The Middle East has been plagued by wars over the last few decades. From the invasions of Iraq and Libya by Western powers to the civil wars in Syria and Yemen, the region has been the epicenter of conflicts and resistance. The current occupation and invasion of Gaza by Israel have caused the death and destruction of thousands of innocent civilians. Cities like Aleppo, Homs, and Raqqa in Syria, Tripoli in Libya, Sanaa and Aden in Yemen, and Gaza in Palestine resemble the dystopian, post-apocalyptic nation of Panem from "The Hunger Games" in many ways. The resistance and fightback of the local people can be compared to the rebels in "Star Wars" or "Dune." While such comparisons might not capture the full extent of the conflicts, they help us understand them better. Dr. Yakoob Ahmed navigated these issues and provided a deeper understanding of the topic.
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Dr. Yakoob is a lecturer at Istanbul University’s theology department where he teaches Islamic History. He completed PhD from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London. He has written for various media outlets such as TRT World and Middle East Eye, as well as Muslim organizations such as the Yaqeen Institute. He has also hosted a host of interviews for Islamic Circles and given podcast interviews to various organizations online. Currently, Dr Yakoob is working on his first book’s manuscript based on his PhD. Dr. Yakoob’s main interests are Late Ottoman history, nationalism, the Ottoman ulema, and collective memory construction.
