UNAPOLOGETIC with Ashfaaq Carim

In this episode of UNAPOLOGETIC, Mamoun Fandy, former professor of politics at Georgetown University and current head of the Global Strategy Institute in London, breaks down the escalating conflict involving Israel, the United States, and Iran.He argues this is not one war, but three overlapping wars, each with its own logic: regime change, regional dominance, and economic pressure. Together, they risk destabilising the Middle East and severely disrupting the global economy.We explore how this conflict could weaken entire states, threaten Gulf economies, and reshape global power, potentially benefiting actors like China.Beyond the headlines, this is a conversation about escalation, miscalculation, and why this may be a war that no one truly wins.

In this episode of UNAPOLOGETIC, Rabbi Elhanan Beck delivers one of the most striking critiques of Zionism and the current Israeli-US wars in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran, you'll hear. He argues that, according to the Torah, the state of Israel has no right to exist, and goes further—describing Benjamin Netanyahu as “Amalek,” a force that pulls people away from God. The Rabbi also claims that if necessary, Israel would use nuclear weapons and that “no price is too high,” even suggesting they would kill millions to secure their goals. We explore the theology behind these views, including the Messiah, the Temple, and the idea of Greater Israel - alongside his belief in Jewish-Muslim coexistence.

In this episode of UNAPOLOGETIC, Dr. Roy Casagranda unpacks 125 years of Iranian history - from the 1901 oil concession and the fall of the Qajar dynasty, to the rise of the Pahlavis, the 1953 CIA-backed coup, the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the Iran–Iraq War, and the emergence of the IRGC, the reform movement in Iran and the JCPOA. He then connects this history to the present moment - where a US-Israel war on Iran threatens to escalate into a much wider far-reaching war.

Neil Quilliam, who is a political analyst at Chatham House, joined the UNAPOLOGETIC podcast to discuss how Israel is plunging the USA, the GCC and Iran into an all-out war.By continuing to kill credible leaders and hit key economic infrastructure in Iran, it is diminishing the opportunity for this war to end via a settled compromise, and antagonising Iran to lash out with retaliatory strikes against its neighbours who also host US bases in the region.Who or what will rein Israel in?

David Hearst, editor in chief of Middle East Eye, appeared on the UNAPOLOGETIC podcast to discuss how Donald Trump may be losing control of the war he started against Iran.When will the war end? Will Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump achieve their goals? What will happen to the Iranian government? What is the future of relations between the GCC and Iran? Could the conflict escalate into a regional war - and could Israel resort to using a nuclear weapon if it finds itself losing?

Foad Izadi is a professor of communication at Tehran University. He has been making the rounds across broadcasters recently where he generally conveys the Iranian government’s position.He spoke to UNAPOLOGETIC to discuss the rationale behind Iran’s defence strategy, how he sees Iranian society rallying behind the Iranian state under this attack, the legacy of US-Iranian relations, Iran’s own exercising of ‘brute’ foreign policy, as well as Israel’s attempt to fashion the region according to its own designs.

In this episode of UNAPOLOGETIC, we speak to foreign policy analyst Trita Parsi of the Quincy Institute about how long the US-Israel war on Iran will likely last and what its consequences will likely be. The conversation examines Iran’s incentives to keep fighting, Trump’s political calculations, pressure from Gulf states, Netanyahu's opportunism, and how powers like China and Russia may respond if the war drags on

In this episode of UNAPOLOGETIC, we speak to writer and activist Hoda Katebi about the war involving Iran, the United States and Israel, and the complex political forces shaping Iran’s future. Katebi argues that the Iranian government is deeply repressive, but also warns that foreign intervention by the US and Israel risks strengthening that repression rather than weakening it. She explains why many Iranians reject both the Islamic government and attempts to reinstall the Pahlavi monarchy, and why outside military pressure can undermine internal democratic movements. The conversation also explores the fear many Iranians are experiencing as bombing escalates and communication with family members inside Iran becomes difficult. Katebi reflects on her own Iranian American identity, growing up in the United States after 9/11, and how those experiences shaped her political views.

Gulf security expert Andreas Krieg, a senior lecturer at King’s College London, joined the UNAPOLOGETIC podcast to discuss Iran’s response to the US-Israel war against it and the potential ramifications of it.

