In Episode 57 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined once again by Dr. Victor Kattan, the distinguished British-Palestinian legal scholar and historian whose groundbreaking legal campaign may redefine the world’s understanding of colonial responsibility.

In September 2025, Dr. Kattan and a team of leading barristers and scholars filed a 400-page petition to the British government, demanding accountability for Britain’s unlawful occupation of Palestine. This historic initiative — titled Britain Owes Palestine — was the brainchild of Munib Al Masri, the renowned Palestinian industrialist, philanthropist, and lifelong advocate for justice, whose vision has united some of the world’s top legal experts to challenge a century of British colonial impunity.

Supported by top legal minds including Ben Emmerson KC, Danny Friedman KC, and scholars such as John Quigley and Avi Shlaim, this historic petition is the first of its kind to hold a former colonial power legally accountable under international law.

In this powerful conversation, Victor traces how Britain’s actions from the Balfour Declaration (1917) to the Nakba (1948) directly enabled Israeli settler-colonialism and today’s atrocities in Gaza. He discusses the legal and moral implications of empire, deconstructs British archival records, and reflects on how the struggle for justice in Palestine is also a struggle against historical amnesia.

Dr. Kattan previously joined the podcast in November 2024 to discuss Palestinian history and international law — but this time, he returns with what could become one of the most consequential legal movements in modern history.

Dr. Victor Kattan’s Work:

Britain Owes Palestine Petition  → https://www.britainowespalestine.org/ 

ABC Article: The hidden history of British war crimes in Palestine — and the campaign for an apology → https://bit.ly/british-war-crimes-in-palestine 

From Coexistence to Conquest: International Law and the Origins of the Arab-Israeli Conflict, 1891-1949 - https://bit.ly/from-coexistence-to-conquest Making Endless War: The Vietnam and Arab-Israeli Conflicts in the History of International Law (Law, Meaning, And Violence) → https://bit.ly/making-endless-war

Previous Episode with Dr. Victor Kattan (Ep. 9 ) → youtube.com/watch?v=HuhQH7L9JsI

Britain Owes Palestine: A Petition for Justice → https://bit.ly/4oPhcar 

Dr. Victor Kattan’s Social Media:

Facebook  →  facebook.com/KattaninSingapore/ 

Instagram  → instagram.com/vmkattan/ 

X  (Twitter) →  x.com/VictorKattan? 

Enlightenment Podcast Social Media:

https://feedlinks.link/enlightenmentpodcast

#TheEnlightenmentPodcast #VictorKattan #BritainOwesPalestine #ColonialAccountability #InternationalLaw #PalestinianLiberation #FreePalestine #EndTheOccupation #BalfourDeclaration #DecolonizeHistory #GazaGenocide #JusticeForPalestine #PalestinianHistory #EmpireAndResistance #LegalAccountability

“He’s been called one of the most important Palestinian historians of his generation — a scholar who not only documents resistance but defends the very right of Palestinians to produce knowledge under siege.”

In Episode 56 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Dr. Abdel Razzaq Takriti, the leading Palestinian Oxford-trained historian who developed the contemporary definition of scholasticide, a concept that was coined by the renowned Palestinian scholar and Prof Takriti’s old mentor at Oxford Karma Nabulsi. He has also played a key role in disseminating frameworks and campaigns related to this concept, in an effort to organize the global academic community against the Gaza genocide. Together, they explore how the erasure of Palestinian history is central to the colonial project and how reclaiming that history is an act of resistance.

Dr. Takriti is an Associate Professor of History and the Arab-American Educational Foundation Chair of Arab Studies at Rice University. He is also one of the principal co-founders of Scholars Against the War on Palestine, and the co-creator (with Karma Nabulsi) of the Palestinian Revolution Digital Archive, which won the 2019 MESA Education Award for its groundbreaking preservation of revolutionary memory. Dr. Takriti is the North American representative on the Emergency Committee of Universities  in Gaza, a body that was created after the genocide, uniting all the major non-profit higher education institutions in the occupied territory. He is also a co-founder of the ISNAD program that supports these higher education institutions.

In this episode, Dr. Takriti traces the continuum of Palestinian resistance from 1908 to today’s genocide in Gaza, revealing how every generation of Palestinians has fought not only for land, but for the right to think, write, and teach freely.

This conversation is both intellectual and revolutionary — an exploration of how knowledge itself becomes a battleground in the struggle for liberation.

Dr. Abdel Razzaq Takriti’s Work:

 📚 Tradition of War → https://www.amazon.com/Traditions-War-Occupation-Resistance-Law/dp/0199279470 

🎙Thawra Podcast → https://open.spotify.com/show/0e0eE7aKt5EQdg07CzeVoI 

Dr. Abdel Razzaq Takriti’s Websites:

 📚 The Palestinian Revolution Digital Archive → https://learnpalestine.politics.ox.ac.uk 🎓 Scholars Against the War on Palestine → https://sawpal.org

The Enlightenment Podcast: The Enlightenment Podcast Feed

#TheEnlightenmentPodcast #AbdelRazzaqTakriti #PalestinianHistory #Scholasticide #DecolonizeKnowledge #PalestinianLiberation #EndTheOccupation #FreePalestine #GazaGenocide #IsraelPalestineWar #PalestinianResistance #AcademicFreedom #PalestineArchives #VoicesForPalestine #HistoryAsResistance

“She’s been called a pioneer of Palestinian cinema — the filmmaker who broke barriers, rewrote history, and built a cinematic revolution for her people.”

