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We’ve all heard the story’s of refugees fleeing war and violence from their home countries into the West … but what happens to those who survive the dangerous journey away from home? The stories and experiences are as diverse the people seeking refuge themselves. Some are settled fairly quickly especially when they have family or friends in their host countries. But many end up in refugee camps for much longer that expected. While there, small, unique society’s form which those of us who don’t live in refugee camps will ever experience or even hear about. With me today are two guests who have taken time out of their busy lives to join me in studio. I have with me Tawfic Halaby and Betsy Blakeslee. They both recently returned from trips from what is known as “the jungle” a refugee camp located in Calais, France where they implemented a music program for the refugees in the camp.
Guests:
Betsy Blakeslee, organized the Expressive Arts Refuge program which she brought to Calis jungle in France. She was there this past July and August.
Tawfic Halaby, Palestinian-American musician who recently traveled to Calais refugee camp in France with the Expressive Arts Refuge. He was there for the last week of July.
Resources:
Expressive Arts Refuge Blog
World Harmony Chorus
 

 
 
The post The “Jungle” — insights and stories from Calais refugee camp appeared first on KPFA.

Did you know that in many states, Arab numbers are equal to or greater than Jewish numbers — but for a variety of reasons, Arabs have never defeated a candidate with their clout. Why? In this episode, Arab American Institute president, Dr. James Zogby explains. He gets real about what it takes to achieve power in this country and he would know … For decades, he’s been working tirelessly in Washington to influence power in a pretty hostile climate. Don’t miss it!

The post Dr. James Zogby on Arabs in Politics appeared first on KPFA.

Associate law professor and Al Jazeera columnist Khaled Beydoun joins us from Detroit, Michigan to go deeper on Islamophobia. We discuss corporate vs independent media, Muslim voting patterns in the 2016 presidential election, and government surveillance of black and brown bodies.
Read Khaled’s articles here
Follow him on Twitter and Facebook: @KhaledBeydoun
Email arabiyaat@kpfa.org to provide us with feedback or ideas for new segments. Thanks to Sasha Totah and Claire Breen for their assistant producing this episode!
The post What Does Islamophobia Really Mean? With Khaled Beydoun appeared first on KPFA.

When the Food Network told her that America wasn’t ready for Middle Eastern food, Blanche’s Feast in the Middle East took matters into her own hands. Find out how in our newest episode! Journalist, host, and cook Blanche Shaheen joins us in the studio to talk to us about her cooking show, Feast in the Middle East! She’s making classic Arab home cooking accessible to people of all ages and shes even got some interesting new twists. We talk food and culture with a side of politics of course! Join us for that and more on this episode of Arabiyaat.

Link to Blanche’s work here:
Blanche TV
Feast in the Middle East Blog
Connect with her on Facebook and Instagram as well!
 
Email arabiyaat@kpfa.org to provide us with feedback or ideas for new segments!
The post Get a taste of Blanche Shaheen’s Feast in the Middle East appeared first on KPFA.

This month, the United Nations released a report stating that today a record 65 million people have been displaced by global conflict. As this staggering number only seems to grow, confidence in world leadership to manage these overlapping crises, let alone solve them, is at an all time low.
Since 1948, millions of Palestinians have been displaced from their homes, placed in temporary refugee camps, awaiting return to their homeland. The refugee camps in Lebanon have only become more crowded with new waves of refugees fleeing conflict in Syria as they seek haven in neighboring countries. Today, I speak Amina Ashkar, born in the Burj al-Barajneh refugee camp in Lebanon on the situation in Lebanon, the peace process, and her message to Arab-Americans.

Photo Credit: Simon Norfolk

The post When temporary doesn’t feel so temporary – Interview with Palestinian Refugee Amina Ashkar appeared first on KPFA.

 Moustafa Bayoumi, author of “This Muslim American Life: Dispatches from the War on Terror” joins us to speak about the unique and precarious positions that Muslims and Arab Americans find themselves in the West today. From complex identities to FBI surveillance, Bayoumi provides some helpful insights into some complicated questions on this weeks podcast.
Purchase “This Muslim American Life” here:
nyupress.org/books/9781479835645/
Contact: arabiyaat.podcast@gmail.com
Twitter: @Arabiyaat
Facebook: Arabiyaat Podcast
Theme song: Muqata’a – Ahya’ (Instrumental) @boikutt
The post Muslim American: Moustafa Bayoumi on the state of American Muslims today appeared first on KPFA.