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Leila

@leilashami.bsky.social
7.3K followers 490 following 356 posts

Co-author of 'Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War' Co-founder @fromtheperiphery.com & host of @syriapodcast.bsky.social Blogs at: leilashami.wordpress.com

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Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
The New Internationalist published an extract from 'Revolutions of Our Times' by @thepeopleswant.bsky.social newint.org/action/2026/...
newint.org
What makes a revolution?
From Sri Lanka to France, a spirit of revolt has echoed across the world in recent years. The Peoples’ Want, a global committee of organizers and revolutionaries, examine what makes an uprising succce...
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Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
"Anti-war politics acquires meaning through simultaneous resistance to external aggression and domestic authoritarianism, rather than through protecting one side in the name of opposing the other." By ROJA Collective portolan-journal.org?post=ten-les...
portolan-journal.org
Portolan
cargo.site
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Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
A Summer Reading List for Minneapolis 2026 antidotezine.com/2026/06/02/s...
antidotezine.com
A Summer Reading List for Minneapolis 2026 | Antidote Zine
We have found success in action here in Minneapolis—but, as ever, greater knowledge, initiative, wisdom, and imagination will serve us in ongoing and future ...
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(israa') إسراء (they/them) @essssraaa.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
@leilashami.bsky.social and I are joined by two compas from @thepeopleswant.bsky.social to talk internationalism from below, exile as a position of attack, and mutual aid www.patreon.com/posts/157879...
patreon.com
FTPP 17: Revolutions of Our Times | From The Periphery Media Collective
FTPP 17: Revolutions of Our Times by From The Periphery Media Collective on Patreon. Join From The Periphery Media Collective's community for exclusive content and updates.
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Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
From Syria to the World crimethinc.com/2026/06/08/f...
crimethinc.com
From Syria to the World
Syrian participants in the Peoples Want network discuss the situation they confront in Syria today and describe how they will participate in the Mujawara campaign.
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The Peoples Want @thepeopleswant.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Thank you Woodbine for hosting us to speak about "Revolutions of Our Times" 🙏 Listen to our latest interview here 👉 www.patreon.com/posts/48-rev...
patreon.com
#48: Revolutions of Our Times with The Peoples Want | Woodbine
#48: Revolutions of Our Times with The Peoples Want by Woodbine on Patreon. Join Woodbine's community for exclusive content and updates.
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Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Really enjoyed this conversation on 'Revolution of Our Times: An Internationalist Manifesto' on @fromtheperiphery.com fromtheperiphery.com/2026/05/11/r...
fromtheperiphery.com
Revolutions of Our Times: An Internationalist Manifesto
In this episode, israa’ and Leila are joined by two compas from The Peoples Want, Juls and Alaa, to talk about Revolutions of Our Times, an internationalist manifesto written by The Peoples Want. T…
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Robin Yassin-Kassab @qunfuz.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
My new book is available for pre-order now. saqibooks.com/books/saqi/t...
saqibooks.com
The Blood Between Us – Saqi Books
A timely human portrait of Syria at a political crossroads
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Danny Postel @dannypostel.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
MUST-read interview with Syrian-British writer @leilashami.bsky.social of @thepeopleswant.bsky.social & Ukrainian activist Oleksandr Kyselov on *true* internationalism, the trouble with campism & the Eurocentrism of much of the “anti-imperialist” left in the West radiofreesyria.com/internationa...
radiofreesyria.com
Internationalism Is Not a Luxury, but a Survival Mechanism - Radio Free Syria
A must-read interview with prominent Syrian writer Leila al-Shami and Ukrainian activist Oleksandr Kyselov In Leila al-Shami's words: "We are undoubtedly heading towards a multipolar world order in w...
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Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
For an end to campism, the Iran war, and the anti-imperialist washing of the Islamic Republic tempestmag.org/2026/05/for-...
tempestmag.org
For an end to campism, the Iran war, and the anti-imperialist washing of the Islamic Republic
Somayeh Rostampour argues that opponents of U.S.and Israeli aggression in Iran must move beyond the anti-imperialist washing of the Islamic Republic.
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chuckmertz.bsky.social @chuckmertz.bsky.social · 29/04/2026
Our guests were Benjamin from the Syndicate of Limousine Mountain, and @leilashami.bsky.social contributors to, "Revolutions of Our Times: An Internationalist Manifesto” @haymarketbooks.org by @thepeopleswant.bsky.social. www.patreon.com/posts/new-he... Keep us free at patreon.com/thisishell
patreon.com
NEW HELL! The People Want a Revolution | This Is Hell!
NEW HELL! The People Want a Revolution by This Is Hell! on Patreon. Join This Is Hell!'s community for exclusive content and updates.
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Milk Tea Alliance Calendar @mtacalendar.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
Thurs: Join @thepeopleswant.bsky.social @jcwi-uk.bsky.social & the decolonial centre for in person Book launch 'Revolutions of Our Times: an internationalist manifesto" in London w/ @seemasyeda.bsky.social @ayoub.bsky.social @leilashami.bsky.social Hamidreza Vasheghanifarahani & Mohammed Einaiem 7/
Revolutions of Our Times
The peoples want
An internationalist manifesto


