Robin Yassin-Kassab – författare

*Shortlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize 2017*In 2011, many Syrians took to the streets of Damascus to demand the overthrow of the government of Bashar al-Assad. Today, much of Syria has become a war zone where foreign journalists find it almost impossible to report on life in this devastated land.Burning Country explores the horrific and complicated reality of life in present-day Syria with unprecedented detail and sophistication, drawing on new first hand testimonies from opposition fighters, exiles lost in an archipelago of refugee camps, and courageous human rights activists among many others. These stories are expertly interwoven with a trenchant analysis of the brutalisation of the conflict and the militarisation of the uprising, of the rise of the Islamists and sectarian warfare, and the role of governments in Syria and elsewhere in exacerbating those violent processes.With chapters focusing on ISIS and Islamism, regional geopolitics, the new grassroots revolutionary organisations, and the worst refugee crisis since World War Two, Burning Country is a vivid and groundbreaking look at a modern-day political and humanitarian nightmare.

*Shortlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize 2017*In 2011, many Syrians took to the streets of Damascus to demand the overthrow of the government of Bashar al-Assad. Today, much of Syria has become a war zone where foreign journalists find it almost impossible to report on life in this devastated land.Burning Country explores the horrific and complicated reality of life in present-day Syria with unprecedented detail and sophistication, drawing on new first hand testimonies from opposition fighters, exiles lost in an archipelago of refugee camps, and courageous human rights activists among many others. These stories are expertly interwoven with a trenchant analysis of the brutalisation of the conflict and the militarisation of the uprising, of the rise of the Islamists and sectarian warfare, and the role of governments in Syria and elsewhere in exacerbating those violent processes.With chapters focusing on ISIS and Islamism, regional geopolitics, the new grassroots revolutionary organisations, and the worst refugee crisis since World War Two, Burning Country is a vivid and groundbreaking look at a modern-day political and humanitarian nightmare.

In the inaugural issue of Critical Muslim: Ziauddin Sardar tries to understand the significance of what just happened in the Middle East, Robin Yassin-Kassab spends some quality time in Tahrir Square, Ashur Shamis dodges the bullets of Gaddafi's henchmen, Abdelwahab El-Affendi traces the roots of the uprisings, Anne Alexander tunes into the digital revolution, Fadia Faqir joins women protestors, Shadia Safwan asks how long could Assad last, Jamal Mahjoub contemplates futures of the Sudan, Jasmin Ramsey joins the activists in Tehran, and Jerry Ravetz ponders the significance of Ibn Khaldun to the Arab Spring. Also in this issue: Rachel Holmes visits the Palestinian Festival of Literature, S. Parvez Manzoor asks if Turkey is a good model for the Muslim world, Muhammad Idrees Ahmad is overwhelmed by leaks, Taus Makhacheva takes 'Affirmative Action', Aasia Nasir accuses Pakistan and Merryl Wyn Davies's 'last word' on Saudi women drivers. Plus a new short story from Bilal Tanweer and revolutionary poetry from Nizar Qabbani, Tawfiq Zayyad, Abul-Qasim al-Shabi, Ayat al-Qormezi and Naomi Foyle.

In the issue of Critical Muslim: Ziauddin Sardar argues why Islamic reform is necessary, Bruce Lawrence sees Muslim cosmopolitanism as the future, Parvez Manzoor declares jihad on the idea of 'the political', Samia Rahman gets to the root of Muslim misogyny, Michael Muhammad Knight explains his taqwacore beliefs, Soha al-Jurf has problems with orthodoxy, Carool Kersten suggests that critical thinkers and reformers are often seen as heretics, and Ben Gidley on what keeps Muslims and Jews apart and what can bring them together. Also in this issue: Stuart Sim takes a sledgehammer to the 'profit motive', Andy Simons argues that Jazz is just as Muslim as it is American, Robin Yassin-Kabbab meets the new crop of Iraqi writers in Erbil, Said Adrus visits a Muslim cemetery in Woking, Ehsan Masood confesses he spent his youth reading the extremist writer Maryam Jameelah, Iftikar Malik dismisses pessimism about Pakistan, Hassan Mahamdallie explores what it means to be an American, Jerry Ravetz discovers the Arabic Maimonides, Vinay Lal assesses the legacy of Edward Said, and Merryl Wyn Davies takes a train to 9/11. Plus a brilliant new story from Aamer Hussein and four poems by the celebrated Mimi Khalvati.

