Dissidents and Dictators: Recent Episodes
Human Rights Foundation
The Human Rights Foundation's original audio content serves as a storytelling platform for some of the world's bravest activists, artists, policy-makers, business leaders, and technologists. Our podcast provides those who risk their safety in return for a chance to raise the world's awareness of human rights issues, and the incredibly important work that is being done to address them.
Casey and Elisha speak with Mark Clifford, author of a new biography of jailed Hong Kong democracy activist Jimmy Lai, about Beijing's brutality, the future of Hong Kong democracy, and how Jimmy became the face of a movement. They also talk about Jimmy's wide-ranging culinary tastes - and some of the most memorable meals Jimmy enjoyed before prison.SHOW NOTES:Link to Mark's new biography of Jimmy Lai: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Troublemaker/Mark-L-Clifford/9781668027691Link to Mark's previous book on the history of Hong Kong: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250279170/todayhongkongtomorrowtheworld/
Casey and Elisha are joined by Togolese human rights activist Farida Nabourema to talk about her life growing up under the Gnassingbé dictatorships — Togo has been under single-family autocracy for more than 50 years — and the country's rampant crookedness. She also talks about how Bitcoin and blockchain offer solutions to Africa's longstanding issues with corruption and lack of trust in traditional financial institutions and how Bitcoin can offer a more transparent alternative.
Casey and Elisha talk about the latest revelations on how consulting firms in democratic countries became the best friends that dictators around the world could ask for. They discuss the recent news on how consulting firm McKinsey & Company opened its doors to clients in places like Saudi Arabia and China, and how these firms became allies for those trying to smother democracy. They also discuss the latest in the trial of Hong Kong democracy activist Jimmy Lai. Related Links:1. Inside the Secret World of McKinsey: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/nov/20/mckinsey-fossil-fuels2. The American Consulting Firms That Live in Fear of Their Murderous Clients: https://newrepublic.com/article/178942/consulting-firms-saudi-arabia-hearing
Casey and Elisha sit down with Benedict Rogers, a well-traveled journalist and human rights advocate, to discuss his experiences and insights from across the globe. From his roots in London to his professional ventures in Indonesia, Burma, and China, Benedict shares his journey and the significant socio-political changes he's witnessed. We delve into major topics, such as Indonesia's democratic progress, the rise of religion-based intolerance, and Burma's ongoing humanitarian crisis. Ben also shares his thoughts on Prabowo Subianto's rise to power in Indonesia and the state of democracy in the region.
Casey and Elisha sit down with Raqib Hameed Naik, an Indian journalist currently in exile because of his reporting. They discuss how Modi has degraded India's democracy and how Indian authorities are now targeting — and even allegedly assassinating — critics abroad. They discuss Raqib's own stories from Kashmir and why the world must wake up to what's now taking place in India.
Casey and Elisha chat with Mark Simon, previously one of Hong Kong's most prominent media executives — and a man now wanted by Beijing for his work exposing the crimes of the Chinese Communist Party. They talk about how the Chinese government has smothered media freedoms in Hong Kong and the ongoing trial of democracy activist Jimmy Lai.
Casey and Elisha talk with Nicaraguan democracy activist Felix Maradiaga about his lifelong push against authoritarian forces in Nicaragua. They discuss how Felix survived solitary confinement, Nicaragua's place in the global axis of authoritarianism, and what gives him hope for the future of Nicaraguan democracy. They also chat about the role of family for democratic activists.
Casey and Elisha open Season 2 with Leopoldo Lopez, the prominent Venezuelan politician and activist who has made a name for himself by building peaceful movements opposing the Maduro regime. For his efforts, he spent nearly seven years in prison, four in solitary confinement, and now lives in exile. The three discuss Lopez's upbringing in Venezuela, the family history that compelled him to enter politics, and what he loves most about the country he didn't want to leave. Lopez provides an assessment of Venezuela’s current political landscape following the stolen election in July and how he’s advocating for reform at the World Liberty Congress. Extreme sports are also discussed.
Casey and Elisha are joined by Cato Institute policy analyst and HRF fellow Nick Anthony to talk about money, the world of central bank digital currencies, and how they pose significant risks to privacy, financial freedom, and markets. They also discuss which countries are the worst offenders so far and how you can track their devious ways.
Casey and Elisha discuss HRF's newest report, investigating the UAE's breathtaking political interference campaign in the U.S. From illicit lobbying efforts to massive donations to leading think tanks and universities, to even secretly hiring America's leading military officers, the UAE's political influence campaign is arguably bigger - and far more successful - than anything any other dictatorship has ever authored.Learn more:Read HRF's report - "Infiltrating America: How the United Arab Emirates Launched an Unprecedented Political Interference Campaign in the United States" https://hrf.org/reports/infiltrating-america-how-the-united-arab-emirates-launched-an-unprecedented-political-interference-campaign-in-the-united-states/
Each year, the Human Rights Foundation brings together activists and dissidents at the Oslo Freedom Forum to call out injustice and expose threats to liberal democracy.This year, we are sharing our message of hope and resistance directly with you, in a special four-part series by the Human Rights Foundation, produced by FP Studios.Part four: “Art as Protest" with Nadia Hernández & Carlos Vives
Casey and Elisha speak with renowned Nicaraguan journalist Carlos Chamorro, who's continued his groundbreaking work even from exile. They talk about the tactics the Ortega regime has used to silence dissent in Nicaragua, how important investigative journalism is to holding authoritarians to account, and hear all about a Miss Universe scandal no one talked about.
Each year, the Human Rights Foundation brings together activists and dissidents at the Oslo Freedom Forum to call out injustice and expose threats to liberal democracy.This year, we are sharing our message of hope and resistance directly with you, in a special four-part series by the Human Rights Foundation, produced by FP Studios.Part Two: “AI for Activists" with Arthur Holland Michel
Over the weekend, the Iranian Supreme Court overturned the death sentence of Toomaj Salehi, the Iranian hip-hop artist who was charged with "corruption on earth" for his defense of the "Women, Life, Freedom" movement. His friend and social media manager, Negin Niknaam, joins Casey and Elisha to talk about Salehi. he also brings a special message from him, obtained in secret, exclusively for Human Rights Foundation and podcast listeners. HRF's legal and programs officer, Claudia Bennett, also joins to talk about what's next in the judicial process.
Each year, the Human Rights Foundation brings together activists and dissidents at the Oslo Freedom Forum to call out injustice and expose threats to liberal democracy. This year, we are sharing our message of hope and resistance directly with you, in a special four-part series by the Human Rights Foundation, produced by FP Studios.Part Two: “Shining the Light” with Sebastien Lai
Casey and Elisha are joined live from the Oslo Freedom Forum by real-life "Hotel Rwanda" hero Paul Rusesabagina and two of his children, daughters Carine and Anaise Kanimba, to talk about the banana beer recipe you probably haven't tried but should, family, adoptions, Rwanda, kidnappings, and an extraordinary international campaign that led to freedom. Paul also walks us through the last hours of his time in solitary confinement and what he was thinking all the while.
Each year, the Human Rights Foundation brings together activists and dissidents at the Oslo Freedom Forum to call out injustice and expose threats to liberal democracy. This year, we are sharing our message of hope and resistance directly with you, in a special four-part series produced by FP Studios and the Human Rights Foundation.Part One: “The Price of Freedom” with Anastasia Shevchenko
Casey and Elisha sit down with Bill Browder, the driving force behind the creation and expansion of Magnitsky sanctions over the past decade. They talk about how corrupt officials in Russia and elsewhere hate Magnitsky sanctions, and the allies Bill has found in his fight for justice. They also talk about the proposed Navalny Act, honoring slain Russian democratic activist Alexei Navalny. What’s up next for Bill? Freeing another Russian prisoner: Vladimir Kara-Murza.
Each year, the Human Rights Foundation brings together activists, dissidents, leading thinkers and innovators to Oslo, Norway, home of the Nobel Peace Prize, to empower and embolden others in their fight for freedom and democracy. This event is called The Oslo Freedom Forum.This year, we are sharing our message of hope and resistance directly with you, in a special four-part series produced by FP Studios and the Human Rights Foundation.
Casey speaks with leading Zimbabwean democracy activist Evan Mawarire, chatting about taking down tyrants, Evan’s struggle against the Mugabe regime, and how Zimbabwe’s flag became a symbol of democracy. They also discuss how Evan became one of, and potentially the, most charismatic democratic activists in the world.
Casey sits down with Alex Dukalskis and Adam Scharpf, a pair of academics whose groundbreaking work shines new light on why dictatorships hire Western public relations firms. They talk about just how widespread the issue is, and what PR firms actually do for their dictatorial clients. They also chat about the PR industry's ethics as a whole, and why PR firms are so eager to help authoritarians - and how other democracies can help shine light on the phenomenon.Learn more about their research: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/xk6b6ykobnxv9yiyg0ttn/Dictators_PR_Firms.pdf?dl=0&e=4&rlkey=iq7kxl7z3qwv43u67pnaeqpfn
Casey and Elisha are joined by Mounir Ibrahim, a former US State Department diplomat-turned-techie, to talk about cheapfakes, deepfakes, the mal-use of Generative AI by bad actors around the globe, and what that means not only for human rights and democracy but for getting to the truth in a world of deception.
On today’s episode, Casey and Elisha are joined by Rwandan opposition leader Victoire Ingabire and Kate Gibson, part of her international legal team, to discuss the case they filed with the East African Court of Justice to restore Ingabire’s civic rights after being absurdly convicted of terrorism and genocide denial, for which she spent eight years in prison. Now, she’s not only being barred from running in the country’s July presidential elections; she is also being prevented from leaving the country. The foursome unpack the question: What is Paul Kagame, Rwanda’s decades-long dictator, so afraid of?