In this episode of UNAPOLOGETIC, we speak to writer, historian, and lifelong anti-imperialist Tariq Ali about the state of the US empire in an increasingly unstable world. From Trump’s erratic posture on Iran to the long arc of American imperial power, Ali places today’s crises in a deep historical context—stretching from Iran in 1953 to Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, and Gaza. The conversation examines how US power has adapted rather than declined, how Trump differs from previous presidents in style rather than substance, and why imperial violence is now increasingly exposed rather than hidden. We explore the limits of American dominance, the rise of China as an economic counterweight, and whether the global balance of power is truly shifting. Ali also reflects on Gaza, Western complicity, Arab state paralysis, and what he describes as a process of recolonisation in the Middle East—alongside the dangers and possibilities that lie ahead.

In this episode of UNAPOLOGETIC, retired UK major general Charlie Herbert reflects on 34 years of military service, including Iraq and Afghanistan, and explains how those experiences shaped his views on Israel, Western power, and why he now calls Israel’s actions in Gaza genocide. Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:30 Military Silence Explained 11:30 Gaza And Genocide 22:00 Strategic Failure Israel 33:00 Iraq And Afghanistan 44:30 Western Intervention Hubris 55:30 Power Hypocrisy West 1:06:30 Why Wars Fail 1:17:30 What Justice Requires

Andreas Krieg - a leading Gulf security expert - joined the UNAPOLOGETIC episode once again. This time, Andreas tried to unpack for us just how impactful the Saudi-UAE cold war is, why it is occurring and what and where are the fault lines of their differences. And what this cold war means for the USA, Israel, Iran and other actors in the region. UNAPOLOGETIC is hosted by Ashfaaq Carim Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:00 Iran Pressure Politics 11:00 Trump And Iran 21:00 Israel Chaos Strategy 30:00 Emirati Iran Calculus 39:00 Emirati Regional Project 49:00 Saudi Strategic Pushback 59:00 Cold War Fault lines 1:09:00 Israel Strategic Exposure 1:20:00 Regional Order Ahead

Brazilian activist and one of the organisers of the Global Sumud Flotilla Thiago Avila joins UNAPOLOGETIC.He recounts his detention by Israeli forces after being aboard one of the flotilla boats intercepted by Israel in international waters while en route to break the siege of Gaza.Avila describes the moments leading up to the interception at sea and his arrest, and details the conditions he and other activists faced while held in Israeli detention.He reflects on nightly raids inside prison cells, the use of intimidation and fear, and the psychological tactics used against the activists.UNAPOLOGETIC is hosted by Ashfaaq Carim.Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:10 The Gaza flotilla mission 06:45 Interception at sea and arrest 13:30 First hours in Israeli detention 20:10 Prison conditions & interrogations 28:40 Shotguns, lasers & psychological warfare 34:20 The moment fear broke 38:50 Solidarity & resistance inside prison 43:30 Chanting “Free Palestine” after raids 48:40 'Nothing compared to what Palestinians endure'

In this conversation with UNAPOLOGETIC, Imam Omar Suleiman reflects on two decades of global politics, the Palestinian struggle, Islamophobia in America, and the meaning of justice in a collapsing world order. Through personal stories of exile, family history, racism, 9/11, and spiritual grounding, he offers a deeply human account of how identity, faith, and political reality have shaped his life. This episode moves between the intimate and the global - from his parents’ journey through displacement, to the trauma and resilience of Palestinians and Syrians, to the shifting political landscape in the US and the rising generational support for Palestine. Omar Suleiman argues that despite oppression, people power is growing, Zionist propaganda is weakening, and justice - while it may take a while - in his view remains inevitable. Chapters 0:00 Intro & Soundbites 2:03 Gaza & Global Indifference 8:11 Childhood & Exile 13:05 Media After 9/11 16:40 Family & Diaspora Roots 23:28 Homeland & Entry Denied 27:03 Syria’s Turning Point 36:42 U.S. Politics & Islamophobia 41:34 Final Reflections

In this episode of UNAPOLOGETIC, we speak with journalist and historian Imran Mulla about his gripping new book The Indian Caliphate: Exiled Ottomans and the Billionaire Prince.The conversation uncovers a forgotten plot to relocate the Ottoman caliphate to India after its abolition in 1924 — a story involving exiled Ottoman royalty, the fabulously wealthy but austere Nizam of Hyderabad, British imperial paranoia, and an audacious vision for a modern, post-imperial caliphate rooted in the subcontinent.Imran walks us through the hidden alliances between Ottoman exiles and Indian Muslim thinkers, the astonishing marriage engineered to fuse two royal houses, the political stakes of Hyderabad’s autonomy under the British, and how the dream of an Indian-centred caliphate was ultimately crushed by partition and rising nationalism.This episode is a sweeping look at empire, modernity, loss, cosmopolitanism, and the forgotten place of India at the centre of the Islamic world — and why recovering this history matters today. UNAPOLOGETIC is hosted by Ashfaaq CarimChapters 0:00 Intro & Soundbites 2:00 Tomb in Rural India 9:00 How This Story Began 18:00 Reinventing the Caliphate 27:00 Hyderabad, Empire and Wealth 36:00 Archives, Travel and Tomb 45:00 Partition, Federation and Palestine 54:00 Empire, Freedom and Violence 1:03:00 Princes, Princesses and Exile 1:12:00 Modernist Pan-Islamic Politics 1:21:00 Anglicised Radicals at Oxford 1:30:00 What History Taught Imran 1:39:00 Writing the Book, Closing