In the third issue of Critical Muslim: AbdelWahab El-Affendi on Islamophobia and Orientalism in the age of liberal paranoia, Arun Kundnani on English Defense League and the rise of the far right in Europe, Vinay Lal on Hindus who love Hitler, Gordon Steffey on Christian fundamentalism, Fanar Haddad on the sectarian schisms in the Arab world, Gary McFarlane on Tottenham Riots, Farouk Peru on self loathing Muslims, Claire Chambers on 'Four Lions', Peter Clark on Bernard Lewis and Peter Moray on Irshad Manji. Plus a short story by Suhel Ahmed, six poems by Stephane Chaumet, Anita Sethi's dangerous bus ride through Iran, Ten Top Techs for Muslim and Ziauddin Sardar on his pet hate: the beards of Islam.

Ziauddin Sardar questions the question mark that is always placed in front of Pakistan, Robin Yassin-Kassab asks why Pakistan has not imploded, Taimur Khan breaks bread with the gangsters and bookies of Karachi, Muhammad Idrees Ahmad revisits Peshawar, Mahvish Ahmad tracks down the separatist in Quetta, Ehsan Masood watches Pakistani television, Merryl Wyn Davies deconstructs 'imaginariums' of Pakistan, Aamer Hussein discusses Pakistani modern classic fiction, Bina Shah asks if there is boom in Pakistani literature, Bilal Tanweer listens to 'Coke Studio', Muneeza Shamsie discovers the literary secrets of her family, Taymiya R. Zaman overcomes her fear of talking about Pakistan, Ali Maraj assesses Imran Khan, Shazia Mirza tells rude jokes in Lahore, and a fake novel by Ibn-e-Safi is spotted in Bahwalnagar. Plus a new translation of an old short story by A R Khatoon, a new story by Yasir Shah, poems by Ghalib, John Siddique and Zehra Nigah, Atia Jilani's Quranic art, photographs by Ayesha Malik, and 'Ten Things We Love About Pakistan'. About Critical Muslim: A quarterly publication of ideas and issues showcasing groundbreaking thinking on Islam and what it means to be a Muslim in a rapidly changing, interconnected world. Each edition centers on a discrete theme, and contributions include reportage, academic analysis, cultural commentary, photography, poetry, and book reviews.

Aamer Hussein takes love to its logical conclusion, Robert Irwin traces the origins of the ghazal (love lyric ), Christopher Shackle recites epic Panjabi poems of sacred love and lyrical death, Imranali Panjwani mourns the massacre of Karbala, Martin Rose is taken hostage by Saddam Hussain, Jalees Rahman reflects on Nazi doctors who took delight in deathly experiments, Ramin Jehanbegloo is incarcerated in the notorious Evin prison, Hamza Elahi visits England's Muslim graveyards, Shanon Shah receives valuable guidance on love and sex from the 'Obedient Wives Club', Samia Rahman sets out in search of love, Khola Hasan has mixed feelings about her hijab, Sabita Manian promotes love between India and Pakistan, Boyd Tonkin discovers that dead outrank the living in Jerusalem , Alev Adil takes 'a night journey through a veiled self' and Irna Qureshi's mother finally makes a decision on her final resting place. Also in this issue: Parvez Manzoor throws scorn on a nihilistic, revisionist history of Islam, Naomi Foyle reads the first novel of a British Palestinian, Ahmad Khan explores the colonial history of The Aborigines' Protection Society, a short story by the famous Fahmida Riaz, Syrian scenarios by Manhal al-Sarraj, poems by Sabrina Mahfouz and Michael Wolf, Rachel Dwyer's list of Top Ten Muslim Characters in Bollywood and Merryl Wyn Davies's 'last word' on love and death at the movies.