Casey and Elisha speak with Masih Alinejad, one of the leading journalists and campaigners highlighting the crimes of the regime still in power in Iran. They discuss Masih's journey, as well as the recent abduction and assassination attempts against her in the US and how the democratic world can continue standing up against the despots in Tehran. They also talk about how the solution to modern diplomacy might be found in, of all things, pickles.
Casey and Elisha talk about Casey's new book, "Foreign Agents," on all the ways dictators use lobbyists in the US to entrench their regimes and stamp out democratic movements. They talk about how regimes from Moscow to Beijing and beyond rely on these Americans to do their dirty work, and how these foreign lobbyists became henchmen and foot-soldiers for the worst dictatorships around the world. They also discuss Michael Bublé.To read Casey's book: "Foreign Agents" - https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250286055/foreignagents
Casey and Elisha chat with Joey Siu, a 25-year-old Hong Konger with a bounty on her head, after the Chinese Communist Party accused her of violating its draconian national security law. In 2019, Siu played a pivotal role in organizing large-scale pro-democracy protests. Now, living in exile, her work has anything but slowed. Siu talks about what it was like to leave a home and a family she loved, what it was like to learn about the Hong Kong government's price on her head, and what she's doing next to combat the CCP.
Casey speaks with Russian opposition figure Anastasia Shevchenko, who was the first person to face criminal prosecution under Russia's so-called "undesirable organizations" law. Anastasia talks about how her role as a mother propelled her into the fight against both corruption and dictatorship, as well as the new documentary focusing on her work and family, which was recently shortlisted for an Academy Award.To watch "Anastasia" documentary: https://www.paramountplus.com/movies/video/2jX2Jk8zI_730uXuNU36QH9_bM_eYacO/To watch the trailer for "Anastasia" documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohYLMdMSs4QChange.org
Casey and Elisha talk with Rushan Abbas, the founder of Campaign for Uyghurs, about the Chinese Communist Party's ongoing genocide against Uyghurs. They discuss some of the policy successes in recent years helping shine a light on Beijing's crimes, and a new congressional caucus aiding Uyghurs. They also talk about Rushan's journey into activism - and how Beijing's efforts to silence her have blown up in the CCP's face.To visit the Campaigning for Uyghurs website: https://campaignforuyghurs.org/leadership/
Casey and Elisha speak with HRF's Africa policy officer, Mo Keita, talks about the recent arrest of Swazi activist and former podcast guest, Tanele Maseko. They talk about how the Swazi regime's efforts to silence critics continue to backfire and how to support the pro-democratic reformers targeting Africa's last absolute monarchy.To listen to Casey and Elisha speak to Tanele Maseko on Dissidents and Dictators: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I3HJ2AKGak&list=PL3qhzGxahwqbYKj2Q-ZczKNaeofATzMgG&index=5
Casey and Elisha are joined by Karim Zidan, one of the world's foremost experts on how authoritarian regimes use the world of sports for their own ends. Karim discusses the history of the intersection of sports and politics, why the term "sportswashing" may already be outdated, and how depressing it is to be a Seattle Mariners fan.Learn more about our blog series on sportswashing: https://hrf.org/category/history-of-sports-and-dictators/
Ideas Beyond Borders Founder Faisal Al Mutar joins Casey and Elisha to discuss the importance of creating a sense of national security for Iraqis as well as his experience combatting the villainy of authoritarianism and extremism. Then there’s the habibi effect.Show notes:To learn about Faisal Al Mutar: https://oslofreedomforum.com/speaker/faisal-al-mutar/To learn about Ideas Beyond Boarders: https://ideasbeyondborders.orgTo learn about the World Liberty Congress: https://worldlibertycongress.orgRead Faisal's recent article at the International Correspondent:https://www.theinternationalcorrespondent.com/p/navigating-the-crossroads?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=reader2
Elisha and Casey talk with Jay Nordlinger, a senior editor at National Review and one of the leading writers covering the threats of modern dictatorship. They talk about Jay's focus on authoritarians across the political spectrum, the community of writers and activists trying to take down tyrants, and why the offspring of dictators aren't always what you expect. They also talk about the greatness of Ann Arbor, Michigan.
It's well-known at this point that Bitcoin has many uses, from the fun to the financial. But did you know Bitcoin can also help democratic movements flourish and find funding? Casey and Elisha talk with author and HRF Chief Strategy Officer Alex Gladstein about how Bitcoin has grown into a tool to fight dictatorships and how new technologies can help end tyranny.SHOW NOTES:Learn about HRF's Financial Freedom Program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JBxBq8U1yILearn about HRF's Bitcoin Development Fund: https://hrf.org/devfundLearn about the connection between Bitcoin & human rights: https://www.getbitcoin.orgFor a 101 on Bitcoin, visit: https://littlebitcoinbook.comTo read Alex Gladstein's Book, "Check Your Financial Privilege": https://store.bitcoinmagazine.com/products/check-your-financial-privilegeTo read Alex Gladstein's book, "Hidden Repression": https://store.bitcoinmagazine.com/products/hidden-repressionLearn about HRF's Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) tracker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSaMBQmrOqs
After her husband, human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko, was assassinated in front of her, Swazi human rights defender Tanele Maseko picked up right where he left off: peacefully (and powerfully) speaking truth to power. In this episode, she talks with Casey and Elisha about the politics of Swaziland, Africa's last absolute monarchy, her husband's legacy, what she's doing as CEO of the Thulani Maseko Foundation, and gives us all the treat of a lifetime. You'll have to tune in to hear it, though. To listen to Tanele read Thulani Maseko's letter: "Greetings from cell G4": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOjQHUF388c
Casey and Elisha talk with Ukrainian MP Lisa Yasko about Ukraine’s upcoming anniversaries—both the 10-year anniversary of Ukraine’s successful democratic revolution and the two-year anniversary of Russia’s expanded invasion. They discuss how Ukrainians remain on the frontlines of the fight against dictatorship and why democracies must continue supporting Kyiv.To watch Lisa Yasko's piano song on Barricades of Euromaidan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbGyoAul_vo
Casey and Elisha talk with Joyce Ho, HRF's Asia-Pacific policy officer, about the recent elections in Taipei, the need for the ruling Democratic People's Party (DPP) to double down on democracy after narrowly beating the pro-Beijing Kuomintang Party (KMT), and what that all means for the future of the island.To read Joyce's op-ed in The Hill: https://thehill.com/opinion/4411515-taiwans-ruling-party-needs-to-double-down-on-democracy/To read the Financial Times' piece, "Becoming Taiwan: In China's Shadow, an island asserts its identity." - https://www.ft.com/content/6e9a0243-87f2-445e-b563-e8f67082b3da
Casey and Elisha sit down with HRF's Claudia Bennett, talking about the role of the fashion industry in propping up dictators. They discuss how the cotton industry relies on forced labor, and how consumers can find out where their clothes come from. They also talk about how the CCP targeted HRF's efforts to shine a light on Beijing's genocidal campaign against Uyghurs.SHOW NOTES:1. Learn about our Wear Your Values program: https://hrf.org/programs/wear-your-values/2. Download our Uyghur Forced Labor checker: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/uyghur-forced-labor-check/ejodaepockllkcloibcchpjnfoopincp3. Read this Bloomberg article about China's response to our checker: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-08-24/google-axes-bad-reviews-of-tracker-exposing-uyghur-forced-labor?srnd=premium&leadSource=uverify%20wall&mc_cid=0b6769941f&mc_eid=dcd85f94b24. Learn about the Coalition to End Forced Labor in The Uyghur Region: https://enduyghurforcedlabour.org5. Learn about Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act: https://sourcingjournal.com/topics/sourcing/china-us-mexico-apparel-exports-uflpa-nearshoring-489814/MORE ABOUT UYGHUR FORCED LABOR:1. Jewher Ilham, Uyghur Advocate, Oslo Freedom Forum talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwUC1ocZme42. Kalbinur Sidik & Gulbahar Haitiwaji, Uyghur survivors, Oslo Freedom Forum talk: https://youtu.be/KFDMlCd_JvMALSO MENTIONED:1. Salma Al-Shehab, Dare to Dissent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2-0DXfCP80
Casey and Elisha talk about Casey's recent trip to Nairobi, and the latest on Russian and Chinese interference and corruption in Africa. They also discuss the latest on the frontlines of the fight for freedom in Ukraine. Plus, they talk about all the things crocodiles and dictatorships have in common.Show notes:Watch Casey Michel's talk at the Atlantic Council (Friday, Feb 2, @ 12:30 pm ET): https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/five-scenarios-for-russias-future/Read Alex Gladstein's article at Bitcoin Magazine: https://bitcoinmagazine.com/check-your-financial-privilege/stranded-bitcoin-saving-wasted-energy-in-africa
With Casey off gallivanting halfway around the globe, Elisha is joined by HRF Chief Legal and Policy Officer Javier El-Hage. The two discuss Latin America's history with dictatorships, the many (and varying) shades of grey between left-wing and right-wing authoritarian regimes, and Javier's progression from a Che Guevara (myth) fan in college to a constitutional and international law professor and a defender of liberal democracies.Show notes: To read Javier's book: https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Javier-El-Hage-ebook/dp/B00WZQMQSG Other referenced books:Open Veins of Latin America by Edwardo Galeano: https://www.amazon.com/Open-Veins-Latin-America-Centuries/dp/0853459916New York Times article about Edwardo Galeano disavowing his book: https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/24/books/eduardo-galeano-disavows-his-book-the-open-veins.html Guide to the Perfect Latin American Idiot (response to the book, Open Veins of Latin America, prefaced by Mario Vargas Llosa): https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/manual-del-perfecto-idiota-latinoamericano_plinio-apuley[…]sKHJmlo268kQ1Q2USO-J0MzelLs9Aqdl7lcHSwbgMYGSUMaAgVfEALw_wcB