In this UNAPOLOGETIC episode from the Doha Forum, investigative journalist Jeremy Scahill examines how Israel has carried out a campaign that many experts believe meets the legal and moral definitions of genocide in Gaza, while simultaneously insisting that Palestinians must not resist and that neighbouring states must demilitarise. Scahill situates Israel’s assault within a wider history of US militarism, privatised warfare, and the global security industry, showing how Gaza has become a testing ground for surveillance, weapons and siege tactics.We also discuss the collapse of the 2025 cease-fire, the regional implications of Syria’s political shift, and the contrasting strategies of Gulf states as the war reshapes regional power.Jeremy Scahill is co-founder of The Intercept and author of Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army and Dirty Wars: The World Is a Battlefield.

Recorded at the Doha Forum, this episode of UNAPOLOGETIC is in conversation with political scientist Dr. Omar Ashour examines the shifting landscape of the Middle East through three major developments: Syria’s transformation under Ahmed Al-Sharaa, Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza, and the widening regional divide illustrated by the UAE’s military support for separatist groups versus Qatar’s increasingly active diplomatic strategy. Ashour breaks down how these dynamics are reshaping alliances, security calculations, and narratives of power across the region. We explore for how long Syria’s new leadership scan continue to allow Israel to bomb it with impunity, how the genocide in Gaza has redrawn regional moral and political lines, and why Gulf states are pursuing sharply divergent approaches to influence. Dr. Omar Ashour is the author of The De-Radicalization of Jihadists, Bullets to Ballots and How ISIS Fights and is a leading expert on military behaviour, armed groups, and security studies.

In this episode of UNAPOLOGETIC, political strategist and CEO and founder of the Cordoba Foundation, Anas Altikriti speaks to us about the history of the Muslim Brotherhood and why Trump is looking to now proscribe the organisation in Egypt, Lebanon and Jordan. We examine how the Brotherhood evolved, why authoritarian governments frame it as a threat, and how Western policymakers adopted those narratives. Altikriti discusses Britain’s review of the organisation, the limits of proscription laws, and why banning political movements often strengthens regional dictatorships rather than weakening them. The conversation also explores wider issues: political Islam, public misconceptions, the role of civil society, and how counter-extremism frameworks shape policy. A clear, structured look at an organisation widely debated but rarely understood.Chapters:00:00 Opening and introduction 07:40 What is the Muslim Brotherhood 15:20 Why regimes fear it 22:55 UK review and findings 31:10 Misconceptions about Islamism 39:05 Authoritarian influence abroad 47:00 Proscription laws explained 55:10 Counter-extremism as politics1:03:00 Public narratives and bias 1:10:55 Civil society and power 1:18:20 Western policy contradictions 1:26:15 Future of the movement 1:34:30 Final reflections and outro

Former South African ambassador to the United States Ebrahim Rasool sits down with Ashfaaq Carim for an unflinching conversation on power, punishment, and principle. Rasool explains how South Africa’s ICJ genocide case against Israel triggered U.S. retaliation—from tariffs to blocked HIV/AIDS funding—while dismantling the “white genocide” narrative pushed by Trump-aligned networks.He also traces the global resurgence of white supremacism, drawing on South Africa’s struggle history to show why Gaza has become the defining moral battleground of our time. The discussion explores MAGA’s evolution, collapsing U.S. soft power, student uprisings, and the growing fractures inside Western politics.From BRICS realignments to ethnic cleansing and global solidarity, Rasool attempt to provide a historically grounded analysis of the world as it is—and where it may be heading.Chapters 00:00 Intro 03:14 Washington appointment tensions 06:09 Maga and lobby pressure 09:10 White genocide narrative 10:14 Timeline of U.S. retaliation 19:40 U.S. wars and isms 39:26 Pro-Israel tactical schisms emerging 43:32 Lessons from apartheid 46:04 ICJ soft power victory 58:07 BRICS and geopolitics 01:14:37 Israel’s endgame and personal reflections