In Episode 55 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Annemarie Jacir, the award-winning Palestinian filmmaker and writer whose body of work has not only made history but also given Palestine a lasting voice on the global stage. Together, we explore Annemarie’s artistic journey, the challenges of making films under occupation, and the transformative role of cinema in Palestinian resistance.

Annemarie Jacir has written, directed, and produced over 16 films, with her work premiering at Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Locarno, Rotterdam, Toronto, and more. All of Annemarie’s feature films have been selected as Palestine’s official Oscar entry — a historic achievement in itself. Annemarie’s groundbreaking short film Like Twenty Impossibles became the first Arab short film ever selected for Cannes, cementing her place in film history.

Annemarie’s latest feature, Palestine 36, was created in the midst of the Gaza genocide, literally while missiles flew overhead. The film premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, earning the longest standing ovation in TIFF history, according to festival director Cameron Bailey. Palestine 39 will also premiere this October at the BFI London Film Festival, and will be in cinemas across UK and Ireland starting Oct. 31.

Annemarie has served on the juries of Cannes, Sundance, and Berlin, and is a member of both BAFTA and AMPAS. Annemarie continues to inspire a new generation of Palestinian filmmakers, proving that art itself can be an act of defiance and liberation.

This episode is not just about filmmaking — it is about cultural survival, creative resistance, and why stories are among Palestine’s most powerful weapons.

Annemarie Jacir’s Work:

🎬 Like Twenty Impossibles  → https://www.netflix.com/ae-en/title/81474205

🎬 Salt of This Sea → https://www.netflix.com/ae-en/title/70117041

🎬 When I Saw You → https://vimeo.com/ondemand/19606

🎬 Wajib → https://www.netflix.com/watch/80211283

🎬 Palestine 36 → Festival screenings (TIFF, BFI London 2025, Rome 2025, Chicago International, AFI, Tokyo, Sau Paulo) – distribution TBA. UK Distribution Curzon, France Haut et Court , USA Watermelon Pictures, Germany Alamode Films, Turkey TRT) 

Annemarie Jacir’s Social Media:

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/annamariajacir/?hl=en 

X (Twitter) → https://x.com/annemariejacir?lang=en 

Palestine 36 Film → https://www.instagram.com/palestine36film/?hl=en

The Enlightenment Podcast Social Media:

https://feedlinks.link/enlightenmentpodcast 

#TheEnlightenmentPodcast #AnnemarieJacir #PalestinianCinema #PalestinianFilmmakers #PalestinianCulture #PalestinianLiberation #FreePalestine #GazaGenocide #EndTheOccupation #CinemaAsResistance #ResistanceThroughArt #Palestine36 #GazaUnderAttack #StorytellingAsResistance #VoicesForPalestine

“I've never had an M16 pointed at me before. After just one hour in Bil'in! The Palestinians I met weren't terrorists but human beings — kind, resilient, and oppressed — fighting for the most basic right of all: freedom. What shocked me most was the deep-rooted racism among the majority of Israelis — a society taught to dehumanize Palestinians.” – Robert Martin, Bil'in, West Bank (2014)

In Episode 54 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Robert Martin, the Australian filmmaker and activist who went from being anti-Palestinian to risking detention and psychological torture for breaking the Gaza blockade. Together, we explore Robert’s extraordinary transformation, his frontline experiences in Palestine, and his unflinching commitment to justice.

Robert was detained and tortured by Israeli forces in July 2024 during the Handler Humanitarian Mission. Once a real estate professional with little awareness of Palestine, his first visit to Bil’in changed everything. Since then, Robert has become a leading voice exposing Israel’s occupation and brutality, reaching millions worldwide through his films and activism—despite facing ongoing threats for speaking truth to power.

This episode is not just about Robert’s story—it is about awakening, the price of resistance, and why solidarity with Palestine is a moral imperative for us all.

Robert Martin’s Social Media:

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/robert_martin_palestine_/?hl=en

Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/robert.martin.767615/ 

X (Twitter) → https://x.com/Robert_Martin72? 

Books mentioned:

The 51 Day War by Max Blumenthal → https://www.amazon.com/51-Day-War-Ruin-Resistance/dp/156858511X 

The Enlightenment Podcast Social Media:

https://feedlinks.link/enlightenmentpodcast 

 #TheEnlightenmentPodcast #RobertMartin #FreePalestine #EndTheOccupation #PalestinianLiberation #GazaSiege #HandlerMission #TruthToPower #ExposeApartheid #JusticeForPalestine

“He’s been called ‘one of the most self-hating Jews on earth,’ faced death threats from fellow Jews, and in November 2023, Senator Chris Coons had him removed from an Amtrak train by police after he confronted him about opposing a Gaza ceasefire...”

In Episode 53 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Aaron Maté, the award-winning Jewish-Canadian journalist who has become one of the most fearless voices exposing Israeli genocide and apartheid. Together, we discuss Aaron’s journey into journalism, his relentless work debunking Israeli propaganda, and the moral imperative of standing for Palestinian liberation.