Casey and Elisha dive into the world of foreign agents, looking at how kleptocratic regimes use foreign lobbyists to do their dirty work. They also chat about the recent winner of the Corrupt Person of the Year award. And, of course, they talk about the newest addition to their office: Harry Styles.Show notes:To read more about the indictment of Bob Menendez:https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/10/bob-menendez-charges-not-guilty-plea/675774/https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/10/bob-menendez-charges-not-guilty-plea/675774/To learn more about OCCRP's "Person of the Year Awards": https://www.occrp.org/en/poy/
Casey and Elisha reunite after the holiday break, and Elisha brings with her catastrophic news: a mouse in her house. In the actually important segment, Elisha talks with Sebastien Lai, son of media tycoon Jimmy Lai, who is currently on trial in Hong Kong under Beijing's national security law for “colluding with foreign forces"—aka, speaking out for freedom and democracy and against the Chinese Communist Party. We also learn how a Hong Kong businessman became a French Knight.To learn more about Jimmy Lai:https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/dec/25/trials-of-jimmy-lai/8:56https://youtu.be/sf-qyxEIuHI?si=i5JcEqxSPT8GwxXU
Dec. 18 marks the anniversary of the death of dissident, playwright, and first democratically elected president of the Czech Republic, Václav Havel. Elisha and Casey discuss his life and legacy, the role he played in Elisha's formative years, and the prize the Human Rights Foundation created in his honor. In lighter topics of discussion, Casey and Elisha talk about the office holiday party, Casey's impeccable—read joyfully terrible—rendition of Prince's "Purple Rain," and somehow the 90s sitcom "Home Improvement."To learn more about the Havel Prize for creative dissent: https://hrf.org/havel-prize/To learn more about the 2023 Havel Prize laureates: https://hrf.org/announcing-the-2023-havel-prize-laureates/To read David Remnick's article in the New Yorker: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2003/02/17/exit-havelTo read Vaclav Havel's "The Power of the Powerless": https://hac.bard.edu/amor-mundi/the-power-of-the-powerless-vaclav-havel-2011-12-23
Casey and Elisha talk about the latest news out of Venezuela, where Nicolas Maduro threatens to unleash an invasion on neighboring Guyana. They then turn to a spectacular espionage case out of Cuba, and what it says about dictatorships' infiltration efforts. They also talk about the UAE rolling out the red carpet for Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. Plus, naming Christmas trees after celebrities.Vote for HRF's Anthem Award nominated video about our Wear Your Values program: https://hrf.org/vote-for-hrfs-wear-your-values-program-in-the-anthem-awards/
Monday, December 4, 2023 marked 250 days in prison for Wall Street Journal investigative reporter Evan Gershkovich on trumped-up espionage charges. Casey and Elisha discuss his case and what Evan's friends, family, and colleagues are doing to not forget him as he remains a political prisoner. Also up for conversation: Casey's article on New York City Mayor Eric Adams' entanglement with Turkey and kleptocracy, as well as Louis Vuitton's first-ever Hong Kong-based fashion show and what that does for its image.Show notes: To read about Evan Gershkovich in the Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/world/evan-gershkovich-detained-for-250-days-is-still-bringing-his-friends-together-68894f4eTo listen to Nicaraguan democracy advocate Felix Maradiaga speak at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUnDCR5mgLg To read Casey's article in The New Republic about Eric Adams's Entanglements with Turkey: https://newrepublic.com/article/176657/eric-adams-turkey-influence-peddling To read Claudia Bennet's article in the Washington Times about fashion, democracy, and Louis Vuitton: https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/nov/30/fashion-over-democracy-louis-vuittons-show-hong-ko/ To learn more about Human Rights Foundation's Wear Your Values Program: https://hrf.org/programs/wear-your-values/ To add Human Rights Foundation's Uyghur Forced Labor Chrome Attachment to your browser: https://hrf.org/hrf-launches-new-tool-to-raise-awareness-about-brands-linked-to-uyghur-forced-labor/?gclid=CjwKCAiA1MCrBhAoEiwAC2d64TT2SW0fkRs5i6SiqWj7cxtHOd87Pe2hvvovo0cjPMqJMd4WTiRePxoCdaQQAvD_BwE
As rapper Kendrick Lamar sets to headline Move Afrika in Rwanda, Casey and Elisha talk about the atrocities committed by the country’s ruler, Paul Kagame, and how and why dictators like him turn to celebrities to help launder their reputation abroad. The duo also discusses the ongoing genocide of Uyghurs in China and how democracies can help unwind the CCP’s sprawling efforts to erase Uyghur identity. Elisha’s morning also gets off to a bad start.To read Jewher Ilham's Economist article: https://www.economist.com/by-invitation/2023/11/02/jewher-ilham-on-how-policymakers-can-stand-up-to-the-chinese-governments-mistreatment-of-uyghursTo learn about Gulbahar Haitiwaji's book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/691374/how-i-survived-a-chinese-reeducation-camp-by-gulbahar-haitiwaji/'
Casey and Elisha discuss HRF's recent pro-democracy conference in Taipei and the role the island plays in the struggle against tyranny in Beijing and around the world. They also discuss the legacies and brutality of Russian colonialism from Alaska to Ukraine.To learn about the Oslo Freedom Forum in Taiwan: https://oslofreedomforum.com/events/oslo-freedom-forum-taiwan-2023/To read Casey's Politico article: https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/10/27/russia-colonization-alaska-ukraine-00123352
Casey Michel, head of Combating Kleptocracy, and Elisha Maldonado, director of communications, welcome you to the Human Rights Foundation's revamped podcast, Dissidents and Dictators. The two co-hosts discuss the Foundation's vision, which focuses solely on authoritarian regimes, and why they traded newsrooms for the human rights mission field.
In this episode, recorded at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, Philippa Thomas, a former BBC correspondent, and Dalia Hatuqa, an independent journalist specializing in Palestine and Israeli affairs, discuss the life, legacy, and story of the Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. Shireen’s life prematurely ended when she was killed by Israeli soldiers in May 2022 while reporting in Palestine. Hatuqa and Thomas seek to continue Abu Akleh's legacy by advocating for freedom of the press and an end to global violence and repression of journalists.
Toribia Lero Quispe is a Bolivian assemblywoman and opposition leader affected by the 2019 electoral fraud committed by strongman Evo Morales. Quispe routinely faces violence, intimidation, and widespread judicial persecution. In this episode, recorded at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, she sheds light on Bolivia’s democratic movement, protecting ordinary citizens against tyranny.Note: This episode is recorded in Spanish.
Sanaa Seif is a British-Egyptian filmmaker, producer, and political activist leading a global campaign for her imprisoned brother, Alaa Abd el-Fattah. In this episode, recorded at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, Seif shares her family's story and speaks on the unjust imprisonment of those who speak against the Egyptian government. She calls on the international community to #FreeAlaa.
In this episode, recorded at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, we hear from Pastor Seungeun Kim, a prominent Korean human rights activist and leader of a modern-day underground railroad. He passionately serves North Korean defectors and works tirelessly on their behalf, rescuing and helping them become self-sufficient. Note: This episode is recorded in Korean.
Hanna Liubakova is a Belarusian journalist, analyst, and non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council. After protesting Alexander Lukashenko’s regime, Liubakova was forced into exile, yet she fearlessly continues to report on the developments in her home country. In this episode, recorded at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, she reveals the Lukashenko regime’s abuses of political prisoners and its corrupt assistance to Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and she offers a beacon of hope in the fight against tyranny.
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has increased its efforts to stifle dissent beyond its borders, discreetly intimidating individuals from various religious, political, and dissenting groups. The Uyghur diaspora's experience of such repression has worsened since the 2016 crackdown, leaving Uyghurs across the globe facing the pressure of state violence and harassment even in their supposed places of refuge. In this episode, we hear from Yalkun Uluyol, David Tobin, and Rushan Abbas as they shed further light on the extent of the CCP’s efforts to project its authoritarian rule beyond its border.Featured Guests:Yalkun Uluyol, research assistant at Koc UniversityDavid Tobin, lecturer in East Asian studies at the University of SheffieldRushan Abbas, founder and executive director at the Campaign for Uyghurs
In 2009, Swazi human rights lawyer Mzwandile Masuku launched, with the late renowned human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko, the only law firm in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) fully dedicated to public interest litigation against the kingdom’s repression law and pro-bono legal representation of ordinary Swazis. In this episode, recorded at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, Masuku advocates for the protection of human rights lawyers, the rights of detained individuals to a fair trial, and nonviolent democratic reform.
Nazanin Boniadi is an award-winning actress and Iranian human rights activist who focuses on the unjust conviction and treatment of Iranian youth, women, and prisoners of conscience. In this episode, recorded at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, Boniadi speaks on the “Women, Life, Freedom” protests in Iran and unearths the rich history of her home country that the oppressive regime has diluted.
Note: This episode is recorded in Spanish.
Abraham Jiménez Enoa is an exiled Cuban journalist and author of “La isla oculta,” a collection of stories of ordinary Cubans living under the dictatorship. In this episode, recorded at the 2023 Olso Freedom Forum, Jiménez Enoa shares his experience calling for action against the tyranny that oppresses ordinary Cubans.