In this episode of UNAPOLOGETIC, we speak to Dr Andreas Krieg — a leading Gulf security expert — about how the UAE has pursued an aggressive statecraft strategy since 2011. Andreas unpacks how Abu Dhabi has shaped the region through covert interventions, proxy forces and political engineering. From Egypt to Libya, Yemen to Sudan, we examine how the UAE has empowered secessionist, authoritarian and anti-democratic actors to build a regional order aligned with its own interests and often at the expense of social stability and cohesion, and in the case of Sudan, plausible genocide. He explains the ideology and strategy driving this approach, why the UAE views political Islam and more representative government as existential threats, and how these policies have fuelled instability across the Middle East. A crucial conversation on power, repression and the region’s future. Chapters 00:00 Intro2:00 UAE’s pursuit of dominance 12:00 MBZ’s authoritarian worldview 22:00 Blueprint for counterrevolution 32:00 Engineering Egypt’s repression 42:00 Yemen as a testing ground 52:00 Dividing allies, breaking states 1:02:00 Sudan’s gold-fuelled militias 1:12:00 Moscow, mercenaries, money flows 1:22:00 Washington’s blind partnership 1:32:00 Abu Dhabi’s influence machine 1:42:00 A region remade by fear

British journalist and commentator Sami Hamdi was detained by ICE for 18 days. He recounts here on UNAPOLOGETIC how he was arrested after being informed that his valid tourist visa had been suddenly revoked, and how he was eventually allowed to leave after a federal judge was concerned that there had been serious breaches of his freedom of speech. Hamdi describes in detail how he was arrested, what he witnessed in ICE facilities and processing centres, how ICE routinely obstructs and evades the justice system, and how, through his observations, many ordinary Americans are turning against Israel as they discover how deeply the U.S. government has been drawn into financing Israel’s war crimes while ordinary Americans continue to require government assistance in numerous areas.

David Adler - a Jewish American writer, activist, and organiser - joins UNAPOLOGETIC where he reflects on what it means to be Jewish in the age of Israel’s genocide on Gaza — and why silence is no longer an option. From his family’s divided Zionist and anti-Zionist roots to his experience being detained by Israel after joining the Summud Flotilla, Adler recounts how Jewish identity, power, and solidarity are being redefined. He explains why Israel poses an existential threat to Judaism itself — and why resisting in the name of justice is the only path left.

Unapologetic’s host Ashfaaq Carim speaks to Dr Roy Casagranda about what Zohran Mamdani's election victory means for the USA and it's political future

In this episode of UNAPOLOGETIC, peace negotiator Gershon Baskin takes us inside the Trump-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas — from backchannel talks with Hamas leaders to the Doha strike that nearly derailed the deal, and the moment Trump forced Netanyahu to apologize on camera. Baskin explains how the agreement came together, why it almost collapsed, and whether it can survive Netanyahu’s politics and the trauma of two years of war. He also reflects on 48 years in Israel, the country’s moral decline, and the difficult question of whether he can still call it home. Chapters 00:00 - Intro 02:00 - Backchannel Reborn Through Gaza 06:00 - Deal Delayed by Bombs 08:00 - The Three-Week Peace Plan 13:00 - Doha Strike and Betrayal 19:45 - Trump Forces Netanyahu’s Apology 23:00 - Will the Ceasefire Hold? 41:00 - Aftermath and Two-State Hope 48:00 - Israel Beyond Repair?

Green Party leader Zack Polanski joins UNAPOLOGETIC to talk about his plans to stop the right wing’s rise in the UK. Just weeks after being elected leader — and as the Greens gain over 30,000 new members — Polanski speaks about the party’s growing momentum in a political moment defined by Reform UK’s surge and the launch of Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana’s Your Party. We discuss whether the Greens can turn their surge in support into real political power — and what it will take to build a credible alternative to the far right and a drifting Labour.

Political scientist and historian Norman Finkelstein joins this special edition of UNAPOLOGETIC that marks two years since the October 7 Hamas-led attack and Israel’s devastating retaliation against Gaza, which the majority of genocide scholars around the world have labelled a genocide.In this nearly three-hour conversation, we ask whether Hamas regrets its actions, probe the realities of Trump’s Gaza plan - and question if this is just another ruse to create cover for more of Netanyahu’s atrocities.Norman laments the depth of Israel’s brutality over the past 24 months and the roles of Israeli society, Arab states, Western governments, and the media in enabling it.He also reflects on the collapse of international law and shifting global politics.We discuss whether recognition of Palestine makes any difference, where the genocide leaves the future of the Palestinian liberation struggle, and why the horrors of Gaza defy facts alone.

Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch, joins UNAPOLOGETIC to discuss his new book Righting Wrongs. Part memoir, part strategy guide, part global analysis, the book offers a rare inside look at how human rights advocacy really works. In this conversation, we explore how Roth built HRW from a team of just 60 people into a global organisation with more than 550 staff. He reflects on political strategy, the limits of “naming and shaming,” and the constant struggle to fund independent rights work. We also dive into HRW’s landmark reports—on apartheid and genocide in Gaza, the devastation of Syria’s war, Rwanda, China, Russia, and more. Roth shares what he learned from world leaders, victims, and dictators, and how those encounters shaped his understanding of power and human nature. A wide-ranging conversation on justice, accountability, and whether the world is becoming a better place.

“An Israel for all its citizens has disappeared, it has literally been extinguished, and it's a myth that Israel is a nice friendly state”David Hearst, editor-in-chief of Middle East Eye, joins us on this episode of UNAPOLOGETIC to discuss what he describes as the ‘worst evil the world is witnessing’ in the 21st century.Hearst shares his views on why Israel’s genocide is not just intentional but ‘calculated’. He also speaks about the UK’s complicity and how Israel, through its actions, has isolated not just the global public opinion, but former reliable allies such as Tucker Carlson and Piers Morgan, who are now among the most damning and articulate (if not necessarily sober and coherent) critics of Israel.

Palestinian writer and analyst, Muhammad Shehada joins UNAPOLOGETIC in this special episode to explain how Israel's bombing of senior Hamas leaders in Qatar along with its order for 1 million Palestinians in Gaza city to evacuate once again to the South of Gaza has one common objective - to coldly and calculatedly make its ethic cleansing of Gaza inevitable.

"You have to think about people who are sitting in war rooms and plan the next bombing on civilians populations who are actually in tents in one place that they cannot move (from)"Al Jazeera has been at the center of one of the deadliest assaults on journalists in modern history. Since October 2023, Israel’s war on Gaza has killed more than 270 journalists, including at least 11 from Al Jazeera. Despite losing colleagues, facing office bombings, and being banned from reporting inside Israel and the West Bank, Al Jazeera continues its coverage of Gaza.In this episode of UNAPOLOGETIC, Ashfaaq Carim speaks with Salah Negm, the head of news for Al Jazeera English. With more than 45 years of experience in international journalism, Negm reflects on what it means to cover a genocide, how Israel targets reporters to silence coverage, and why eyewitness accounts remain essential.Negm discusses:The pressures and dangers faced by his newsroomThe killings of Shireen Abu Akleh and other Al Jazeera journalistsHow Western media often relies on Israeli narrativesWhy objectivity is misunderstood and misused in journalismAl Jazeera’s process for recruiting and protecting local reportersThis is a rare inside look at how a newsroom endures grief, censorship, and political attacks while trying to hold power to account amidst an unfolding genocide in Gaza. Editors Note: This episode was filmed on August 21st, before Monday deadly by Israel that killed another Al Jazeera Journalist, Muhammad SalamaChapters:0:00 Intro3:40 Israel’s war on journalism7:00 Media bias and objectivity10:50 Why Al Jazeera hires locals15:30 Fear and character attacks19:00 Press freedom under threat23:40 Gaza reporting under siege29:00 Covering genocide in real time47:20 Shireen Abu Akleh’s killing51:00 Journalists killed in Gaza1:00:00 Bans, raids, and censorship1:08:00 Future of journalism in war

Muhammad Shahada grew up in Gaza during two decades of blockade and repeated wars. His father died after being denied medical treatment outside the Strip — one of countless lives lost to Israel’s permit system.Now a journalist and analyst, Shahada joins UNAPOLOGETIC to trace Gaza’s story from 2005 to 2025 — years that saw the removal of Israeli settlers, the imposition of siege, and the shift from Apache helicopters to F-16 bombardments, culminating in genocide.The conversation covers Hamas’s attempt to reach a political settlement that was rejected by Israel after its election victory, Israel’s role in fuelling a Palestinian civil war, daily life under siege, and the repeated wars waged under Israel's “mowing the lawn” doctrine.Shahada also reflects on the short period of relief when Egypt opened the Rafah crossing under President Morsi, the tunnelling economy and its risks, Israel’s policy of maiming protesters during the Great March of Return, the events of 7 October, and Israel’s ongoing 22-month assault on Gaza — alongside the silence and complicity of world leaders, media and policymakers.