Aaron is a journalist at The Grayzone, host of Pushback, and co-host of Useful Idiots. The son of Holocaust survivor Dr. Gabor Maté, Aaron has risked both his career and his safety to speak out on Palestine. He has called Israel’s onslaught in Gaza—where one out of every 50 people has been killed—“one of the worst crimes in human history.”

This episode is not just about journalism—it is about truth-telling in the face of empire, the personal costs of resistance, and why silence in the face of genocide is never an option.

Aaron Maté’s Work:

📰 The Grayzone → https://www.youtube.com/@thegrayzone7996

🎙️ Pushback Podcast → https://open.spotify.com/show/5H4mm4a8gXLVbBGDoiYcsN?si=b67e1e32e16041d9

🎙️ Useful Idiots → https://www.youtube.com/@usefulidiots

Their Blood, Our Bullets: The Hidden Story of US-Russia War for Ukraine Useful Idiots → https://www.amazon.co.uk/Their-Blood-Our-Bullets-US-Russia/dp/1682193659 

Social Media

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/aaronjmate/?hl=en 

X (Twitter) → https://x.com/aaronjmate/ 

Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/aaronjmate/

Enlightenment Podcast Social Media:

https://feedlinks.link/enlightenmentpodcast

#TheEnlightenmentPodcast #AaronMate #TheGrayzone #PushbackPodcast #UsefulIdiots #ExposePropaganda #JournalismAndJustice #EndTheOccupation #PalestinianLiberation #FreePalestine #TruthToPower

In Episode 52 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Huwaida Arraf, the Palestinian-American human rights attorney, activist, and co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM). Huwaida has dedicated her life to building international solidarity networks that confront Israeli apartheid and injustice.Huwaida co-founded ISM, which brought over 10,000 international witnesses to Palestine, challenging Israel’s impunity on the ground. She is also a survivor of the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla, when Israeli commandos violently attacked humanitarian ships attempting to break the blockade on Gaza. Beyond her activism, Huwaida ran for U.S. Congress in Michigan, continuing her fight for justice within the political arena.In this episode, Huwaida reflects on the role of international solidarity in dismantling structures of oppression, the costs of resistance, and the urgent need for global action. Her life’s work is a defiant reminder that standing with Palestine means standing against apartheid everywhere—and that silence, in the face of injustice, is complicity.Follow Huwaida Arraf’s work: 🌍 International Solidarity Movement → https://palsolidarity.org/ 🌍 Freedom Flotilla Coalition → https://freedomflotilla.org/ Huwaida Arraf’s Social Media:Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/huwaidaarraf/ Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/huwaida.arraf/X → https://x.com/huwaidaarraf/ Enlightenment Podcast Social Media:https://feedlinks.link/enlightenmentpodcast #TheEnlightenmentPodcast #HuwaidaArraf #InternationalSolidarity #ISM #FreedomFlotilla #JusticeForPalestine #EndTheBlockade #DismantleApartheid #FreePalestine #HumanRights #ResistanceVoices #RachelCorrie #ThomasHurndall #RememberRachelCorrie #JamesMiller #BrianAvery #AysenurEygi #MarkPerlmutter

In Episode 51 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Vivien Sansour, the Palestinian artist, conservationist, and visionary founder of the Palestine Heirloom Seed Library. Through her groundbreaking work, Vivien is preserving endangered Palestinian seed varieties and ensuring that stories of land, food, and heritage remain alive—one harvest at a time.

Vivien established the Palestine Heirloom Seed Library in Battir in 2014, creating a living repository of seeds at risk of extinction. Beyond conservation, she founded the Traveling Kitchen to reconnect farms and kitchens, bringing food, culture, and community together. Her work has been featured at the V&A in London and the Venice Biennale, and she has held fellowships at Harvard and Bard.

In this episode, Vivien reflects on the intimate relationship between seeds, memory, and resistance, and how the preservation of agriculture is not only cultural heritage but an act of defiance against erasure. By saving Palestinian seeds, she is reclaiming identity, defending land, and refusing the systematic attempts to uproot a people’s existence.

Palestine Heirloom Seed Library:

Website → palestineheirloomseedlibrary.com/ 

The Seed Protector’s Project → palestineheirloomseedlibrary.com/projects/the-seed-protectors 

Vivien Sansour nad PHSL Social Media:

🌱 Palestine Heirloom Seed Library → instagram.com/paliheirloomseedlibrary

🌱 Vivien Sansour Instagram → instagram.com/viviensansour 

Enlightenment Podcast Social Media:

https://feedlinks.link/enlightenmentpodcast 

#Palestine #VivienSansour #SeedLibrary #FoodSovereignty #CulturalResistance #PalestinianHeritage #LandAndLiberation #SaveTheSeeds #EnlightenmentPodcast #FreePalestine

In Episode 50 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Bob Suberi, a Yemeni-American Jew, Vietnam veteran, and activist who was recently arrested by Israeli forces while attempting to break the Gaza blockade aboard the Freedom Flotilla. Bob joins us to share his remarkable journey, his fight for justice in Palestine, and his work dismantling Zionist propaganda.

