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 [1] World Harmony Chorus [2]       [1] https://earefuge.wordpress.com [2] http://www.betsyblakeslee.com/world_harmony_chorus.shtml

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!

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 [1] Follow him on Twitter and Facebook: @KhaledBeydoun Email [email protected] to provide us with feedback or ideas for new segments. Thanks to Sasha Totah and Claire Breen for their assistant producing this episode! [1] http://www.aljazeera.com/profile/khaled-a-beydoun.html

When the Food Network told her that America wasn't ready for Middle Eastern food, Blanche's Feast in the Middle East [1] took matters into her own hands. Find out how in our newest episode! Journalist, host, and cook Blanche Shaheen [2] 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 [3]. Link to Blanche's work here: Blanche TV [4] Feast in the Middle East Blog [5] Connect with her on Facebook [6] and Instagram [7]as well!   Email [email protected] to provide us with feedback or ideas for new segments! [1] https://www.facebook.com/FeastinTheMiddleEast/ [2] https://www.instagram.com/blanchemedia/ [3] https://www.facebook.com/arabiyaatpodcast/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel [4] https://www.youtube.com/user/blanchetv [5] https://feastinthemiddleeast.wordpress.com/ [6] https://www.facebook.com/FeastinTheMiddleEast/ [7] https://www.instagram.com/blanchemedia/

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

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/ [1] Contact: [email protected] [2] Twitter: @Arabiyaat [3] Facebook: Arabiyaat Podcast [4] Theme song: Muqata'a - Ahya' (Instrumental) @boikutt [5] [1] http://nyupress.org/books/9781479835645/ [2] https://kpfa.orgmailto:[email protected] [3] https://twitter.com/Arabiyaat [4] https://www.facebook.com/arabiyaatpodcast [5] https://soundcloud.com/boikutt

Graphic novelist, Leila Abdelrazaq, shares her father's personal story of life as a Palestinian refugee in her newest work "Baddawi". It is a graphic novel about Ahmad, a young boy coming of age amid the backdrop of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the Lebanese Civil War. Leila speaks with us about this work and the importance of sharing multitudes of Palestinian stories. You can purchase "Baddawi" here: justworldbooks.com/baddawi [1] [email protected] [2] Twitter: @arabiyaat [3] Facebook.com/arabiyaatpodcast [4] Theme song: Muqata'a - Ahya' (Instrumental) @boikutt [5] [1] https://exit.sc/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fjustworldbooks.com%2Fbaddawi [2] https://kpfa.orgmailto:[email protected] [3] http://twitter.com/arabiyaat [4] http://Facebook.com/arabiyaatpodcast [5] https://soundcloud.com/boikutt

As we mark the 5th anniversary of Syria's Uprising this week, we remember that the burst of civil disobedience that took place in Syria was part of a region-wide spirit that took place all around the Arab world. One of the countries who received the least coverage was the small gulf nation of Bahrain. Even less attention was given to the women who led many of the movements against state repression. As KPFA spotlight the often marginalized work of women during this years women's history month, Arabiyaat presents you with this special episode featuring a Ala'a Shehabi. Guest:  Ala'a Shehabi: Bahraini activist and researcher and co-editor of the collection of essays titled, Bahrain's Uprising  Hosted by Linda Khoury

In August 2014, just two weeks before he was scheduled to begin work, Chancellor Phyllis Wise of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign abruptly informed Professor of American Indian Studies, Steven Salaita Salaita that his job offer for a tenured position at the university had been rescinded. His crime? A series of controversial tweets about Israel during its most recent bombardment of the Gaza Strip in July 2014. Last November, a federal court ruled in Salaita’s favor. Though he was not rehired, Professor Salaita and the university reached a settlement which awarded him $600,000. In his new book, Uncivil Rights: Palestine and the Limits of Academic Freedom, Salaita reflects on the case, his life, and above all what it means to be an academic fighting the uphill battle for Palestinian rights in America. He is currently based in and speaking to us from his new home, Beirut, where he now holds the Edward Said Chair of American Studies at the University of Beirut. [audio wav="https://kpfa.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Salaita_FINAL.wav"][/audio]

2015 has been quite a difficult year for Arabs and Muslims. But it is also the year we started this podcast endeavor that we're hoping to carry on through the next year. Join us for an end of the year roundup of event highlights for Arabs in 2015, including a lot of ISIS and Trump talk. Contact us: [email protected] [1] Twitter: @arabiyaat [2] Theme song: Muqata'a - Ahya' (Instrumental) [1] https://kpfa.orgmailto:[email protected] [2] http://twitter.com/arabiyaat