Aug. 9 marks the third anniversary of the Belarus presidential elections, followed by nationwide protests and violence. Alexander Lukashenko has increasingly turned to Russia, which provided him with resources and diplomatic support to help him stay in power. This episode looks at Lukashenko’s role in the conflict in Ukraine and the strategies the international democratic community can pursue to contain the threat Lukashenko poses.Featured Guests:• Hanna Liubakova• Pavel Latushka• David Kramer
Kristen Ulmer is a high-performance facilitator and thought leader on fear and anxiety, drawing from her experience as the world’s most “fearless” female extreme skier for 12 years and studying Zen for 15 years. In this episode, recorded at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, Ulmer provides strategies to conquer our fear and anxious feelings.
Note: This episode is recorded in Spanish.
Víctor Navarro is a Venezuelan human rights activist who was arbitrarily detained in 2018 and held in El Helicoide, Venezuela’s largest and most notorious prison. In this episode, recorded at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, Navarro shares how he struggled to find his voice and identity under the regime's oppression and how he is using technology to fight tyranny.
Malcolm Bidali is a former Qatari migrant worker and the co-founder of Migrant Defenders, a Kenya-based civil society organization defending the rights of migrant workers in the Gulf. While in Qatar, he became an anonymous whistleblower about brutal conditions for migrant laborers before Qatar’s 2022 FIFA World Cup. In May 2021, the Qatari regime unmasked his identity and subjected him to solitary confinement for nearly a month for "disseminating false news and receiving payments from foreign agents to spread disinformation." In this episode, filmed at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, Bidali shares his story and experience with the atrocious human rights violations perpetrated against migrant workers in the Gulf.
Learn more about Malcolm and his work at https://linktr.ee/noaharticulates
Lisa Yasko is a member of Ukrainian Parliament, the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Interparliamentary Cooperation, and the Ukrainian Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. In this episode, recorded at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, Yasko reveals the reality of living in Ukraine during the Russian invasion and the powerful role of being a mother while navigating the war.
Note: This episode is recorded in Uyghur.
An Uyghur survivor of China’s concentration camps, Gulbahar Haitiwaji, was tricked into returning to China in 2016 after seeking asylum; she vanished into the camps. When she was finally released in 2019, Haitiwaji publicly shared her account, describing life inside the camps and the brutalities Uyghurs and other Turkic peoples have suffered. Kalbinur Sidik, an Uzbek survivor of China’s genocide and eyewitness to the camps, was forced to work as a Chinese-language instructor in the internment camps in 2017. In this episode, recorded at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, both women joined forces to share their stories of survival.
Félix Maradiaga is a Nicaraguan democracy advocate arrested in 2021 for leading a nonviolent movement against President Daniel Ortega. After being imprisoned for three years, he was forcibly exiled to the United States and saw his citizenship revoked alongside 222 other political prisoners. In this episode, recorded at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, Maradiaga shares his prison experience, his reunion with his wife and daughter, and his ideas on fighting dictatorship.
In this episode, recorded at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, American political scientist and author Francis Fukuyama discusses how democracy can be a resilient tool in denouncing authoritarianism and dissecting the principles of liberalism, the false strength of dictatorships, and what the future holds for democracy.
Ketakandriana Rafitoson is a prominent Madagascan human rights defender, political scientist, and anti-corruption activist. In this episode, recorded at the 2023 Oslo Freedom Forum, Rafitoson addresses the mass corruption within Madagascar and how it impacts ordinary citizens' lives. Russian and other dark sponsors continue to influence the country’s elections, but Rafitoson provides hope in the fight against political corruption.
In Cameroon, while thousands of minority Anglophones have peacefully protested for their rights, Paul Biya’s regime has responded viciously. Cameroonian human rights lawyer and activist, Felix Agbor Nkongho, has fought to bring global attention to the blood-stained crisis. In this episode, recorded at the 2019 Oslo Freedom Forum, Agbor Nkongho speaks about his work transforming cruelty into positive, nonviolent activism.
Thae Yong-Ho is a North Korean defector and the former deputy ambassador of North Korea to the United Kingdom. He is the highest-ranking official to have ever defected from North Korea, fleeing to the South with his wife and two children in 2016. In this episode, recorded at the 2019 Oslo Freedom Forum in New York, Yong-ho speaks about the oppression he experienced inside North Korea, his escape, and his hopes for a united and free Korea.
Arthur Holland Michel is a Peruvian-born writer and researcher focused on artificial intelligence, advanced surveillance technologies, and drones. In this episode, recorded at the 2021 Oslo Freedom Forum, Michel reveals how little the average person knows about modern surveillance technologies and its power.
Wai Hnin Pwint Thon is a Burmese human rights activist. Her father, Ko Mya Aye, is a leader of Burma’s 88 Generation Students Group and is currently detained by the Burmese military. In this episode, recorded at the 2021 Oslo Freedom Forum, Pwint Thon calls out the Burmese military’s violence and urges the international community to support Burma’s struggle for peace and democracy.
Dr. Essam Daod is a psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and co-founder of the mental health aid organization, Humanity Crew. During a 2015 humanitarian rescue mission, Daod provided medical aid to refugees in Greece, triggering his trauma and PTSD. In this episode, recorded at the 2021 Oslo Freedom Forum, we hear Daod’s story, through which we learn that only when we care for our mental health can we care for others.
Ahmed Albasheer is an Iraqi comedian and political satirist best known for hosting “The Albasheer Show,” a weekly program that humorizes Iraqi politics. In this episode, recorded at the 2021 Oslo Freedom Forum, Albasheer shows the power of humor in challenging corruption, war, repression, sectarianism, and authoritarianism in Iraq.
When bank accounts are closed or currency devalued, pro-democracy activists have turned to Bitcoin to keep their advocacy afloat. Simultaneously, in El Salvador, populist leader Nayib Bukele has used Bitcoin to further his authoritarian agenda. In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, activists from Belarus, Russia, and Togo discuss whether Bitcoin is compatible with liberal democracy.Featured Guests:Anita Posch, host of “The Anita Posch” ShowJaroslav Likhachevskiy, co-founder, BYSOLFarida Nabourema, Togolese human rights defenderNelson Rauda, Salvadoran investigative journalist, El FaroLeonid Volkov, Russian anti-corruption advocate
In 2019, Tanzania outlawed child marriage, but marriage laws have yet to be amended and child marriage remains a serious issue. In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, Zuhura Abdul Sakaya, a young Tanzanian advocate for girls' and women’s rights, discusses the situation in Tanzania, the lifelong consequences for girls, and the next steps in the struggle against child marriage.Featured Guests: Zuhura Abdul Sakaya, Tanzanian youth advocateLeyla Hussein, global advocacy director of The Girl Generation, psychotherapist, and anti-FGM activist
For years, Nicaraguan dictator Daniel Ortega has abused opponents almost entirely free from the world’s attention. But in 2018, democracy advocate, Félix Maradiaga, took the country’s future into his own hands, exposing Ortega’s rampant crimes. In this episode, recorded at the 2019 Oslo Freedom Forum, Maradiaga discusses how he rallied the world to pay attention.In 2021, Maradiaga was arrested and held in solitary confinement. In February 2023, he and 221 other prisoners of conscience were released and sent to the United States.
The Chinese government goes to extreme lengths to silence criticism and instill fear among Chinese, Uyghur, Hong Kongers, Tibetan, Taiwanese, and religious communities abroad. In this episode, frontline activists discuss transnational repression and the Chinese government’s various methods of monitoring, surveilling, and intimidating dissidents abroad.Featured Guests:Joey Siu, Hongkongese-American human rights activistTenzin Yangzom, Campaign manager of Students for a Free TibetZumretay Arkin, Uyghur-Canadian activist and program & advocacy manager of World Uyghur CongressJenny Wang, Human Rights Foundation
Much of France's African empire fell away during decolonization, but 15 nations still use the CFA Franc and thus remain under its control. France has historically devalued the CFA Franc to buy cheaper goods at the expense of the 183 million Africans in the CFA zone. In this episode, recorded at the 2023 South by Southwest (SXSW) conference, participants discuss their battle against monetary colonialism and how Bitcoin can play a role in helping change the tide.Farida Nabourema, Togolese democracy advocateMagatte Wade, Senegalese entrepreneur
This episode, recorded at the 2023 South by Southwest (SXSW) conference, explores the struggle for human rights and democracy in the digital age. Increasingly sophisticated technology has provided new avenues for authoritarian regimes to target activists, stifle dissent, and encroach on civil liberties. Panelists discuss how regimes abuse technology and share insight into how the tech industry can unite to protect human rights globally.Featured Guests:Manal al-Sharif, Saudi women’s rights activist & cyber security expertScott Carpenter, policy director at JigsawFelicia Anthonio, campaign manager for Access Now’s #KeepItOn campaign Arthur Holland Michel, author & surveillance expert
One of the greatest financial innovations in the past five years is the stablecoin — a virtual asset pegged to the dollar but used heavily by individuals who can’t access their country’s currency. In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, we hear from the creator of the world’s biggest stablecoin, Tether, and a Nigerian entrepreneur who can attest to the remarkable rise of stablecoins in her own country. Featured Guests:Alejandro Machado: Co-founder of the Open Money InitiativePaolo Ardoino: Chief technology officer, TetherIre Aderinokun: Co-founder and VP of engineering, Helicarrier
Featured Guests:Anjan Sundaram: Author and journalistAlex Gonzalez Davidson: Environmental activist and president of Mother Nature CambodiaMónica López Baltodano: Nicaraguan human rights lawyerJohn Unzima: Ugandan journalist and environmental activistThis episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, explores the intersections between human rights, technology, and environmental advocacy. Participants discuss the perils faced by environmental activists, journalists, and others who work to protect the environment in countries ruled by authoritarian regimes.
