from Dr. Sima Samar, a central pioneer of women’s rights in Afghanistan, who explores the country in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover.

In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in New York, we hear from Berta Valle, a Nicaraguan journalist, human rights activist, and vocal critic of the authoritarian Ortega regime. Berta is currently in exile, campaigning tirelessly to bring international attention to the 140+ political prisoners in Nicaragua, including her husband, former presidential candidate and 2019 OFF speaker, Félix Maradiaga.

In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in New York, we hear from exiled Hong Kong activist Anna Kwok, who currently serves as the Executive Director at Hong Kong Democracy Council (HKDC). Anna reflects on the pro-democracy movement within Hong Kong and her hopes to strengthen the Hong Kong diaspora globally.

In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in New York, we hear from Tibetan activist and community organizer Chemi Lhamo, who has dedicated her life to resisting the Chinese occupation of her homeland. Tune in to learn how we can rise above tyranny together and elevate the Tibetan cause.

In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in New York, Venezuelan Opposition leader Leopoldo López discusses the fight for democracy in Venezuela and globally. “There is no one person, there is no one movement, there is no one country, there is no one company that can be successful in bringing about freedom. It’s only about the ‘We’.”

In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in New York, we hear from Oleksandra Matviichuk, the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and head of the Center for Civil Liberties. Matviichuk speaks on the horrors and atrocities of Putin’s war in Ukraine — she says, "You don't need to be Ukrainian to support Ukraine. You just need to be human."

In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in New York, we hear from Iranian journalist and activist Masih Alinejad, who spearheaded the “My Stealthy Freedom” campaign to protest Iran’s compulsory hijab laws for women and girls. Alinejad talks about the recent murder of Mahsa Amini and the reality of life for women living under the tyrannical Iranian regime.

Recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, Hong Kong political and digital rights activist Chung Ching (Glacier) Kwong shares why the international community should stand in solidarity with Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement. She was previously the founder and spokesperson of Keyboard Frontline, an organization dedicated to monitoring censorship and digital rights, and a former columnist at Apple Daily. Chung Ching is currently the Hong Kong Campaigns coordinator at the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China.

In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, we hear from Roman Dobrokhotov, a Russian investigative journalist, activist, political scientist, and one of the founders and leaders of the 5th of December Party. Dobrokhotov discusses the tools necessary for journalists to expose dictatorships, and his own work with the investigative online newspaper The Insider.