Orly Noy is the chairperson of B’Tselem, the Israeli human rights organisation that has been documenting Israel’s atrocities against Palestinians since 1989. In this episode, we discuss B’Tselem’s new report, titled ‘Our Genocide’. Through rigorous research, the report makes the case that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. We also discuss the sociological culture in Israel that has led to a society that largely supports the Israeli state’s annihilation of Gaza and its people, and the lies and myths that have produced a global narrative where power brokers enable or are complicit in the genocide.

In this episode of UNAPOLOGETIC Professor John Esposito — one of the world’s foremost scholars on political Islam — unpacks 120 years of modern Islamic movements. From Afghani and Abdu’s 19th-century reformist vision, through Hassan al-Banna and Maududi’s activism, to Sayyid Qutb’s radical turn, we trace the intellectual and political forces that shaped the Muslim world. We explore the Iranian Revolution, the Afghan war, democratic Islamists, authoritarian crackdowns, and how the West’s perceptions of Islamism were forged. This is a masterclass in the history, ideas, and global impact of political Islam. UNAPOLOGETIC is hosted by Ashfaaq Carim Chapters0:00 – Intro & episode setup 2:33 – Esposito’s unlikely journey 5:41 – Immersion in Muslim scholarship 10:14 – Plan: 120 years’ history 12:14 – Afghani & Abdu’s vision 15:45 – Islam as civilization & faith 18:09 – Abdu’s modernist reform ideas 22:02 – Anti-colonial political Islam roots 23:54 – Al-Banna & Maududi emerge 26:44 – Movements spread transnationally 30:58 – Ideas spread without media 33:15 – Critique of elites & clerics 38:58 – Sayyid Qutb’s radical turn 43:39 – America through Qutb’s eyes 47:14 – Nasser’s crackdown & prisons 50:33 – Cross-pollination of movements 52:47 – Iranian revolution reshapes politics 55:03 – Authoritarianism fuels radicalisation 57:12 – Gradualists vs violent factions 1:04:05 – Revolution’s impact on perceptions 1:09:58 – Shah, hostage crisis, US errors 1:18:22 – Afghan jihad to al-Qaeda 1:27:05 – Democratic Islamists in power 1:35:48 – Post-Cold War Islamism shifts 1:40:19 – 9/11 & war on terror 1:49:15 – Arab Spring & Brotherhood 1:53:32 – Egypt’s coup & repression 2:02:08 – Islamism, democracy & inclusion 2:07:39 – Misrepresentation in Western discourse

“Every inch of that precious city is Rome and Paris and New York put together, and these barbaric savages go, ‘Oh Isfahan, we just bombed Isfahan’; they don’t even know where Isfahan is.” Hamid Dabashi, is an American and Iranian professor at Columbia University. He joined UNAPOLGETIC on this episode to give a scathing critique of US and Israeli adventurism and aggression in Iran and the region. Dabashi rebukes both states for having “absolutely no moral legitimacy” to export either freedom or democracy, especially while Israel continues to carry out a “genocide” in Gaza and the US under Trump cracks down on its own democratic institutions. The episode also delves into Iran's contemporary history, looking at how the CIA orchestrated coup of Iran’s elected leader allowed the Pahlavi dynasty to reestablish “autocratic” rule in Iran, which led to a popular uprising that paved the way for Ayatollah Khomeini to opportunistically establish Iran’s theocracy that has presided over Iran with a “totalitarian” fist, ever since. UNAPOLOGETIC is hosted by Ashfaaq Carim Chapters 00:00 - Intro 02:22 - Israel-US no legitimacy on nuclear bombs 07:08 - Iran belongs to Iranian people 12:33 - US-Israel actions will be remembered 17:06 - The empire’s collapse 21:40 - West’s hypocrisy on Iran 26:55 - Israel’s war on Iran 33:18 - West's history with Iran 38:11 - The 1953 CIA coup 44:20 - Pahlavi and autocracy 49:35 - Khomeini seizes opportunity 55:58 - Iran’s totalitarian theocracy 1:02:41 - Trump and democratic decline 1:10:25 - Freedom as imperial excuse 1:17:04 - Moral clarity from the South 1:24:45 - Final reflections