Ziauddin Sardar sides with the philosophers of al-Andalus in their struggle with orthodox theologians, Robin Yassin-Kassab goes on a poetic journey, Nazry Bahrawi reveals how the Andalusi philosophers tamed the secular, Gema Martin Munoz is dismayed by the works of the Spanish Orientalists, Emilio Gonzalez-Ferrin argues that al-Andalus is not just a time past also a time present, Matthew Carr explores the plight of Muslims who were forced to convert to Christianity, David Shasha describes the achievements of Sephardic Jews, Cherif Abderrahman Jah tunes into the musical legacy of al-Andalus, Brad Bullock seeks to empower women, Marvine Howe meets the new Muslims of Iberia, Jordi Sarra del Pino wows to resist Spain's new Reconquista, Alev Adil and Aamer Hussein receive nine postcards from Andalusia, Boyd Tonkin is captivated by a book festival in Granada, Zara Amjad and Gulzar Haider reimagine the Cordoba Mosque as a sacred space for all religions, and Merryl Wyn Davies gets the shivers while listening to the Spanish tenor Jose Carreras belting out 'Granada'. Also in this issue: Vinay Lal explores Gandhi's attitude to Palestine, Barnaby Rogerson reprimands the Muslim aversion to dogs, four poems by the enchanting Rowyda Amin, a short story by John Liechty, and a dozen luminaries of al-Andalus we should all admire.

This issue covers the politics, history, literature, and culture of The Maghreb. Robin Yassin-Kassab has an enlightening sojourn in Morocco; Hicham Yezza examines the role of the Berbers in the Arab Spring; Marcia Lynx Qualey is dazzled by the transformative power of Maghrebi poetry; Louis Proyect spends some time with the Jews of the Maghreb; Cecile Oumhani provides a daily account of the Tunisian revolution; Paul Mutter tangles with al-Qaeda in Mali; Robert Irwin wonders if Ibn Khaldun had a mystical vision of history; Julia Melcher explores the absurd world of exiled western writers in Tangiers; John Liechty attempts to get a US visa for his Moroccan wife; Jamal Bahmad watches some revolutionary films; Arie Amaya-Akkermans admires Algerian art; and Anissa Helou tastes some Moroccan street food. Also in this issue: Extracts from a new novel by Amal Hanano and poems by George Szirtes.

Critical Muslim's Syria issue approaches the diversity of this rich culture as it is reborn through revolution, tortured by repression, and traumatised by war. Thomas Pierret illuminates the varying positions of Syria's Muslims and Islamists; Rasha Omran writes about being an Alawi revolutionary; Robin Yassin-Kassab investigates the revolution's artistic and cultural shifts; Firas Massouh appraises the role of workers and the left inside Syria; Louis Proyect castigates leftists in the West; Nader Attasi examines the successes of the revolutionary committees and the failures of opposition political elites; Hassan Hassan recounts the rise, fall and rise again of the Muslim Brotherhood's Syria branch; Razan Ghazzawi questions her atheism under fire; Omar Hossino presents the town of Selemmiyeh as a non-sectarian model; Ross Burns asks what's become of Syria's unparalleled archeological heritage. Plus poetry from Golan Hajji, prose from Zakkariya Tamer and Lina Sergie Attar, an appreciation of Adonis's verse, satire from Karl Sharro, and 'the story of the bra'.

Ziauddin Sardar argues that free thinkers are essential for any culture to survive and thrive; Aziz al-Azmeh outlines how Abbasid Culture established freethinking humanism; Oliver Leaman highlights the significance of the twelfth century Andalusian philosopher ibn Rushd; Ebrahim Moosa seeks meaning in the ethics of the tenth century blind poet and atheist, Al-Maarri; Robert Irwin examines the thought of the controversial Sufi Al-Hallaj; Abdelwahab El-Effendi explores the 'Second Islam' of the executed Sudanese thinker, Mohamed Taha; Aamer Hussein suggests that we need to embrace the ideas of the poet and philosopher Muhammad Iqbal; Eva Hoffman looks at the notion of free thought in the work of the Noble Laureate Czeslaw Milosz; Nazry Bahrawi is impressed by the 'heretical' interpretations of the Egyptian scholar Nasir Hamid Abu Zaid; Alev Adil vexes lyrical about Aisha, the youngest wife of the Prophet; and Johan Siebers is convinced that we need to free ourselves from all ideologies.

