Hyphenated

This week, Hyphen commissioning editor Samir Jeraj, Kadra Abdinasir from the Centre for Mental Health and Mercy Mission UK's Jehangir Malik OBE discuss the claim by Britain's ex-defence secretary Ben Wallace that the situation in Gaza is "radicalising Muslim youth across the globe", the UK's cost of living crisis and our top TV picks as Netflix reveals its most watched shows of 2023. Host Reya El-Salahi speaks to the psychiatrist Professor Ahmed Hankir about a recent surge in the number of Muslim patients referred to his clinic, his new book The Wounded Healer and his journey from psychiatric patient to World Health Organization award-winning mental health provider. Plus, journalist Dion Fanning meets the athletes on the receiving end of racism in Irish sport. Get in touch with the Hyphenated team: [email protected].  

This week, Hyphen reporter Aisha Rimi, author and Runnymede Trust co-CEO Dr Shabna Begum and political stand-up comedian Harun Musho'd discuss the United Kingdom's decision to abstain on the UN Gaza ceasefire vote and concerns about the policing of pro-Palestine protests stifling freedom of speech. Our panel also mull over changes to UK visa rules and reflect on whether Taylor Swift is a worthy recipient of Time Magazine's person of the year award.  Host Reya El-Salahi speaks to the chief executive of Amal, Catherine Roe, about the imminent closure of the charity she founded to help shift the dominant negative narrative around Muslims in the UK by growing opportunities for British Muslims to unleash their creative potential. Plus, Aisha Rimi travels to Leeds to meet the Muslim community group bridging the digital divide. Get in touch with the Hyphenated team: [email protected].  

This week, the British Sudanese comedian Ola Labib joins host Reya El-Salahi to chat about her new sitcom Frenemies, coping with the cultural fallout after pursuing a career on stage and why she's fed up with being called the UK's first Black, Muslim, Sudanese female comedian.  Plus, journalist Neelam Tailor meets the Muslim women struggling to stop watching porn. Get in touch with the Hyphenated team: [email protected].  

This week, Hyphen Europe commissioning editor Phoebe Greenwood, political commentator Sami Hamdi and the broadcaster and Bromley Reform Synagogue's Rabbi Laura Janner-Klausner discuss whether a pause in fighting in Gaza signals a turning point in the war between Israel and Hamas, record net migration into the UK and whether Black Friday is a chance to bag a bargain or challenge rampant consumerism.   Host Reya El-Salahi chats to human rights lawyer and former refugee Qays Sediqi about taking the British government to court over Rishi Sunak's Rwanda immigration policy. Plus, Hyphen assistant editor Husna Rizvi meets the Muslim renters at the sharp end of London's housing crisis. Get in touch with the Hyphenated team: [email protected]

This week, journalist and Hyphen contributor Taj Ali, ITV News political correspondent Shehab Khan and Dimi Reider, an Israeli journalist and co-founder of +972 magazine, discuss the fallout from UK MPs voting against calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, Britain's failed Rwanda immigration plan and new research suggesting religious Britons are significantly happier than atheists. Host Reya El-Salahi chats to Julie Siddiqi, the co-founder of Nisa-Nashim, about the challenges of being an interfaith activist during the Israel-Palestine conflict and being a critical friend in the fight against gender inequality in mosques. Plus, Hyphen reporter Aisha Rimi explores the rise of halal dating opportunities for Black British Muslims. Get in touch with the Hyphenated team: [email protected].  

This week, Hyphen assistant editor Husna Rizvi and former Labour councillor Shaista Aziz discuss Suella Braverman's sacking and former prime minister David Cameron's return to politics in a surprise UK government reshuffle following London's largest Palestine solidarity march. The panel is also joined by the NHS Race and Health Observatory's chief executive Professor Habib Naqvi in a week that saw a record NHS backlog revealed and the ditching of the Mental Health Bill in the King's speech. Sparked by the start of the Christmas TV advert season, our panel also share their unconventional festive food choices. Host Reya El-Salahi chats to the food writer Dina Begum about celebrating the cuisine and culinary traditions of her homeland in her new cookbook Made in Bangladesh. Plus, journalist Samira Shackle explores the moral maze of biological treatments for Muslims struggling with fertility. Get in touch with the Hyphenated team: [email protected].

This week, Hyphen contributor Rabina Khan, Dr Richard McNeil-Willson, an academic specialising in critical extremism studies and the journalist and author Michael Segalov discuss why language matters when talking about the Israel-Palestine conflict, and Elon Musk's decision to reinstate the accounts of far-right commentators on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Sparked by the auction of a football shirt worn by the late Sir Bobby Charlton in the 1966 World Cup semi-final, our panel also reveals their most valuable items of personal memorabilia. Host Reya El-Salahi chats to the presenter of BBC Radio 4's Sunday religious programme, Edward Stourton, about the importance of religious literacy amid the Israel-Palestine conflict, and the release of his new book Sunday. Plus, journalist Natalie Donback meets the Moroccan YouTuber reviving Spain's shepherding tradition.  Get in touch with the Hyphenated team: [email protected].  

This week, Hyphen commissioning editor Samir Jeraj, broadcaster Fahima Mahomed and political commentator Mohammad Zaheer discuss the geopolitical fallout of the Israel-Palestine conflict and former prime minister Boris Johnson's new job at right-wing broadcaster GB News. The panel also discusses the return of London's original Routemaster buses and reveals what they'd bring back from the past if they could. Former Labour councillor Dr Amar Latif joins host Reya El-Salahi to discuss his decision to resign from the party over Sir Keir Starmer's stance on Israel, sparking a chain reaction which led to Labour losing its majority in his hometown of Oxford. Plus, Hyphen reporter Saman Javed on the Muslim-run businesses facing a years-long campaign of intimidation in south Belfast. Get in touch with the Hyphenated team: [email protected].

This week Hyphen reporter Aisha Rimi, Deputy Head of Islam UK Centre and Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Wales Dr Azim Ahmed and human rights lawyer Shoaib M Khan join host Reya El-Salahi to discuss tensions caused by the Israel-Palestine conflict in the UK.  Our panel considers calls for a tightening of the law following chants of jihad at a London protest, fears for the future of interfaith relations and attempts to crackdown on support of Palestine in the UK.  We also discuss the Labour party's record-breaking double by-election win, and as new research recommends eating less red meat, we ask whether veganism is culturally acceptable for Muslims? Plus, journalist Hannah Fearn investigates the 'trad wife' influencers posting lifestyle videos to push Islamophobia. Get in touch with the Hyphenated team: [email protected].    

As the Gaza crisis deepens, this week our panel considers the ramifications of the response from European leaders to the Israel-Palestine conflict. Hyphen assistant editor Hussein Kesvani, foreign correspondent and Hyphen contributor Shamim Chowdhury and national executive member of the Labour Muslim Network Ali Milani also discuss calls to boycott the Labour party over Keir Starmer's support for Israel. Host Reya El-Salahi interviews British-Iraqi standup Hasan Al-Habib about winning the Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award 2023. Plus, Hyphen reporter Saman Javed meets the Muslim therapists calling for more openness on faith-based counselling. Get in touch with the Hyphenated team: [email protected].