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges joins us on UNAPOLOGETIC for a conversation on what the consequences could be if Israel draws the USA into a full-blown war with Iran.Hedges reflects on his years reporting from war zones, the cynical nihilism driving Netanyahu’s assault, and how Israel’s genocide in Gaza has become a “spectacle” that has irreparably broken trust between North and South.Are Israel’s and the Pentagon’s stated shifting priorities real, or a façade to continue diminishing societal infrastructure in the region? Will the complicity of Arab states in the genocide lead to blowback? Is regime change the goal, or is this just an excuse?UNAPOLOGETIC is hosted by Ashfaaq Carim

“It’s left me with a deep and simmering anger against the western powers who imposed this nightmare on us.”Palestinian physician, author and Nakba survivor Ghada Karmi joins UNAPOLOGETIC to speak about how her life has been shaped by exile and how, as she tried to find a new home in the UK, she was confronted by experiences that enhanced her desire to reconnect with her Palestinian identity and eventually made her want to embrace a life where she lived in service of liberating Palestinians from Zionist occupation.She also reflects on the current unfolding genocide in Gaza, what she calls Arab and western complicity and how this event will traumatise future generations of Palestinians Chapters0:00 Intro and context setup 2:00 Two Nakbas, 77 years apart 4:32 Predicting 7 October’s logic 8:09 Fleeing Jerusalem in 1948 14:46 Remembering home, dog, Fatima 17:29 Life as a refugee child 21:28 1967 war changed everything 27:19 Reclaiming identity through activism 29:16 Visiting her old home 34:04 Learning the deeper history 43:58 Zionism’s effect on region 44:54 Arab states and complicity 55:57 The one-state vision today 1:09:00 Final reflections

Ben Jamal, director of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, joins UNAPOLOGETIC for a wide-ranging conversation about who has been complicit for the genocide in Gaza, the global shift in rhetoric, and what it takes to organise 20 months of continous mass protest across the UK.He unpacks the gap between what Western governments say and what they do - from condemning Israeli actions as “indefensible” while continuing to arm them, to criminalising peaceful protesters demanding justice. Jamal also reflects on his arrest and upcoming trial, the police’s systematic efforts to repress the movement, and why those tactics have failed to break the solidarity movement.In deeply personal moments, Jamal shares the story of his Palestinian father, his own political awakening, and what it has meant to sustain this movement through exhaustion, grief and hope.We ask: What does the future look like for Gaza? For Palestinian liberation? And for a world that has tolerated so much horror in real time?Chapters:00:00 Intro03:12 Shifts in media and government10:01 Words mean nothing without action15:30 Divestment wins and public pressure21:12 The arrest: what happened27:03 How police target protests32:47 BBC march and police trap38:55 Criminalised for peaceful protest44:11 Holding a movement together49:35 Building a resistance community54:20 Ben’s Palestinian family story1:00:07 Organising through trauma and grief1:05:05 Family, kids and solidarity1:10:10 What happens to Gaza now1:14:58 Will Palestinians be erased?1:20:10 Movement grows through genocide1:26:30 What keeps Ben going1:32:10 Final reflections

What were the Crusades really about - and why do they still matter today?In this deep-dive episode of UNAPOLOGETIC, historian and political scientist Professor Roy Casagranda comes back to the show to unpack the history, legacy and weaponisation of the Crusades. We begin by exploring why Jerusalem holds such profound spiritual and political importance to Judaism, Christianity and Islam - and how that shared reverence resulted in periods where the city was pluralistic and multicultural, and other periods where it was subject to conquest, ethnic cleansing, colonisation and occupation. From the First Crusade and the fall of Jerusalem, to the leadership of Salahuddin, to the devastation of the Mongol invasions, Roy walks us through a thousand-year arc of conflict, ideology and empire. But this isn’t just about the past.We examine how the logic of the Crusades impacts our current political landscape and geopolitics. Was the partition of the Middle East by colonial powers after World War I an extension of the Crusades? What about the War on Terror, drone strikes and ongoing Western interventions in the Muslim world?UNAPOLOGETIC is hosted by Ashfaaq Carim. Chapters0:00 Intro collage 3:00 Why Jerusalem matters 7:40 Jewish roots and the Temple 12:20 Rise of Christianity 17:00 Islam and early rule 21:40 Muslim rule of Jerusalem 26:20 What triggered the Crusades 31:00 The call to crusade (1095) 35:40 Norman warriors and motives 40:20 The first massacres 45:00 Taking Jerusalem (1099) 49:40 Crusader brutality revealed 54:20 Crusader states form 59:00 Muslim response builds 1:03:40 Zengi, Nur ad-Din and resistance 1:08:20 Rise of Salahuddin 1:13:00 Egypt campaigns begin 1:17:40 Salahuddin becomes wazir 1:22:20 The Fatimids fall 1:27:00 Power struggles with Nur ad-Din 1:31:40 Salahuddin unifies Syria 1:36:20 The peace treaty 1:41:00 Breaking the peace 1:45:40 Battle of Hattin 1:50:20 Retaking Jerusalem 1:55:00 The Third Crusade begins 1:59:40 Legacy of the Crusades 2:04:20 The fifth Crusade? 2:09:00 Zionism as settler project 2:13:40 Clash of civilizations 2:18:20 Anti-Arab hatred in the West 2:23:00 Demographic shifts and Gen Z