Book Launch Event & panel Discussion in London
THU 16th April
6pm - 8pm
Pelican House
Bethnal Green London E1 5QJ)

What lessons can we learn from the experience of
the uprisings taking place across the globe over the
past two decades? How do we face this current
moment ofrising authoritarianism, war and
ecological collapse?
How do we build
internationalism from below focused on people and
movements as agents of our collective liberation?

Speakers of the peoples want from 
Lebanon, Iran, Sudan-UK, Syria-UK &
Bangladesh-UKREVOLUTIONS OF OUR TIMES MANIFESTO LAUNCH
The peoples Want
Speakers announced!

Mohammed Elnaiem is a Sudanese writer and directs the Decolonial
Centre. He hosts Decolonial Dispatch and Solidarity News Roundup.
He was on the ground in the December Intifada (2018/2019) in Sudan.

Leila Al Shami is a British-Syrian activist and writer. She is co-author
of ‘Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War' and is a member of
The Peoples Want and From the Periphery Media Collective.

Elia Ayoub is a Lebanese-Palestinian writer and historian. He is a
regular contributor to various outlets, editor at Shado Mag,
Encyclopaedia Lead at the Decolonial Centre and the host of
The Fire These Times. He is a member of The Peoples Want
and From the Periphery Media Collective.

16th April 6pm Pelican house London E1 5QJSeema Syeda is a transborder activist and commentator with
South Asian (Bangladeshi) heritage , living in London. She is
Advocacy and Communications Director at the migrants' rights
organisation JCWI, which organises to dismantle border regimes
and build alternatives.