Bob is a 77-year-old former St. Louis restaurant owner who spent nearly six decades as a committed Zionist—until a profound awakening during his 2019 visit to the West Bank changed the course of his life. Since then, he has become an outspoken advocate for Palestinian liberation, leading Veterans for Peace St. Louis and regularly joining protective presence missions in Masafer Yatta, where Palestinian communities face relentless harassment and displacement under Israeli occupation.

In this uncompromising conversation, Bob lays bare his transformation from decades of Zionist belief to becoming a frontline witness to Israeli crimes. He challenges the myths that sustained his former worldview, exposes the brutality of the blockade and occupation, and makes a fierce call for solidarity with Palestinians. This episode is not just a story of awakening—it’s a defiant challenge to propaganda and silence.

Bob’s Work and Affiliations:

🌍 Freedom Flotilla Coalition → https://freedomflotilla.org/

Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s Social Media:

Facebook  →  facebook.com/FreedomFlotillaCoalition/ 

Instagram → instagram.com/gazafreedomflotilla/ 

X (Twitter) → https://x.com/gazafflotilla 

Enlightenment Podcast Social Media:

https://feedlinks.link/enlightenmentpodcast 

#TheEnlightenmentPodcast #BobSuberi #FreedomFlotilla #VeteransForPeace #EndTheBlockade #MasaferYatta #JusticeForPalestine #DismantleZionism #FreePalestine #Solidarity

In Episode 49 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Omar El-Akkad, the award-winning Egyptian-Canadian journalist and novelist whose viral tweet about Gaza later became the title of his explosive nonfiction debut—now a New York Times bestselling book.

Omar is an award-winning journalist who spent over a decade covering conflicts from Afghanistan to Guantánamo Bay for The Globe and Mail. He is the acclaimed author of the novel American War, praised by the BBC, and the Scotiabank Giller Prize-winning novel What Strange Paradise. His latest work, the explosive nonfiction debut One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This, is a searing indictment of Western complicity in the genocide of Palestinians and has been shortlisted for the 2025 Palestine Book Award.

In this powerful episode, Omar discusses the urgent need to dismantle Zionist propaganda, the role of literature in the fight for liberation, and the personal costs of speaking truth to power. His courage, moral clarity, and willingness to risk his career in pursuit of justice make his voice one of the most important of our time.

Omar’s Work: 📘 American War → https://www.amazon.com/American-War-Omar-El-Akkad/dp/0451493583 

📘 What Strange Paradise → https://www.amazon.com/What-Strange-Paradise-Omar-Akkad/dp/1984899244/ 

📘 One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This → https://www.amazon.com/Everyone-Will-Have-Always-Against/dp/0593804147/ 

Support the People of Palestine

The Sameer Project → https://www.instagram.com/thesameerproject 

The Ghassan Abu-Sittah Children’s Fund → https://gascf.org/ 

Palestine Children’s Relief Funds → https://www.pcrf.net/ 

Medical Aid for Palestinians → https://www.map.org.uk/ 

Gaza Funds → https://gazafunds.com/all 

The Hind Rajab Foundation → https://www.hindrajabfoundation.org/ 

Omar on Social Media: X (Twitter) → https://x.com/omarelakkad?lang=en Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/oelakkad/?hl=en 

Enlightenment Podcast Social Media:

https://feedlinks.link/enlightenmentpodcast

#TheEnlightenmentPodcast #OmarElAkkad #AmericanWar #WhatStrangeParadise #PalestineBookAwards #PalestinianLiberation #OneDayEveryoneWillHaveAlwaysBeenAgainstThis #DismantleZionism #WesternComplicity #JusticeForPalestine #FreePalestine #TruthToPower #LiteratureForJustice #EndTheOccupation

In Episode 48 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Professor Omer Bartov, one of the world’s foremost Holocaust and genocide scholars, whose moral clarity and scholarly rigor have led him to unequivocally describe Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide—a position he reached through a deeply personal and professional journey.

Professor Bartov is the Dean's Professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Brown University and has been described by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum as one of the world’s leading specialists in genocide. Born in Israel, he served in the Israeli Army and fought in the 1973 Yom Kippur War, eventually rising to the rank of company commander before embarking on an academic career that would make him a globally respected historian.

He is the author of multiple award-winning books, including Anatomy of a Genocide and his latest, Genocide, the Holocaust and Israel-Palestine – First Person in History in Times of Crisis. His forthcoming book, Israel: What Went Wrong?, is due to be published in April 2026. In a principled stand, Professor Bartov resigned from the editorial board of Yad Vashem Studies after two decades, when his colleagues refused to confront Israel’s killing and maiming of thousands of Palestinian children.

In this compelling episode, Professor Bartov reflects on his own transformation from soldier to outspoken critic of Israeli policies, unpacks the historical and legal frameworks for understanding genocide, and speaks about the ethical responsibility of scholars in times of moral crisis.