Saudi Arabia’s murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi; Belarus’ hijacking of a plane to arrest opposition journalist Roman Protasevich; and Rwanda’s forceful rendition of “Hotel Rwanda” hero Paul Rusesabagina are some of the most well-known examples of transnational repression by authoritarian regimes. They are part of a larger trend of regimes aggressively reaching across the globe to silence or intimidate dissidents in exile. This panel discussion, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, examines the practice of transnational repression, mainly as it targets independent journalists.Featured Guests:Megha Rajagopalan: Investigative journalistRushan Abbas: Executive director of Campaign for UyghursMasih Alinejad: Iranian journalist and activistCan Dündar: Turkish journalist and documentarian
Thanks to the Winter Olympics in Beijing, and Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup, 2022 was dubbed “sportswashing’s biggest year.” This episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, shares powerful, behind-the-scenes stories and tips on raising awareness of how authoritarian regimes weaponize global games to whitewash their abuses.Karim Zidan: Author and journalistMalcolm Bidali: Labor rights activist and bloggerChemi Lhamo: Tibetan activist and community organizerLise Klaveness: President of the Norwegian Football Federation, lawyer, and human rights advocate
This episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, explores the correlation between the rise in authoritarian regimes and modern slavery. Looking to history and learning from the present, panelists discuss how slavery has been wielded as a way for those regimes to maintain power and how affected communities have stood in resistance to change the future.Featured Guests: 1. Amy Rahe: Managing Director at the Freedom Fund and anti-trafficking advocate2. Filmon Debru: Eritrean human trafficking survivorLeonardo Sakamoto: Brazilian journalist and anti-forced labor advocate3. Jessie Bruner: Associate Director of Strategy and Program Development at the Center for Human Rights and International Justice at Stanford University
Over 17.6 million Ukrainians — more than 40% of the country’s population — require humanitarian assistance. HRF’s partner organization, Renegade Relief Runners, focuses on delivering essential supplies, including food, clean water, and medical aid, to Ukraine’s most heavily impacted regions. In this episode, Renegade Relief Runners co-founders Julia Abratańska and Chris Tiller discuss Ukraine’s current humanitarian needs, the challenges local aid groups face, and what the international community can do to support aid work.
In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in Taiwan, we hear from Chung Ching Kwong (鄺頌晴), a Hong Kong political and digital rights activist. Kwong discusses the parallels between Taiwan and Hong Kong and urges the international community to press their governments to hold China accountable.
In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in Taiwan, we hear from Wu’er Kaixi (吾爾開希), general secretary of Taiwan's Parliamentary Human Rights Commission. Born in China as an Uyghur national, Wu’er Kaixi was one of the founders and key organizers of the 1989 Tiananmen student movement. Listed as No. 2 on the Chinese government’s most wanted student leaders after the June 4 massacre, Wu’er Kaixi fled the country to live in exile. He currently resides in Taiwan, where he remains an active human rights and democracy activist, political commentator, and columnist.
In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in Taiwan, we hear from Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit (塔納通·宗龍倫吉), a pro-democracy activist and leader of the opposition Future Forward Party in Thailand. As a result of his advocacy for freedom and democracy, Juangroongruangkit was stripped of his parliamentary seat by the ruling military junta.
In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in Taiwan, we hear from Freddy Tshiong-Tso Lim (林昶佐), the lead vocalist of the Taiwanese metal band Chthonic and a member of Taiwan’s parliament. He shares how Taiwan can help play a critical role in protecting and promoting human rights, in the face of authoritarian aggression.
In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in Taiwan, we hear from Areej al-Sadhan (阿雷潔·薩丹), activist and sister to Red Crescent humanitarian worker Abdulrahman al-Sadhan who was imprisoned during a mass crackdown in Saudi Arabia. Areej remains outspoken on the ill-treatment of her brother and other activists and publicly denounced Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s brutal human rights abuses.
In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in New York, we hear from Garry Kasparov, chairman of the Human Rights Foundation (HRF). Widely considered history’s greatest chess player, Kasparov retired from the sport in 2005 to devote his time to human rights activism. An outspoken advocate for democracy and ardent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kasparov speaks on the war in Ukraine, a battle between freedom and tyranny.
In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in New York, anti-rape activist, beauty pageant queen, and author Toufah Jallow speaks on breaking the culture of silence around sexual violence in The Gambia and inspiring the #IamToufah movement, Gambia’s #MeToo. Jallow founded the Toufah Foundation to create a community of support for sexual violence survivors and to advocate for accountability and reforms.
In recent years, FIFA has earned a reputation for granting the hosting rights of its most prestigious competition, the World Cup, to countries ruled by authoritarian regimes. In December, Qatar hosted the 2022 World Cup, despite global concerns regarding the country’s poor human rights record. In this episode, we hear from Håvard Melnæs, editor of the Norwegian soccer magazine Josimar, as the 2022 World Cup entered its final stages. Håvard and his team use critical and investigative journalism to shed light on the corruption, cronyism, and sportswashing running rampant in the sport.
In August 2021, the Taliban forcibly reclaimed control of Afghanistan, promising to institute a modern form of Islamic government. Instead, the regime has systematically implemented gender-specific measures against women, in direct contrast to their initial claims of substantial reform. The progress of Afghanistan’s civil society has declined under the Taliban’s draconian governance of women’s rights, a microcosm of a larger theocratic system.In this episode, we hear from Dr. Sima Samar, a central pioneer of women’s rights in Afghanistan, who explores the country in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover.
In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in New York, we hear from Berta Valle, a Nicaraguan journalist, human rights activist, and vocal critic of the authoritarian Ortega regime. Berta is currently in exile, campaigning tirelessly to bring international attention to the 140+ political prisoners in Nicaragua, including her husband, former presidential candidate and 2019 OFF speaker, Félix Maradiaga.
In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in New York, we hear from exiled Hong Kong activist Anna Kwok, who currently serves as the Executive Director at Hong Kong Democracy Council (HKDC). Anna reflects on the pro-democracy movement within Hong Kong and her hopes to strengthen the Hong Kong diaspora globally.
In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in New York, we hear from Tibetan activist and community organizer Chemi Lhamo, who has dedicated her life to resisting the Chinese occupation of her homeland. Tune in to learn how we can rise above tyranny together and elevate the Tibetan cause.
In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in New York, Venezuelan Opposition leader Leopoldo López discusses the fight for democracy in Venezuela and globally. “There is no one person, there is no one movement, there is no one country, there is no one company that can be successful in bringing about freedom. It’s only about the ‘We’.”
In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in New York, we hear from Oleksandra Matviichuk, the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and head of the Center for Civil Liberties. Matviichuk speaks on the horrors and atrocities of Putin’s war in Ukraine — she says, "You don't need to be Ukrainian to support Ukraine. You just need to be human."
In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum in New York, we hear from Iranian journalist and activist Masih Alinejad, who spearheaded the “My Stealthy Freedom” campaign to protest Iran’s compulsory hijab laws for women and girls. Alinejad talks about the recent murder of Mahsa Amini and the reality of life for women living under the tyrannical Iranian regime.
Recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, Hong Kong political and digital rights activist Chung Ching (Glacier) Kwong shares why the international community should stand in solidarity with Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement. She was previously the founder and spokesperson of Keyboard Frontline, an organization dedicated to monitoring censorship and digital rights, and a former columnist at Apple Daily. Chung Ching is currently the Hong Kong Campaigns coordinator at the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China.
In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, we hear from Roman Dobrokhotov, a Russian investigative journalist, activist, political scientist, and one of the founders and leaders of the 5th of December Party. Dobrokhotov discusses the tools necessary for journalists to expose dictatorships, and his own work with the investigative online newspaper The Insider.
In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, we hear from human rights activist Tawakkol Karman, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 for her non-violent struggle for democracy and women’s rights in Yemen. In her roles as a journalist, politician, and founder of the Tawakkol Karman International Foundation, she is also known as “mother of the revolution,” “the iron woman,” and the Lady of the Arab Spring.
In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, exiled Afghan activist and politician Zarifa Ghafari speaks on the challenges faced under the Taliban — particularly concerning women’s rights, freedom of speech, and human rights. After making a daring escape from the Taliban, Zarifa now lives in exile, where she continues to advocate for human rights in Afghanistan and globally.
In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, we hear from Carolina Barrero, an art historian, activist, and human rights advocate fighting for peace and civil and political rights in Cuba. As a member of the 27N movement of artists and intellectuals, Barrero participated in 2021 protests that challenged Cuba’s totalitarian regime.
In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, Chemi Lhamo discusses the annexation of her homeland, Tibet, by the authoritarian Chinese government, and urges the international community to help amplify the Tibetan peoples’ calls for freedom.
In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, Eritrean human rights activist and software developer Filmon Debru recounts his experience in the expansive human trafficking cycle. Since his escape, Debru has raised awareness about human trafficking and testified before international bodies, including the European Parliament.
In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, we hear from author and Uyghur advocate Jewher Ilham about the widespread use of Uyghur forced labor and how the international community must respond. Jewher has testified before the U.S. Congress, published op-eds in The New York Times and Guardian, and received numerous international awards on behalf of her father, imprisoned academic Ilham Tohti.