Hassan Mahamdallie argues that racism is twenty-first century's main problem, Shannon Shah detects racial overtones within Islam, Robert Irwin examines race and racism in the Arabian Nights, Hugh Kennedy uncovers the ninth century Zanj slave uprisings, Sejad Mekic looks for signs of hope in Bosnia, Sadiyya Shaikh explores religious imaginaries of ibn Arabi, Avaes Mohammad evokes parallel lives in Blackburn, Gary MacFarlane revisits the Christian fundamentalism of abolitionist John Brown, Ziauddin Sardar has unsavoury encounters in Saudi Arabia, and Naima Khan accuses South Asian Muslims of looking down on Africans. Also in this issue: Ruth Waterman's photographs of Bosnia, an epic poem on Bhopal, poetry by Dorothea Smartt, a short story by Aiysha Jahan, race relations in Trinidad and our list of ten political organisations that promote Islamophobia.

Ziauddin Sardar explores the limits of power, Barnaby Rogerson is enchanted with the notion of governance in the life of Prophet Muhammad, Bruce Lawrence deconstructs the idea of AoIslamic State', Kecia Ali surveys sexual politics of Muslim groups, Abdelwahab El-Efendi travels to AoLondonistan', Ehsan Masood is awe struck with the power of military/business complex, Mohamed Bakari get involved with the struggle for power in Turkey, and Boyd Tonkin highlights the power of words. Also in this issue: Nader Hashemi on the geo-politics of the 'Arab Spring', Aamer Hussain reads the fiction of the Turkish Sufi novelist Samiha Ayverdi, poems, short story, and our list of ten most powerful women in Islam.

In a matter of days, an intense rebel offensive brought down one of the world’s most entrenched regimes, ending the sixty-year Baathist dictatorship and the Assad family’s grip on Syria. The speed of the collapse stunned observers. Yet this was no sudden fall. It was the culmination of a revolution forged through years of protest, repression and resistance.The fall triggered celebrations and freedoms Syrians had not experienced in decades. But the cost has been immense, and the wounds of violence are unresolved. As the country enters a precarious new phase, urgent questions remain: can justice be delivered and a fractured society rebuilt? Or will competing powers and unaddressed grievances pull Syria back into conflict?Drawing on first-hand reporting and interviews across Syria, Robin Yassin-Kassab traces this pivotal moment through the lives of those who lived it. The Blood Between Us is a portrait of a country suspended between collapse and possibility – and a clear-eyed account of who will shape what comes next.

Malaysia and Indonesia are seen as bastions of liberal Islam. Is this really true or simply a widely held misconception about south-east Asian Muslims? What is the contribution of the Muslim archipelago to the world of Islam? What can we learn from Malaysian and Indonesian experiments in democracy? This issue of Critical Muslim addresses these questions by examining the politics, history, culture and religious traditions of Malaysia and Indonesia. Contributors include Merryl Wyn Davies on Malaysian multiculturalism, Luthfi Assyaukanie on Indonesia politics, Carool Kersten on the struggles of Indonesian intellectuals, Andre Vltchek on religion and tolerance in south-east Asia, Andi Achdian on Islam in Java, Ahmad Fuad Rahmat on the Malaysian intellectual guru Naguib Al-Attas, Shanon Shah on Malay Magic, Jo Kukathas on 'Malay-ness', Linda Christanty on literary stars of Indonesia, Rossie Indira on Indonesian pop music, and Nazry Bahrawi on reformist debates in south-east Asia.

A great deal has been said and written about 'women in Islam' - from how they should behave and dress to their 'duties' and position in society. Muslim men, on the other hand, have escaped all scrutiny. With contributions from leading Muslim women scholars and writers, including Amina Wadud, Kecia Ali, Sheikhah Halima Krausen, Ziba Mir Hosseini, Asma Afsaruddin, Mohja Kahf, Alev Adil and Leyla Jagiella, this issue of Critical Muslim balances the equation. There are essays too from men on their role in the plight of women, including Amanullah De Sondy, Shanon Shah and Mark Gonzales. Plus Canon Angela Tilby on Women Bishops and Jenny Taylor on sexualisation of children.