Professor Bartov’s Work:

Anatomy of a Genocide → https://www.amazon.com/Anatomy-Genocide-Death-Called-Buczacz/dp/1451684533

Genocide: The Holocaust and Israel-Palestine – First Person in History in Times of Crisis → https://www.amazon.com/Genocide-Holocaust-Israel-Palestine-First-Person-History/dp/1350332321

Israel: What Went Wrong? (Coming April 2026) → https://www.amazon.co.uk/Israel-What-Wrong-Omer-Bartov/dp/0374618186 

The Eastern Front, 1941-45: German Troops and the Barbarisation of Warfare (St Antony's Series)

 → https://www.amazon.com/Eastern-Front-1941-45-Barbarisation-Warfare/dp/0333949447/

Hitler's Army: Soldiers, Nazis, and War in the Third Reich (Oxford Paperbacks)

 → https://www.amazon.com/Hitlers-Army-Soldiers-Oxford-Paperbacks/dp/0195079035/ 

Professor Bartov on Social Media:X (Twitter) → https://x.com/bartov_omer LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/omer-bartov-6336343a/ 

Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/OmerBartov/ 

Website  → https://vivo.brown.edu/display/obartov 

Enlightenment Podcast Social Media:

https://feedlinks.link/enlightenmentpodcast

#TheEnlightenmentPodcast #OmerBartov #GazaGenocide #HolocaustScholar #GenocideStudies #EndGazaGenocide #JusticeForPalestine #BrownUniversity #IsraelWhatWentWrong #DecolonizeHistory #MoralCourage #GenocideAwareness #PalestinianRights #HumanRightsNow #ScholarActivism

In Episode 47 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Ahed Tamimi, the iconic Palestinian girl, national hero, freedom fighter, and symbol of resistance whose unwavering defiance in the face of Israeli military occupation has inspired people around the world.

As a teenager, Ahed became internationally known when videos of her confronting heavily armed Israeli soldiers in her village of Nabi Saleh went viral. Her courage and dignity in those moments made her a global symbol of Palestinian resistance—described by many as “the face of Palestinian defiance.”

Now in her early twenties, Ahed continues her activism on the ground in the occupied West Bank. She previously pursued international law at Birzeit University, driven by her commitment to justice and Palestinian liberation. Although she ultimately chose not to complete the degree, her pursuit of education remains part of a broader resistance—one shaped by relentless restrictions on her freedom and movement under occupation.

Her powerful memoir, They Called Me a Lioness, co-written with Dena Takruri, offers a gripping and emotional portrait of life under occupation—where childhood, resistance, and survival are inseparable.

In this deeply moving episode, Ahed reflects on growing up under military rule, the emotional weight of being a national symbol, and how she continues to fight—through storytelling, advocacy, and an unshakable love for her people.

Ahed’s Work:

📘 They Called Me a Lioness: A Memoir

→ https://www.amazon.com/They-Called-Me-Lioness-Palestinian/dp/0593134583 

Dena Takruri on Social Media:

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/denatakruri/ 

X (Twitter) → https://x.com/dena 

Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/denatakruri/ 

Enlightenment Podcast Social Media:

https://feedlinks.link/enlightenmentpodcast

#TheEnlightenmentPodcast #AhedTamimi #TheyCalledMeALioness #PalestinianResistance #FreePalestine #BirzeitUniversity #YouthActivism #LegalAdvocacy #JusticeForPalestine #LifeUnderOccupation #DecolonizeNow #PalestinianVoices #EndTheOccupation #PalestinianLiberation #SymbolOfResistance

In Episode 46 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Heather Masoud and Catherine Pawson, the visionary co-founders of Zaytoun, a pioneering social enterprise that launched the world’s first Fairtrade certified olive oil in 2009. For over two decades, Zaytoun has supported Palestinian farmers through ethical trade and solidarity, while celebrating the deep cultural heritage of Palestinian food.

Zaytoun is more than a brand—it’s a movement grounded in economic resistance. Through direct partnerships with suppliers in Palestine, they’ve offered high-quality Palestinian products to the UK market, helping to sustain communities living under military occupation. From olive oil to maftoul, their work uplifts both land and people.

Heather brings a background in natural resource management, while Catherine’s journey began through Arabic and Islamic studies, giving her the linguistic and cultural foundation to connect deeply with West Asia—commonly referred to as the Middle East.

In this episode, Heather and Catherine reflect on two decades of solidarity work, the challenges of building ethical supply chains under occupation, and the joy and resilience embedded in Palestinian culinary heritage.

Zaytoun’s Work:🌿 Zaytoun Official Website→ https://www.zaytoun.uk

🛒 Shop Palestinian Products→ https://zaytoun.uk/products/

Zaytoun on Social Media:Instagram → https://instagram.com/zaytoun_cicBluesky → @zaytouncic.bsky.socialFacebook → https://facebook.com/ZaytounCIC

Enlightenment Podcast Social Media:

https://feedlinks.link/enlightenmentpodcast

#TheEnlightenmentPodcast #Zaytoun #FairtradePalestine #PalestinianOliveOil #PalestinianFarmers #HeatherMasoud #CatherinePawson #PalestinianHeritage #CulinaryResistance #BuyPalestinian #EconomicJustice #FoodSovereignty #PalestinianVoices #DecolonizeTrade #JusticeForPalestine #FairTradeNotAid

In Episode 45 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan are joined by Dr. Raz Segal, an Israeli-American Holocaust and genocide scholar who made headlines for courageously stating that what is unfolding in Gaza is a “textbook case of genocide”—just days after October 7th.