In this episode of UNAPOLOGETIC, Chinese political analyst Victor Gao joins UNAPOLOGETIC for a wide-ranging and often conflictual discussion about China's global image, western condescension towards it, human rights and democracy,Gao, a former translator for Deng Xiaoping and a vocal defender of the Chinese state, argues that China is a force for stability, free trade, and development - and rejects western narratives around repression in places like Xinjiang and Tibet.He is challenged on China's human rights record, especially concerning the treatment of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang. The clash exposes fundamental differences in how each views evidence, legitimacy, and sovereignty.Also discussed:- How does representation and governance work in China?- Why is China rising while liberal democracies fragment?- Can China be trusted as a global leader?UNAPOLOGETIC is hosted by Ashfaaq CarimThis episode was filmed on 14 May 2025.Chapters00:00 Intro04:15 Why the West misunderstands China08:30 China’s view on democracy and modernisation12:10 The century of humiliation16:00 Is criticism of China racist?19:50 Taiwan, Tibet and Xinjiang: the one China argument24:30 Pushing back on human rights violations29:00 “You are my enemy”: dissent and denial33:45 China’s stance on Palestine and Gaza38:00 Democracy in China: consensual vs confrontational44:00 Can China handle more free speech?50:30 Xi Jinping’s legacy and global role55:00 Winning global trust

“A mixture of stupidity and nastiness… The liberal establishment is primarily responsible for the genocide of the Palestinians.” In this episode of UNAPOLOGETIC, Yanis Varoufakis unleashes a fierce critique of Western liberalism, and tells us why he feels that the global system is in crisis.This episode explores the facade of Western moral superiority, the role of empire past and present, how liberal hypocrisy has given rise to fascism, the climate crisis, Gaza and why Varoufakis places his hope in the Global South.UNAPOLOGETIC is Hosted by Ashfaaq CarimChapters00:00 Intro02:01 Western civilisation and its hypocrisy 04:57 Gaza, genocide and colonial legacies 10:59 2008: The collapse of capitalism 17:28 Technofeudalism and the rise of cloud capital 20:06 Trump’s tariffs and the new Nixon shock 25:18 Liberal complicity in Gaza 30:55 Europe’s civil liberties crackdown 34:59 Palestine and the loss of moral resistance 39:19 Why protesters lack hope in the West 44:56 China vs. Russia: A critical distinction 50:02 China’s authoritarianism vs. local democracy 54:42 Climate collapse and cloud capital 58:46 Organising after collapse: What’s the alternative? 01:01:51 "Another Now": Varoufakis' vision for change

In this episode of UNAPOLOGETIC, we speak with Sudan’s ambassador to the UK, Babiker al-Siddig Mohamed al-Amin, about the Sudanese government's case against the UAE at the International Court of Justice. The conversation explores Sudan’s accusations of genocide, the origins of the RSF, alleged atrocities, foreign interference and the path forward for a democratic Sudan.We also address difficult questions about the Sudanese Armed Forces, the role of the international community and the geopolitical interests driving the conflict.UNAPOLOGETIC is Hosted by Ashfaaq Carim00:00 Intro00:44 Opening remarks and episode overview01:28 Sudan's case against the UAE04:55 Evidence linking UAE to RSF06:09 Origins of Sudan conflict and army-RSF tensions09:02 The RSF: History and origins10:53 UAE's motives: Gold, ports, and proxy power13:00 Sudan’s gold industry and UAE smuggling16:36 Red Sea ports and strategic interest17:30 Atrocities committed by RSF22:10 Accusations against Sudanese Armed Forces28:57 Towards elections: Transition plans32:04 International mediation and critique of the narrative36:16 Jeddah Declaration and failed ceasefire40:58 Tribalism and redrawing Sudan’s borders42:48 Regional interests and external destabilisation43:31 Egypt’s role and historical ties45:22 Final message to Sudanese people and the world50:02 Outro and thanks