In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, we hear a conversation between renowned journalist Michaela Wrong and Carine Kanimba, an activist and daughter of Hotel Rwanda’s Paul Rusesabagina — who saved more than 1,200 people in his hotel during the 1994 genocide.
Over the past several decades, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has relentlessly attacked human rights in order to advance its political goals. This episode explores how youth in the diaspora are grappling with the Chinese government’s abuses in their respective homelands, and mobilizing in exile. Guests include Babur Ilchi from the Campaign for Uyghurs, Tenzin Yangzom from Students for a Free Tibet, Anna Kwok from Hong Kong Democracy Council, and Mustafa Aksu from the Uyghur Human Rights Project.
In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, we hear from three Belarusian activists –– Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Veronica Tsepkalo & Tatsiana Khomich –– who have spent years fighting corruption under Alexander Lukashenko’s regime, and rallying for a free and democratic Belarus.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is a former presidential candidate and leader of the national democratic movement in Belarus; Veronica Tsepkalo was one of the three leaders of the national democratic movement in Belarus and currently chairs the Belarus Women’s Foundation; and Tatsiana Khomich is a Belariusian activist and sister of political prisoner Maria Kalesnikava.
In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, we hear from Areej al-Sadhan, a Saudi activist and sister of Red Crescent humanitarian worker Abdulrahman al-Sadhan, who disappeared in 2018 during a mass crackdown on critics and rights activists in Saudi Arabia. Areej remains outspoken on the ill-treatment of her brother and other activists, and has publicly denounced Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman’s brutal human right abuses.
After nearly two decades of democracy, El Salvador’s democratic institutions find themselves, once again, under siege. President Nayib Bukele has achieved extreme popularity, fueled by populist rhetoric and the adept use of social media. In this episode, El Faro journalist Nelson Rauda discusses how Bukele has abused emergency powers, eroded the independence of the judiciary, and paved the way for his re-election in direct violation of El Salvador’s constitution.
In this episode, recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, Ethiopian investigative journalist Lucy Kassa discusses her extensive reporting on the war in Ethiopia, and the power journalism holds to expose human rights abuses. Despite suffering physical intimidation, death threats, and ongoing online trolling and smear campaigns, Kassa continues to report stories that bring attention to the victims of war.
This episode discusses the deterioration of freedoms in Hong Kong since the implementation of the national security law, and highlights the Chinese government's aggression. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has continuously tried to suppress Hong Kong’s civil society, and the national security law — alarming legislation aimed at eradicating the pro-democracy movement — has been the final “nail in the coffin.” The draconian national security law and the resulting erosion of civil liberties must serve as a warning to all democratic countries about the Chinese government’s disregard of human rights.
Guests include Hong Kong activists-in-exile, Sunny Cheung and Anna Kwok, from the Hong Kong Democracy Council. Washington Post journalist and columnist Josh Rogin moderates this conversation.
In this episode, Casey Michel and Paul Massaro discuss how corrupt regimes exploit systems of democracies to launder their money, and the ongoing legislative efforts in the United States (U.S.) to address this issue.
Casey Michel is an investigative journalist and author of “American Kleptocracy,” which studies how the U.S. has become a haven for stolen wealth, and Paul Massaro is a counter-corruption expert and Senior Policy Advisor for the U.S. Helsinki Commission. The views expressed by Paul are his own and do not represent an official position of the U.S. government.
Recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, in this episode, Evgenia Kara-Murza speaks on behalf of her husband, former OFF speaker and Russian opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was arbitrarily arrested in Moscow.
Evgenia Kara-Murza is the project manager of the Free Russia Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan international organization supporting civil society and democratic development in Russia.
Recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, Tanzanian lawyer Fatma Karume recounts in this episode her fight against Tanzania's late authoritarian president, John Magufuli.
Karume co-founded the Center for Strategic Litigation to challenge the regime’s repressive and unconstitutional laws in court. In response to her activism, Karume’s office was bombed in 2017, and she faced disbarment in 2020. Karume turned to Twitter to educate the public about human rights violations and raise funds for political prisoners. Despite John Magufuli’s death, Karume warns of further repression.
Bektour Iskender is a journalist, educator, and co-founder of Kloop Media, one of Kyrgyzstan’s largest media outlets that doubles as a journalism school to equip youth in the country with the skills to investigate and report on corruption.
Recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, in this episode, Iskender tells of his live-blogging of the 2010 Kyrgyz Revolution, which culminated in the ousting of Kyrgyzstan’s corrupt administration. Despite death threats from the national security services, Iskender is still using machine learning to uncover corruption, and working to launch Kyrgyzstan’s first satellite into space with a team of all-female engineers.
Recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, in this episode, Syrian public speaker and human rights advocate Omar Alshogre recounts his experience as a political prisoner, braving torture and witnessing the death of his beloved cousin.
At the age of 20, Alshogre was smuggled out of prison and fled Syria with the help of his mother. Alshogre currently serves as Director of Detainees Affairs for the Syrian Emergency Task Force, advocating for the liberation of detainees. He is a key witness in numerous national prosecution efforts to hold the Assad regime accountable for war crimes.
Recorded at the 2022 Oslo Freedom Forum, Oleksandra Matviichuk recounts in this episode the horrors of Russia’s all-out invasion of Ukraine, and stresses the need for mass mobilization against Vladimir Putin. Matviichuk is a human rights defender who heads the Center for Civil LIberties, which aims to protect and defend human rights and democracy in Ukraine and the OSCE region.
In the past year, Daniel Ortega’s regime in Nicaragua has dramatically ramped up its persecution of civil society, arresting presidential candidates in the run up to the November 2021 elections in an attempt to solidify his one-party rule. Recorded at the 2021 Oslo Freedom Forum, Berta Valle, a Nicaraguan journalist and vocal critic of the regime, tells the story of how her husband, former #OFF speaker and Nicaraguan civil society leader Felix Maradiaga, and many others have paid a high price for standing up for truth and freedom in her country.
For decades, the Communist regime in Cuba has sold an image of a nation with high human development, boosted by its alleged world class healthcare system and education. However, reality tells a story of coercion, lies, and misery.
The case of the Cuban dictatorship is not unique. Other regimes have positioned themselves as having achieved commendable levels of development: Chile under Pinochet, Kazakhstan under Nazarbayev, and numerous others. In this episode, economic historian and Assistant Professor at George Mason University Vincent Geloso discusses how authoritarianism is a poor vehicle for development, and how an expansion of rights and democracy has been a driving force behind the improvement in the lives of billions over the past century.
Recorded at the 2021 Oslo Freedom Forum, DJ Switch recounts in this episode how she survived the October 20, 2020 #LekkiMassacre in Lagos State, Nigeria. This tragedy was the worst case of violence to take place during the #EndSARS protests against police brutality. She describes how the protests illustrate the defiance of the current generation of Nigerian youth, dubbed the “coconut head generation” for their determination to speak out and stand up against oppression and poor governance.
Over the last decade, the frequency, severity, and duration of government-imposed internet shutdowns has been fast accelerating. Used to quash dissent and stifle democratic participation, shutdowns are a blunt tool that strip individuals of their human rights, and cause untold damage to economies, education, and healthcare.
Recorded at the 2021 Oslo Freedom Forum, this episode outlines the tactics authoritarian regimes have used to impose internet shutdowns, and explores the many consequences they hold. Guests include Scott Carpenter, Director of Policy and International Engagement at Jigsaw; Justin Henck, Product Manager at Jigsaw; Vinicius Fortuna, Software Engineer Lead at Jigsaw; Felicia Anthonio, Campaigner and #KeepItOn Lead at Access Now; Roya Ensafi, Assistant Professor in Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Michigan; and Marianne Díaz Hernández, Venezuelan activist and #KeepItOn Fellow.
The gaming industry has taken the world by storm since the 1970s. Technological advancements over the past several decades have allowed PC, mobile, and console games to incorporate new designs and new storylines. These advances have helped the industry to expand dramatically, attracting diverse audiences with various interests, including sports, music, and current events.
Recorded at SXSW 2022, this panel discussion explores how video games have become not only a hobby, but also even an avenue for activism. Guests include Kristin Bässe, Public Relations Officer at Reporters Without Borders Germany; Jerry Chan, Co-founder of Zeitgeist Studio; Navid Khonsari, Founder of iNK Stories; and Alvaro Piaggio, Policy Advisor at HRF.
Dictatorships frequently use art and culture as propaganda to create cults of personality and maintain legitimacy. The totalitarian aesthetic is familiar to many of us from films and documentaries of the Soviet Union or Nazi Germany: tanks driving down wide boulevards; paintings of toiling workers; military uniforms laden with medals; and films depicting past glories. But for billions of people who continue to live under authoritarian regimes, these images and experiences continue to be a part of everyday life.
Recorded at SXSW 2022, this panel discussion explores how dictators co-opt cultural institutions with visual propaganda, using dress, art, film, and architecture to instill fear, impose their vision of society, and reinforce their authoritarian regimes. Guests include Louisa Lim, award-winning author, journalist, and former correspondent at BBC’s Beijing Desk and NPR from Hong Kong; Peter Pomerantsev, Senior Fellow at the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University; and Alexander Sikorski, Policy Officer at HRF.
Leopoldo López, a Venezuelan opposition leader and democracy activist, talks about his experience in prison, the abuses he suffered while being detained, and his hopes for democracy in Venezuela and around the world.
"One month ago, Russian forces launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Putin’s army has mercilessly targeted civilian areas, including apartment blocs, hospitals, and civilian shelters. The war crimes of Putin's regime are clear to all, as millions of refugees flee the conflict and thousands perish.