Dr. Segal is an associate professor of Holocaust and genocide studies and an endowed professor in the study of modern genocide at Stockton University, where he also directs the Master of Arts in Holocaust and Genocide Studies program. With a background rooted in both Israeli and American academia, his work critically examines how systems of power and identity shape state violence, memory, and denial.

In this episode, Dr. Segal offers a rigorous scholarly analysis of genocide as a legal and historical concept, unpacks the structures of violence in Gaza, and reflects on the responsibility of scholars, especially those rooted in Jewish history, to speak truth to power.

Dr. Segal’s Work:

Genocide in the Carpathians → https://www.amazon.com/Genocide-Carpathians-Breakdown-Violence-1914-1945/dp/0804796661 

Days of Ruin → https://www.amazon.com/Days-Ruin-Munkacs-During-Holocaust/dp/9653084283 

Gaza is a Textbook Case of Genocide (Jewish Currents) → https://jewishcurrents.org/gaza-is-a-textbook-case-of-genocide

Jewish Currents Social Media: X (Twitter) → https://x.com/JewishCurrents Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/jewishcurrentsmag/ LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/jewish-currents/ 

Enlightenment Podcast Social Media:

https://feedlinks.link/enlightenmentpodcast

#TheEnlightenmentPodcast #RazSegal #GazaGenocide #HolocaustStudies #GenocideScholarship #StopGazaGenocide #JewishVoiceForJustice #AcademicActivism #ModernGenocide #GazaCrisis #DecolonizeHistory #SpeakTruthToPower #GenocideAwareness #JusticeForPalestine #StocktonUniversity #HumanRightsNow

In Episode 44 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan sit down with Gregory Khalil, a Palestinian-American lawyer, peacemaker, and co-founder of the Telos Group, to explore the complexities of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the role of American evangelical engagement in shaping public discourse and policy.Greg is a Yale-trained lawyer who previously advised Palestinian leadership on peace negotiations. Born in San Diego, his roots trace back to Beit Sahour, a town near Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. Through his work with the Telos Group, Gregory focuses on transforming how U.S. Christians—particularly evangelicals—understand justice, peacemaking, and the realities on the ground in Palestine.In this episode, Gregory unpacks dominant narratives around peace, shares insights from his legal and political work, and discusses how faith-based communities can become powerful advocates for equity and truth in the Holy Land.Gregory’s Work: 🌐 Telos Group → https://www.telosgroup.orgTelos Group Social Media:Youtube → https://www.youtube.com/@thetelosgroup Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/thetelosgroup/ Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/telosgroup Mentions in the Podcast:Undaunted Series → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy-iQ9MJ9jk Across the Divides → https://open.spotify.com/show/5PrVCyafdQdh8Jpz5gZNyR The Holocaust and the Nakba → https://www.amazon.com/Holocaust-Nakba-Grammar-History-Religion/dp/0231182961 The Iron Wall → https://www.amazon.com/Iron-Wall-We-Arabs-1923/dp/B0CS72LQK9/ Christ at the Checkpoint → https://www.amazon.com/Christ-Checkpoint-Blessed-are-Peacemakers/dp/1723976075 Christ in the Rubble → https://www.amazon.com/Christ-Rubble-Faith-Bible-Genocide/dp/0802885543/ Mitri Raheb → https://www.mitriraheb.org/ Diyar University → https://www.diyar.ps/Enlightenment Podcast Social Media:https://feedlinks.link/enlightenmentpodcast#TheEnlightenmentPodcast #GregoryKhalil #PalestineVoices #JusticeForPalestine #ChristianityAndJustice #FaithInAction #PalestinianChristians #EndTheOccupation #HumanRightsInPalestine #DecolonizeFaith #MiddleEastConflict #PeacemakingInPalestine #FreePalestine #EvangelicalsForJustice #BethlehemVoices #IsraelPalestineConflict #FaithBasedActivism #PalestinianLiberation #TelosGroup #StopEthnicCleansing

In Episode 43 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan engage in a powerful conversation with Laith Marouf, a Palestinian-Syrian award-winning journalist, media analyst, and activist, to explore Zionism, the politics of journalism, and the struggle for Palestinian justice and liberation.

Laith is the founder of Free Palestine TV, an independent platform dedicated to amplifying Palestinian voices and countering mainstream media narratives. His work is deeply informed by his own history—his mother’s family, the Al-Kilani, lived in Haifa in 1948, and his father’s side, the al-Kilanis, hail from Nablus, Iraq, and ultimately Mecca. His lineage traces back to Abdelkader al-Kilani, a prominent figure in Sunni Islam and Sufism, and to Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.

In this episode, Laith offers a deep critique of Zionism as a colonial project, reflects on the erasure of Palestinian narratives in Western journalism, and highlights the importance of reclaiming media as a tool for resistance and truth-telling.

