The anti-Muslim bias was so deep it's almost comical

08/11/21 • 44 min

Bangladeshi-British writer Tharik Hussain on bringing his family along for the Balkan journey detailed in his bestselling new book; the trauma of growing up Muslim in the UK (4:15); why Europe’s Muslim/Ottoman history has been marginalized, minimized and largely forgotten (17:05); the value of Evliya Celebi’s writing and the lasting power of Mimar Sinan (22:35); and experiencing the Muslim custom of aiding travelers (33:00).

Previous Episode

I was warned not to write about Kashmir

Kashmir-born, US-based linguist Sadaf Munshi talks about the subtle tensions and divisions in pre-insurgency Kashmir (2:15), the early-90s imposition of conservative Islam by a sort of female Taliban (11:15), working amid corruption at state-run Doordarshan (19:30), researching the mysterious Burushaski language (25:15), finding a friend on a trip to Gilgit (36:05), the total internet shutdown after revocation of Article 370 (44:10), and India’s betrayal and growing anger in Kashmir (52:20).

Next Episode

Escape from Afghanistan

Law professor Kerem Gulay was minding his own business in Istanbul when the fall of Kabul reminded him of a dynamic Afghan law student (1:30) he’d met in an online competition — and moved him to act. He reached out to family, friends, activists, diplomats and journalists (7:00), built a virtual rescue network, thanks to several kind-hearted Italians (10:30), and helped dozens of Afghans get out of the country (16:15) and out of danger.