In response to Putin’s murderous behavior, the United States and other democracies have imposed sanctions on Russia, targeting the Russian banking sector, Russian exports, and over 100 individuals, including some of Putin’s closest oligarch allies. However, these sanctions did not target the most important segment of the Russian economy — the export of oil and gas. They also did not address a deeper problem, which is the ability of Russian oligarchs to hide their money in the West. This week, we examine how oligarchs conduct business in the West, the impact of Western sanctions on Russia, and the types of reforms and sanctions democracies need to implement to change Putin’s behavior.
On this week’s episode of Dissidents & Dictators, we have three guests. Casey Michel is an investigative journalist and the author of American Kleptocracy, which studies how the United States has become a haven for stolen wealth. Bill Browder is the CEO Hermitage Capital, and the Head of the Global Magnitsky Justice campaign. Hagar Chemali is a professor at Columbia University and a former official at the Treasury Department’s Office of Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes."
On February 24th, Russian forces launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Heavy artillery, missile strikes, and bombs have targeted civilian areas, destroying housing, hospitals, and orphanages. Many of these attacks are war crimes. There are already millions of refugees, and many thousands of casualties.
This war is Putin’s war. Putin has wielded violence as the key tool in shaping a system that gives him unrivaled power and wealth, both within Russia and worldwide. Putin’s regime is one of today’s gravest threats to democracy and human rights worldwide.
On this week's Dissidents & Dictators podcast, we have three guests. Garry Kasparov is Chairman of the Human Rights Foundation and an ardent critic of Russian president Vladimir Putin. Anne Applebaum is an American-Polish journalist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author who writes extensively on communism and the development of civil society in Central and Eastern Europe. Yulia Marushevska is a Ukrainian civil activist, economic growth expert, and the former Head of the Odessa Customs.
Since 2014, the Russian military has fought a war against Ukraine, annexed the Crimean peninsula, supported seperatist forces in the Donbas, and used cyber attacks to destabilize Ukrainian government services. On February 22, Russia commenced a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, intensifying a war that has already cost more than 14,000 lives. Amidst the uncertainty of the situation, we examine why Russian dictator Vladimir Putin sought to destabilize Ukraine and started the largest war in Europe since 1945.
Our guest this week is Molly McKew, a writer and researcher of Russian influence and information warfare. She is the lead author of greatpower.us, which explores what great power competition looks like in an era of asymmetric warfare and hybrid influence. Her articles have appeared in Politico, Wired, The Washington Post, Lawfare, and other publications. She is also an adjunct professor at Georgetown University’s Edmund Walsh School of Foreign Service, where she teaches Russian hybrid warfare.
This podcast was recorded before the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
A conversation between Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and HRF Chairman Garry Kasparov about how dictator Alexander Lukashenko stole the 2020 presidential election, how Belarus rose up, and how she has been advocating around the world for the release of political prisoners, an end to political violence, and free and fair elections in Belarus.
HRF President and CEO Thor Halvorssen sat down with Hatice Cengiz, fiancée of slain Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, for a long-awaited Q&A.
Hatice has been relentless in her campaign to bring justice to Jamal’s case since his brutal murder by an assassination squad inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.
In this conversation, Hatice expands on her activism in immortalizing Jamal’s heritage, her experience with HRF's documentary, The Dissident, and makes the case for how Jamal’s murder was an attack against democracy and freedom worldwide.
More than one million Uyghurs are currently detained in China’s mass network of concentration camps, where they are regularly subject to torture, forced abortions, severe mental and bodily harm, and even forced labor. Young Uyghur activist Akida Pulat discusses how this system of abuse has impacted her family, and shares what companies, organizations, governments, and the general public should do in response to the Chinese government’s atrocities.
Steve Jurvetson talks on the importance of promoting and maintaining a system under which new ideas and technologies can arise that can disrupt the status quo and change the lives of billions for the better. This system can be no other than an open society that allows for the protection and promotion of people’s freedoms in all dimensions.
A message authored by Alexey Navalny from prison reflecting on the recent elections and condemning not just the terrible corruption of the Putin regime, but also the West failure to crack down on Russian influence abroad.
In this episode of Dissidents and Dictators, the Human Rights Foundation’s (HRF) International Legal Associate Michelle Gulino speaks with Russian pro-democracy activist and opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza about the rise of government repression in Putin’s Kafkaesque Russia. Under Putin’s rule, Russia has become one of the most repressive countries in the world. Kara-Murza is Vice President of the Free Russia Foundation, an international organization supporting civil society and democratic development in Russia, and he chairs the Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom. He is also one of the major champions of the Magnitsky Act, and has been the target of two assassination attempts by Putin’s regime for his outspokenness against the dictatorship. Throughout this conversation, Kara-Murza details the methods and aims of Putin’s repressive apparatus, and how democratic leaders around the world can help support Russian civil society.
In the autumn of 2020, Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a 44 daylong war over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, leading to thousands of civilian and military casualties, as well as more than one hundred thousand refugees. Despite a peace agreement, historical grievances, wartime atrocities, and nationalistic rhetoric have spurred continued violence and ethnic hatred between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
This HRF conversation features journalist and security analyst Neil Hauer, who covered the 2020 conflict from Stepanakert, the largest city in Nagorno-Karabakh. His work focuses on politics and conflict in the South Caucasus, Russia’s role in the Syrian conflict, and violence and politics in Chechnya and Ingushetia.
As the world prepares for the 2022 FIFA World Cup to be held in Qatar, the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) seeks to hold the Qatari government accountable for labor and human rights violations against migrant workers building the infrastructure for the event. Thousands of migrant workers have died on Qatari construction sites, and there are numerous reports of systemic exploitation and mistreatment against laborers.
In this episode of Dissidents and Dictators, Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer for The Independent, speaks with veteran journalist Pete Pattison about the harmful conditions and human rights violations facing these migrant workers. The two discuss the Qatari government’s role in allowing these conditions to continue even after promises of labor reforms, and how FIFA teams and sponsors, and listeners like you, can pressure Qatari officials to improve labor conditions for migrant workers.
With millions being arbitrarily detained and imprisoned in labor camps in the Xinjiang region of China simply for speaking a different language and practicing a different culture, Silence Is Not An Option. Sit down with our panelists for a chance to listen to three individually unique stories all with the same end goal, to free their family, friends, and neighbors from the regime's tight grasp. Whether working as a journalist, teacher, researcher, or advocate these amazing activists go in-depth into their personal experiences and the prosecution they've undergone, as well as share how we can all do our part to end the Uyghur Genocide taking place in Xinjiang.
Moderator: Guillermo S. Hava, Coordinator of the Harvard Human Rights Working Group, Harvard University
Panelists:
Jewher Ilham, Uyghur human rights activist Gulchehra Hoja, Uyghur journalist Irade Kashgary, Uyghur activist and HRF Freedom Fellow Closing Remarks:
Dr. Victoria Tin-bor Hui, Associate Professor of Political Science at University of Notre Dame
Moderator: Alex Gladstein, Human Rights Foundation
Panelists:
Dr. Darren Byler: Anthropologist and Uyghur technopolitics expert Megha Rajagopalan: Buzzfeed international correspondent and investigative journalist Bethany Allen-Ebrahiminan: Axios China reporter
What is unfolding in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (also referred to as East Turkestan) is considered one of the worst human rights abuses in the world today. The Uyghur Region — known as the Xinjiang province in China — is often referred to as a dystopian surveillance state and an open-air prison. The actions of the Muslim minorities living in the region are heavily monitored through cell phone applications, frequent home inspections, and an array of checkpoints throughout the region.
Anywhere from 1 to 3 million people, including Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Tajiks, and other ethnic minorities, are forcibly confined to the Uyghur Region by the Chinese government — simply because they speak a different language, practice religion, and embrace a different culture. Within these concentration camps built by the Chinese government, Uyghurs are forced to take “re-education” courses, and are subject to mental & bodily harm and torture. In many cases, they are coerced and trafficked into state-sponsored forced labor schemes to ramp up production in factories across the country.
Featuring spotlight speakers and engaging panelists, this 2-day event aims to provide participants with a holistic and multi-dimensional understanding of the genocide unfolding in the region. Participants will leave equipped with concrete ideas on how they can help stand up against these atrocities.
The Long-Arm of Authoritarianism Moderator: Jenny Wang, Human Rights Foundation Panelists: Dr. Sean Roberts, Director of International Development Studies Program at George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs Dr. Timothy Grose, Associate Professor of China Studies at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Alex Chow, Hong Kong activist and 2018 Nobel Peace Prize nominee
What is unfolding in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (also referred to as East Turkestan) is considered one of the worst human rights abuses in the world today. The Uyghur Region — known as the Xinjiang province in China — is often referred to as a dystopian surveillance state and an open-air prison. The actions of the Muslim minorities living in the region are heavily monitored through cell phone applications, frequent home inspections, and an array of checkpoints throughout the region.
Anywhere from 1 to 3 million people, including Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Tajiks, and other ethnic minorities, are forcibly confined to the Uyghur Region by the Chinese government — simply because they speak a different language, practice religion, and embrace a different culture. Within these concentration camps built by the Chinese government, Uyghurs are forced to take “re-education” courses, and are subject to mental & bodily harm and torture. In many cases, they are coerced and trafficked into state-sponsored forced labor schemes to ramp up production in factories across the country.