Laith’s Work:   Free Palestine TV  → ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@TVFreePalestine⁠

Free Palestine TV Social Media:

X (Twitter) → ⁠https://x.com/TVFreePalestine⁠

Instagram → ⁠https://www.instagram.com/free.palestine.tv/⁠ 

Facebook → ⁠https://www.facebook.com/TVFreePalestine#⁠

Enlightenment Podcast Social Media: ⁠

https://feedlinks.link/enlightenmentpodcast⁠

#TheEnlightenmentPodcast #LaithMarouf #FreePalestineTV #ZionismExposed #PoliticalMedia #PalestinianLiberation #DecolonizeJournalism #MediaActivism #ResistanceVoices #MiddleEastPolitics #JusticeForPalestine #ArabNarratives #ColonialismUnmasked #IslamAndPolitics #TruthInMedia

In Episode 42 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan engage in a compelling conversation with Dr. Azzam Tamimi, a Palestinian academic, political theorist, and author based in the UK, to examine the intellectual foundations of political Islam, the framing of Islamic resistance movements, and the struggle for Palestinian liberation.Dr. Tamimi is the former director of the Institute of Islamic Political Thought and the author of Hamas: Unwritten Chapters, Islam and Secularism in the Middle East, and a biography of Rachid Ghannouchi. Through his academic work and public commentary, he has challenged dominant Western narratives about Islamism and offered critical decolonial readings of political Islam. His perspective bridges scholarly rigor with on-the-ground political insight.In this episode, Dr. Tamimi explores how the West misreads Islamic movements, and underscores the importance of understanding resistance through the lens of decolonization. He also reflects on his personal journey to Islam and the political consciousness it shaped.Dr. Azzam’s Work: 📘 Hamas: Unwritten Chapters→ https://www.amazon.com/Hamas-Unwritten-Chapters-Azzam-Tamimi/dp/185065834X 📘 Islam and Secularism in the Middle East→ https://www.amazon.com/Islam-Secularism-Middle-Azzam-Tamimi/dp/0814782612 📘 Rachid Ghannouchi: A Democrat Within Islamism→https://www.amazon.com/Rachid-Ghannouchi-Democrat-Islamism-Religion/dp/0195140001🎧 My Journey to Islam YouTube Playlist → https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLci-TEpAYR2486Ug6d_Mcj2RAlb2TgEL-Dr. Azzam's Social Media: X (Twitter) → https://x.com/AzzamTamimi Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/AzzamSTamimi Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/azzam_s_tamimi/ #TheEnlightenmentPodcast #AzzamTamimi #PoliticalIslam #Hamas #MuslimBrotherhood #PalestinianLiberation #IslamAndPolitics #DecolonizePalestine #ResistanceVoices #MiddleEastPolitics #Islamism #IslamAndSecularism #RachidGhannouchi #IslamicThought #JusticeForPalestine

In Episode 41 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan engage in a powerful conversation with Sharmine Narwani, a Beirut-based geopolitical analyst and journalist, to unpack the ongoing struggle for justice in Palestine, the historical roots of Zionism, and the failures of Western media narratives.

Sharmine is the Editor-in-Chief of The Cradle, a news outlet focused on West Asian geopolitics. Over the past two decades, she has reported extensively from conflict zones including Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Gaza, offering rare on-the-ground insights often omitted by mainstream Western outlets. Her work has appeared in a wide range of publications including The New York Times, The Guardian, The American Conservative, and RT, reflecting a diverse media footprint that defies easy categorization.

In this episode, Sharmine discusses the political evolution of Zionism, the complicity of Western institutions in perpetuating apartheid in Palestine, and the importance of independent journalism in exposing power and propaganda. She also reflects on the regional landscape of resistance and the urgent need for justice for the Palestinian people.

Sharmine’s Work:

📰 Columns by Sharmine Narwani on The Cradle

→ https://thecradle.co/columns/sharmine-narwani

🎥 The Cradle Media on YouTube

→ https://www.youtube.com/@thecradlemedia/videos

📄 Excuse Me, But Israel Has No Right To Exist – Article by Sharmine Narwani

→ https://mideastshuffle.com/2012/05/19/excuse-me-but-israel-has-no-right-to-exist/

#TheEnlightenmentPodcast #SharmineNarwani #Zionism #PalestinianLiberation #MediaNarratives #DecolonizePalestine #WestAsia #Geopolitics #CradleMedia #JusticeForPalestine #AntiImperialism #MiddleEastPolitics #ResistanceVoices #IndependentMedia

In Episode 40 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan engage in a compelling conversation with Chris Doyle, Director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu), where he has led advocacy and education efforts on Palestine and the wider Arab world for over two decades.

Chris is a leading voice on UK foreign policy in the Middle East, and a trusted advisor to parliamentary groups on Arab affairs. As a frequent commentator on UK media—including The Guardian, Al Jazeera, and the BBC—he works to challenge misinformation, amplify Palestinian voices, and hold British institutions accountable for their historical and ongoing complicity in the region.

He has authored and co-authored numerous reports on Zionism, the political framing of Palestine in the UK, and Britain's colonial legacy. Under his leadership, Caabu has organized dozens of parliamentary delegations to the occupied Palestinian territories and Arab countries, deepening political understanding and engagement.

In this episode, Chris discusses the challenges of advocacy in the British political system, the impact of historical narratives on public discourse, and the urgent need for truth-telling, justice, and accountability in UK policy toward Palestine.