Hamidreza Vasheghanifarahani is an Iranian researcher, and
disability and child rights activist. He has worked with local
communities, civil society groups and collectives, particularly in
marginalised neighborhoods in Iran struggling to eradicate child
labour. He is a member of The Peoples Want.
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Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
Also a virtual book launch happening next week - with a focused discussion on current events in Iran, Lebanon and Syria. Register here: www.tickettailor.com/events/hayma...
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Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
I'll be speaking at this event in London next week together with @ayoub.bsky.social and others ...
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The Peoples Want @thepeopleswant.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
Our internationalist manifesto 'Revolutions of Our Times' will be published in English by @haymarketbooks.org Available soon in US and UK bookstores. Stay tuned for more details on discussions about the manifesto and current world events with members of The Peoples Want network ...
Photo of book cover. Revolutions of our times: An internationalist manifesto by the Peoples Want
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Syria: The Inconvenient Revolution @syriapodcast.bsky.social · 22/03/2026
New: transcript of a recent episode of Syria: The Inconvenient Revolution, an interview with Syrian-American author and scholar Noor Ghazal Aswad. She talked to Leila about her book, Searching for Solidarity: Revolutionary Dreams & Radical Social Movements fromtheperiphery.com/2026/02/20/s...
fromtheperiphery.com
Searching for Solidarity w/Noor Ghazal Aswad (E8)
Leila is joined by US-based academic Dr. Noor Ghazal Aswad to talk about her recent book ‘Searching for Solidarity: Revolutionary Dreams and Radical Social Movements’.  This episode explores t…
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Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
Damning report on the failures of the Syrian transitional government to ensure accountability and justice in wake of the coastal massacres last year www.newarab.com/investigatio...
newarab.com
How Syria’s performative coast massacre inquiry blocks justice
Evidence gathered in preliminary probes fell below acceptable standards. Can state-led investigative commissions and televised trials redress injustice?
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Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 12/03/2026
Two mutual aid initiatives to support in Lebanon as the country faces Israeli aggression and large numbers of people are displaced www.instagram.com/p/DVovwUojIY... www.chuffed.org/project/1719...
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Syria: The Inconvenient Revolution @syriapodcast.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
Leila speaks to Dr. Noor Ghazal Aswad about her recent book ‘Searching for Solidarity: Revolutionary Dreams and Radical Social Movements’. Available for free on Patreon and all podcast apps @fromtheperiphery.com www.patreon.com/posts/stir-8...
patreon.com
STIR 8/Searching for Solidarity w/Noor Ghazal Aswad | From The Periphery Media Collective
Get more from From The Periphery Media Collective on Patreon
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Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 14/02/2026
Great explainer on "Campism" by @aymanmak.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dbkk...
youtube.com
What Are Tankies Really?
YouTube video by Politically Depressed
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The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy @timep.bsky.social · 10/02/2026
TIMEP's @justinsalhani.bsky.social and @syriapodcast.bsky.social's host @leilashami.bsky.social are joined by Razan Rashidi to discuss transitional justice in Syria and what's being done to hold perpetrators to account and achieve justice for victims. Tune in here: open.spotify.com/episode/3V3A...
open.spotify.com
Transitional Justice w/Razan Rashidi (E7)
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Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
Myself and Justin Salhani spoke with Razan Rashidi from The Syria Campaign about Transitional Justice Available for free on Patreon and all podcast apps www.patreon.com/posts/stir-7...
patreon.com
STIR 7/Transitional Justice w/Razan Rashidi | From The Periphery Media Collective
Get more from From The Periphery Media Collective on Patreon
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The Final Straw Radio @thefinalstrawradio.bsky.social · 21/12/2025
An interview with @leilashami.bsky.social about notable events of the last year in post-Assad #Syria, the status of the government, regional and factional conflicts and also the new internationalist project, @thepeopleswant.bsky.social thefinalstrawradio.noblogs.org/post/2025/12...
photo of a mural on the side of a multi-story building of Bashar Al-Assad with the face removed, plus "TFSR 12-21-25 | Leila Al-Shami with Updates from Syria + The Peoples Want"
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The Final Straw Radio @thefinalstrawradio.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
Preview our interview with @leilashami.bsky.social via our patreon (for $3 or more per month) with updates on the situation in Syria and insights into a new(ish) intervention into anti-authoritarian internationalism, @thepeopleswant.bsky.social www.patreon.com/posts/leila-...
patreon.com
Leila Al-Shami with Updates from Syria + The Peoples Want | The Final Straw Radio
Get more from The Final Straw Radio on Patreon
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Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
Syria: One year on after the fall of Assad On From the Periphery Podcast www.patreon.com/posts/145397...
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Ayman Makarem @aymanmak.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
If you want to hear my thoughts on Syria, the fall of Assad, and things that have developed since, I did this episode with two fellow members of the FTP collective. Do give it a listen, especially cause Karena and Leila are always so spot on. www.patreon.com/posts/145397...
patreon.com
FTPP 12: Syria One Year On (After the Fall of Assad) | From The Periphery Media Collective
Get more from From The Periphery Media Collective on Patreon
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Qusay Noor @qusaynoor.net · 28/11/2025
#Latakia, hundreds are gathering in the city for a #Christmas celebration marking the start of #Advent.
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Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 28/11/2025
Many Shades of Campism: An Internationalist Critique portolan-journal.org?post=many-sh...
portolan-journal.org
Portolan
cargo.site
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Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
Cedric, who I recently spoke to for @syriapodcast.bsky.social published a moving first hand testimony of the violent attacks in Sweida in July theamargi.com/posts/syria-...
theamargi.com
Syria: A Testimony by a Foreigner Caught in the Suwayda Massacres
Photo Credits: Santiago Montag Between February 28 and July 22, 2025, the author was in the Suwayda province in Southern Syria, where his family, belonging to the Druze community,  resides.  He witnes...
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Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
A wonderful initiative just launched bringing Sudanese voices to an English-speaking audience freesudangazette.com
freesudangazette.com
Free Sudan Gazette
Free Sudan Gazette is an independent, open-source digital media platform providing news, research, investigations, and documentation of political, social, and cultural events about Sudanese people …
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Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 13/10/2025