A discussion with democratic leader of Belarus, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on the future of the democratic movement and human rights in Belarus along with:
Michael McFaul: Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Bill Browder: Magnitsky Act Architect Garry Kasparov: Chairman of the Human Rights Foundation
Moderator: Roberto González, Chief Legal Officer at the Human Rights Foundation
Dictatorial regimes from Russia to Saudi Arabia to China are investing millions of dollars into hosting major sporting events and investing in teams in free societies, in an effort to improve their human rights images internationally and pivot the global eye away from their repressive measures. Countries like Saudi Arabia and China have been leading these investments and bids in global sporting events to whitewash crimes. Panelists will examine just how authoritarian regimes are using this method of "sportswashing" to divert attention away from their reprehensible human rights records, and the trends and implications of these soft power, high-dollar tactics.
Panelists: Garry Kasparov, Chairman, Human Rights Foundation Karim Zidan, Investigative Journalist, The Guardian / freelance Irade Kashgary, Director and Activist, Uyghur American Association Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer, The Independent
Authoritarian regimes around the world, such as China, Russia, and Saudi Arabia, are increasingly using technology to spy on journalists, dissidents, and activists. From basic phishing emails to sophisticated malware, these methods violate personal privacy and endanger the lives of individuals who dare to stand up against dictators and freely express their opinions.
The Human Rights Foundation, which produced THE DISSIDENT — a new documentary highlighting the labyrinth of deceit behind the high-profile murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi — and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) are co-hosting a virtual panel to discuss the invisible digital threat that is placing press freedom and access to information at risk.
The conversation will feature Saudi activist, blogger, and close friend of Jamal Khashoggi, Omar Abdulaziz; THE DISSIDENT’s Award-winning director Bryan Fogel; Al Jazeera journalist Ghada Oueiss; and CPJ Senior Africa Researcher Jonathan Rozen. Panelists will unpack the most pressing questions about spyware: How is spyware used to silence dissidents and journalists? How is it falling into the hands of bad actors? How widespread is the danger? And how should concerned governments respond? This conversation will be moderated by Courtney Radsch, CPJ Advocacy Director.
Dictatorships often use professional sports to cover up their crimes and establish international legitimacy. In Belarus, the regime of Alexander Lukashenko is particularly invested in Ice Hockey as a means of promoting his regime. However, in January Belarusians convinced the International Ice Hockey Federation to cancel the Ice Hockey World Championships in Minsk in order to prevent Lukashenko from using the event to distract from human rights violations. HRF’s Alexander Sikorski speaks to Anatoly Kotov of the Belarus Sports Solidarity Foundation about how athletics are used by authoritarian regimes, why Belarusians pressured the IIHF and other international sporting bodies to boycott sports events in Belarus, and how Belarusian athletes have stood up for freedom and democracy in Belarus.
How are Russia, Saudi Arabia, and North Korea using technology to consolidate their power and influence globally?
Panelists: Phillipa Thomas, Iyad El-Baghdadi, Jieun Baek and Andy Greenberg
Authoritarianism is on the rise globally – but one resilient country has learned how to push back. In this conversation with Taiwan's Digital Minister Audrey Tang, learn how Taiwan is protecting its young democracy using transparency, innovation, and open governance.
How does Saudi Arabia use spy tech to hunt critics and dissidents around the world? In this episode, John Scott- Railton and Bill Marczak, dive into the case of Omar Abdulaziz and how the Saudi regime hacks dissidents to intimidate and silence them.
Ahmed Gatnash, host of "The Arab Tyrant Manual" podcast and Founder of the Kawaakibi Foundation, moderates a discussion between HRF Chairman Garry Kasparov, Areej Sadhan, sister of jailed Saudi dissident Abdulrahman al-Sadhan, and investigative journalist Karim Zidan on the Saudi regime's investments in sports and entertainment to distract from ongoing human rights abuses.
This panel was recorded at the 2020 Oslo Freedom Forum, produced by the Human Rights Foundation.
Saudi Arabia just announced the “Labour Relation Initiative” set to be implemented in March 2021 which will ease foreign workers contractual restrictions. This podcast will provide an overview of the Kafala sponsorship system in Saudi Arabia and the implications of the announcement. In a fireside chat, Executive Director of the Saudi American Justice Project Bethany AlHaidari will discuss how the Kafala system works, and how the Saudi regime is using this alleged “reform” to draw attention away from human rights abuses in the lead up to the upcoming G20 summit. It will also highlight other “cosmetic” reforms that the regime implements, such as those to its male guardianship system, to whitewash its human rights violations.
Twitter and Square CEO Jack Dorsey discusses the role Twitter plays in shaping public discouse, his thoughts on the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, and much more with HRF president Thor Halvorssen at the 2020 Oslo Freedom Forum.
How should the rest of the world, and especially the world's democracies, react to China's bid to harness AI for ill as well as good? How do we strike the right balance between vigilance in defense of human rights and national security and xenophobic overreaction?
Panelists Christopher Balding | Associate Professor, Fulbright University Vietnam
Anja Manuel | Co-Founder, Rice, Hadley, Gates & Manuel
Chris Meserole | Deputy Director of the Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technology Initiative, Brookings Institution
Moderator
Larry Diamond | Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution and FSI, Principal Investigator, Global Digital Policy Incubator
How should we think about China's growing influence in the realm of AI and the attendant geopolitical risks and implications? This session will explore China’s bid through Huawei to build and control the world's 5G networks, and what that implies for human rights and national sovereignty and security; China's export of surveillance technology to authoritarian regimes around the world; China's global partnerships to research and develop AI; and the problem of illicit technology transfer/theft.
Panelists
Steven Feldstein | Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Lindsay Gorman | Fellow for Emerging Technologies, Alliance for Securing Democracy, German Marshall Fund
Maya Wang | China Senior Researcher, Human Rights Watch
Moderator
Dominic Ziegler | Senior Asia Correspondent and Banyan Columnist, The Economist
The Ethics of Doing Business with China and Chinese Companies:
What dynamics are at play in China's effort to establish market dominance for Chinese companies, both domestically and globally? What demands are placed on non-Chinese technology companies to participate? What dynamics are at play in China's effort to establish market dominance for Chinese companies, both domestically and globally? Listen to learn more.
Panelists
Mary Hui | Hong Kong-based Technology and Business Reporter, Quartz
Megha Rajagopalan | International Correspondent and Former China Bureau Chief, Buzzfeed News
Alex Stamos | Director, Stanford Internet Observatory & Former Chief Security Officer, Facebook
Moderator | Casey Newton | Silicon Valley Editor, The Verge
China’s authoritarianism has fully expanded into the digital space. Through hundreds of millions of surveillance cameras, unprecedented amounts of data collection, state-sponsored technological investment, and global research partnerships, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is aiming to become the world’s leading AI superpower by 2030. In doing so, the Chinese government and corporate actors are weaponizing AI domestically, exporting surveillance tools to countries around the world, and demanding ideological compliance in the global market.
In this series of events, speakers will explore: the extent to which artificial intelligence (AI) is used inside China today; how the Chinese government and big tech are shaping the global market; how surveillance technology is exported around the world; and what can be done to meet this rising challenge; and ultimately, what are the ethical responsibilities inherent in developing these technologies?
Panelists:
Bethany Allen-Ebrahimian | China Reporter, Axios Paul Mozur | Asia Technology Correspondent, New York Times Glenn Tiffert | Research Fellow, Hoover Institution Xiao Qiang | UC Berkeley & Editor-in-Chief, China Digital Times Moderator: Melissa Chan | Journalist, The Global Reporting Centre
Weeks of protests have brought the regime of Alexander Lukashenko to the brink. As Belarus teeters on the verge of a democratic breakthrough, HRF’s Alexander Sikorski speaks to Andrei Sannikov, a Belarusian democracy activist and former presidential candidate about the history of activism in Belarus, the role of technology in the current protests, and what the future may have in store for Belarus.
On November 16, 2009, Sergei Magnitsky, the lawyer of global financier Bill Browder, was murdered for uncovering a $230 million corruption scheme by officials within Russia’s Interior Ministry. Bill became a thorn in Putin’s side after he began a campaign to seek justice for Sergei through the Global Magnitsky Act, which implements visa bans and asset freezes against serious human rights abusers and corrupt officials.
Ketty Nivyabandi is a Burundian activist and poet who led the first women-only demonstrations against Burundi’s president in 2015. She defied police beatings, tear gas, and a water cannon to make women’s voices heard. In this podcast we dive into Burundi’s authoritarian regime and Ketty’s resistance to Burundi’s dictatorship. What role can women play in protesting and organizing? How do you survive police brutality? How can people remain hopeful and support protestors in Burundi?
On June 4, 1989 the Chinese government ordered the People’s Liberation Army to turn its weapons and tanks on innocent, unarmed students in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.
On the 31st Anniversary of the Tiananmen Massacre, the Human Rights Foundation spoke with
• American investigative journalist and Tiananmen eyewitness Claudia Rosett • Tiananmen massacre survivor, and former Chinese political prisoner, Yang Jianli • BuzzFeed news world correspondent Mega Rajagopalan •Chinese Canadaian actress and beauty queen turned human rights activist Anastasia Lin • Founding director of Hong Kong Democracy Council Samuel M. Chu • Hong Kong based journalist and activist Frances Hui
In the 1990's, Srdja Popovic built a youth movement in Serbia that ended up toppling Slobodan Milošević, a brutal dictator, without firing a single shot. In this episode, we dive into Srdja's personal story and discuss how to scale a movement from a handful to millions, how to overcome a regime that holds all the power and weapons, why peaceful revolutions are more successful than violent ones, how street movements are like startups, and how protest movements are adapting to the Coronavirus and new government emergency laws and surveillance done in the name of public health.
Recorded 04/22/2020