Chris Doyle’s  Work:

🌐 Council for Arab-British Understanding (Caabu) – Website → https://www.caabu.org/

📰 Articles and Video Contributions by Chris Doyle → https://www.caabu.org/news

🐦 Follow Chris on X (formerly Twitter) → https://x.com/doylech?lang=en

#TheEnlightenmentPodcast #ChrisDoyle #Caabu #PalestinianRights #UKForeignPolicy #MiddleEastPolitics #EndApartheid #JusticeForPalestine #ColonialLegacy #ResistanceVoices #AdvocacyAndAccountability #PoliticalFraming #MediaNarratives

In Episode 39 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan engage in a compelling conversation with Dr. Marwan Muasher, a distinguished Jordanian diplomat and scholar whose career has centered on advocating for democratic reform, inclusive governance, and justice in the Arab world.

Dr. Muasher has played a pivotal role in shaping Jordan’s foreign and domestic policy. He served as Jordan’s first ambassador to Israel following the 1994 peace treaty, and later held the roles of foreign minister, deputy prime minister of Jordan, and ambassador to the United States.

Currently, he is Vice President for Studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where he leads research on the Middle East and focuses on political reform and pluralism in the Arab region.

A vocal proponent of justice and dignity for the Palestinian people, Dr. Muasher is the author of The Arab Center: The Promise of Moderation and The Second Arab Awakening and the Battle for Pluralism. His work emphasizes the urgent need for inclusive, democratic transformation across the region.

In this episode, Dr. Muasher discusses the challenges facing reform movements in the Arab world, the failures of authoritarian governance, and the role of international actors in shaping regional outcomes—particularly in relation to Palestinian self-determination and rights.

Marwan’s Work:

📘 The Arab Center: The Promise of Moderation

→https://www.amazon.com/Arab-Center-Promise-Moderation-Search-ebook/dp/B001CXM39A?ref_=ast_author_mpb

 📘 The Second Arab Awakening and the Battle for Pluralism →https://www.amazon.com/Second-Arab-Awakening-Battle-Pluralism/dp/0300186398/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=apKA2&content-id=amzn1.sym.0fb2cce1-1ca4-439a-844b-8ad0b1fb77f7&pf_rd_p=0fb2cce1-1ca4-439a-844b-8ad0b1fb77f7&pf_rd_r=147-5700860-0680937&pd_rd_wg=c9465&pd_rd_r=7e233666-b6f6-4c72-bf7a-07d3ede11825&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk

Referenced in the Episode:

📄 Amnesty International Report: Israel’s apartheid against Palestinians: Cruel system of domination and crime against humanity

→https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde15/5141/2022/en/

📄 Full text of UN General Assembly Resolution 194 – via UNISPAL

→ https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-210170/

#TheEnlightenmentPodcast #MarwanMuasher #ArabReform #DemocracyInTheMiddleEast #PalestinianRights #InclusiveGovernance #ArabWorld #Pluralism #MiddleEastPolitics #CarnegieEndowment #JusticeForPalestine #ResistanceVoices #PoliticalTransformation #SecondArabAwakening

In Episode 38 of The Enlightenment Podcast, Shamim and Hanan engage in a profound conversation with Mouin Rabbani, a Dutch-Palestinian analyst and writer renowned for his incisive commentary on Palestinian politics, international law, and Middle Eastern geopolitics.

Rabbani has dedicated his career to analyzing the Arab-Israeli conflict and Palestinian affairs. 

He has held significant positions, including Senior Analyst and Special Adviser on Israel-Palestine with the International Crisis Group, and Principal Political Affairs Officer with the United Nations Office of the Special Envoy for Syria. Currently, he serves as a nonresident senior fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Dialogue, and Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN). He is also a co-editor of Jadaliyya, where he also hosts the Connections podcast and co-hosts Long Form Conversations with Bassam Haddad. 

Mouin is a staunch critic of the Oslo Accords, and opposed them from the very outset because they demonstrably failed to address the key issues of occupation and self-determination. His writings delve into themes of Zionism, settler colonialism, and the shortcomings of the so-called “peace process”. His analyses are featured in esteemed publications such as the London Review of Books, The Nation, and Middle East Report. 

In this episode, Mouin discusses why the Oslo Accords have failed, how Western powers have enabled and sustained the Israeli occupation, and why Zionism must be understood as a settler-colonial project. 

Mouin’s Work:

📰 Selected articles in The Nation, London Review of Books, and Middle East Report

→ https://www.thenation.com/authors/mouin-rabbani/ → https://www.lrb.co.uk/contributors/mouin-rabbani

🎧 Connections Podcast with Mouin Rabbani – Analyses on Palestine, geopolitics, and the Global South

→ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLkT5TSHWFSYKY_6vrNn_vZAmfunA_s9g

Referenced in the Episode:

📘 A History of False Hope: Investigative Commissions in Palestine by Lori Allen → https://www.amazon.com/History-False-Hope-Investigative-Commissions/dp/1503614182 

📄 Tyranny of the Veto: PLO Diplomacy and the January 1976 United Nations Security Council Resolution by Colter Louwerse → https://www.researchgate.net/publication/363025715_Tyranny_of_the_Veto_PLO_Diplomacy_and_the_January_1976_United_Nations_Security_Council_Resolution

#TheEnlightenmentPodcast #MouinRabbani #PalestinianLiberation #InternationalLaw #OsloAccords #MiddleEastPolitics #DecolonizePalestine #Zionism #SettlerColonialism #Jadaliyya #ConnectionsPodcast #FreePalestine #PoliticalAnalysis #StopOccupation #ArabWorld #ResistanceVoices