"Western leaders attending the Sharm el-Sheikh summit have enabled and sponsored this slaughter. They are in no position to build a Palestinian future" www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
theguardian.com
While the perpetrators of Gaza’s genocide pose as its saviours, survivors return home – to a wasteland | Nesrine Malik
Western leaders attending the Sharm el-Sheikh summit have enabled and sponsored this slaughter. They are in no position to build a Palestinian future, says Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik
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Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Latest episode of @syriapodcast.bsky.social on the July unrest in Sweida & massacres against the Druze community www.patreon.com/posts/140712...
patreon.com
STIR 6/ Unrest in Sweida, pt. 2 w/ Interstices-Fajawat | From The Periphery Media Collective
Get more from From The Periphery Media Collective on Patreon
074
Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
"There are many valid reasons to oppose Western imperialism ... But real anti-imperialism is consistent. It does not choose which structures to excuse and which oppressed people to ignore. It does not sacrifice indigenous communities on the altar of geopolitics." nakedpunch.com/the-anti-imp...
nakedpunch.com
The ‘Anti-Imperialism’ of Idiots: Pakistani Left Edition - NAKED PUNCH
(inspired by Leila Al Shami)
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Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
Latest episode of @syriapodcast.bsky.social on the July unrest in Sweida & massacres against the Druze community www.patreon.com/posts/140712...
patreon.com
STIR 6/ Unrest in Sweida, pt. 2 w/ Interstices-Fajawat | From The Periphery Media Collective
Get more from From The Periphery Media Collective on Patreon
074
Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
One killed, several injured in Syrian Army, SDF clashes in Aleppo www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10...
aljazeera.com
One killed, several injured in Syrian Army, SDF clashes in Aleppo: Reports
A member of Syria's internal security forces killed and three others injured, along with civilians, in Aleppo clashes.
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Justin Salhani @justinsalhani.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
Al Jazeera: At least 104 people have been killed in Gaza by Israeli forces since Friday, the day Trump called on Israel to halt its bombing campaign.
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Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
How do we keep showing up when it feels like nothing is changing and when we're burned out? Together with @aymanmak.bsky.social & @karena1.bsky.social we spoke about Palestine Solidarity Against the Odds on @fromtheperiphery.com www.patreon.com/posts/ftpp-8...
patreon.com
FTPP 8: Palestine Solidarity Against the Odds | From The Periphery Media Collective
Get more from From The Periphery Media Collective on Patreon
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Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
"The first thing that the interim government in Syria must do is to end enforced disappearance and unlawful detention, and stop the sectarian violence ... Start focusing on achieving the truth, justice and peace that we need to move our country forward." www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
theguardian.com
The families of Syria’s disappeared are asking for the truth. Our country cannot rebuild until we have it | Wafa Mustafa
Over 160,000 people, including my father, were abducted by the Assad regime. The country’s new commission for the missing must be inclusive and independent to restore our trust
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Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 01/10/2025
Food Is Not A Weapon: Open letter to the people of Gaza on the weaponization of food and famine framaforms.org/food-is-not-...
framaforms.org
Food Is Not A Weapon: Open letter on the weaponization of food and famine | Framaforms.org
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elia ayoub @ayoub.bsky.social · 30/09/2025
Join us this Saturday - and every first Sat of the month - for our monthly @fromtheperiphery.com hangout! Available for all Patreon supporters here. www.patreon.com/posts/140087... @essssraaa.bsky.social @danaelkurd.bsky.social @karena1.bsky.social @aymanmak.bsky.social @leilashami.bsky.social
patreon.com
Next Hangout! Saturday 4th October | From The Periphery Media Collective
Get more from From The Periphery Media Collective on Patreon
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Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
Rethinking the Syrian Revolution: How the Left Misread Syria spectrejournal.com/rethinking-t...
spectrejournal.com
Rethinking the Syrian Revolution – Spectre Journal
Robert Francis challenges the exclusive geopolitical focus fueling skepticism on the Western left towards the Syrian Revolution, arguing for an anti-imperialism built on solidarity.
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Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 24/09/2025
Amer Matar from the Syrian Prisons Museum was arrested by the Syrian authorities. Freedom for Amer!
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Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 18/08/2025
"A people that stops asking questions stops participating in its future. It becomes a spectator to its own story. We cannot allow that to happen. Not after everything we've sacrificed... A new Syria is still possible, but only if we refuse to stay silent." www.hurriya.net/post/syria-s...
hurriya.net
Syria Still Needs an Opposition
At the heart of everything unfolding in Syria today lies a deeper, more existential crisis. The fall of the Assad regime has exposed a long-standing void: the absence of a shared, inclusive, and coher...
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Rami Jarrah @ramijarrah.com · 07/08/2025
Prior to the Suwayda events, the majority of Druze-Syrians disliked Al-Hijri, were optimistic of the state, and fierce advocates for a united Syria. Following the massacres, and the disgusting attempt to whitewash them, that majority feels betrayed. And the truth is, they were.
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Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
Horrific video emerged of Syrian security forces killing a medic in Sweida hospital last month - confirming what we already knew from many testimonies. Those responsible must be held to account
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Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
Heartbreaking news that the brave Anas Al Sharif was killed. Israel has consistently targeted journalists so that the world will not see the genocidal violence it is inflicting on the people of Gaza.
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Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 02/08/2025
Forced starvation is an act of genocide #Gaza
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Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 02/08/2025
"The Syrian media is lying" Protest in Sweida city yesterday
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Karena Avedissian @karena1.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
Hear me talk with @leilashami.bsky.social about my time in NE Syria, also known as Rojava, speaking with Islamized Armenians, descendants of survivors of the Armenian Genocide who were forcibly ‘assimilated’ during and after 1915. And listen to the other episodes of her podcast!
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Leila @leilashami.bsky.social · 31/07/2025
In the latest episode of @syriapodcast.bsky.social I'm joined by @karena1.bsky.social to talk about the experiences of Islamized Armenians in Northeast Syria. Available on all podcast apps or here: fromtheperiphery.com/2025/07/30/s...
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