Explore every episode of the podcast Lines on a Map by The Amargi
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jin, Jiyan, Azadi Revolution – Four years on (Part 1) | 18 sept. 2026 | 00:26:43 | |
Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. On September 16, 2022, 22-year-old Jina Mahsa Amini died in the custody of Iran’s morality police after being arrested over her alleged violation of the country’s compulsory hijab laws. Her death sparked protests that quickly spread across Iran, bringing together people from different generations, regions, and communities under the slogan Jin, Jiyan, Azadî — Woman, Life, Freedom. Four years later, the protests remain one of the most significant moments of political mobilization in the Islamic Republic’s history. In this first part of a two-part episode, I am joined again by Mahtab Mahboub from our Iran desk. We look back at how the movement emerged, where its central ideas came from, how it spread within Iran and beyond its borders, and what remains of the movement today. Host: Sushobhan Parida Guest: Mahtab Mahboub Audio Edit: Marta Lučić Graphic Design: An Amargi Production, 2026 About The Amargi: The Amargi is a grassroots-funded online media outlet established by a group of journalists, activists, and academics based in Europe. We are independent from any commercial and political influence, and our donors support us because their democratic values align with our editorial policy. The Amargi’s spotlight is on Kurdistan, but we also focus on Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Iran, as well as the broader Middle East. In a region where undemocratic regimes, foreign intervention, and powerful corporations determine the political discourse and suppress self-determination, dissent, and diversity, we aspire to be a powerful voice for those rendered powerless and voiceless. “Amargi”, a Sumerian word, is regarded as the first known written word for “freedom”. If you want to support and help expand The Amargi by becoming a donor, please visit: https://www.theamargi.com/donate | |||
| How could Turkey's peace process affect Iranian Kurdish Parties? with Rojin Mukriyan | 09 sept. 2026 | 00:39:11 | |
Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. In this episode, we are joined by Rojin Mukriyan to talk about Kurdish political movements in Iran, the relationship between the Free Life Party in Kurdistan (PJAK) and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), and what the PKK’s dissolution and the peace process in Turkey could mean for Kurdish politics in Iran. Host: Sushobhan Parida Guest: Rojin Mukriyan Audio Edit: Marta Lučić Graphic Design: An Amargi Production, 2026 About The Amargi: The Amargi is a grassroots-funded online media outlet established by a group of journalists, activists, and academics based in Europe. We are independent from any commercial and political influence, and our donors support us because their democratic values align with our editorial policy. The Amargi’s spotlight is on Kurdistan, but we also focus on Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Iran, as well as the broader Middle East. In a region where undemocratic regimes, foreign intervention, and powerful corporations determine the political discourse and suppress self-determination, dissent, and diversity, we aspire to be a powerful voice for those rendered powerless and voiceless. “Amargi”, a Sumerian word, is regarded as the first known written word for “freedom”. If you want to support and help expand The Amargi by becoming a donor, please visit: https://www.theamargi.com/donate | |||
| Who controls the militia 'disarmament' in Iraq? with Renwar Najm | 01 sept. 2026 | 00:27:53 | |
Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. In this episode of the Lines on a Map podcast, I’m back with Renwar Najm for another conversation about Iraqi politics. Last time we spoke, we discussed Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi’s campaign against corruption and what it tells us about the Iraqi state and its political system. This time, we’re shifting our focus from corruption to another major question facing Iraq today: who actually controls the country’s weapons and armed forces? Iraq is currently going through a process aimed at bringing weapons under state control, a process that has generated a lot of debate, not least because of the complicated relationship between Iraq’s political parties, militias, and security institutions. Today, we’ll try to make sense of what is happening, why it matters, and where this process could take Iraq. Host: Sushobhan Parida Guest: Renwar Najm Audio Edit: Marta Lučić Graphic Design: An Amargi Production, 2026 About The Amargi: The Amargi is a grassroots-funded online media outlet established by a group of journalists, activists, and academics based in Europe. We are independent from any commercial and political influence, and our donors support us because their democratic values align with our editorial policy. The Amargi’s spotlight is on Kurdistan, but we also focus on Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Iran, as well as the broader Middle East. In a region where undemocratic regimes, foreign intervention, and powerful corporations determine the political discourse and suppress self-determination, dissent, and diversity, we aspire to be a powerful voice for those rendered powerless and voiceless. “Amargi”, a Sumerian word, is regarded as the first known written word for “freedom”. If you want to support and help expand The Amargi by becoming a donor, please visit: https://www.theamargi.com/donate | |||
| Violence against the dead and Necropolitics in Turkey with Şilan Bingöl | 25 août 2026 | 00:24:59 | |
Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. In this episode, we examine violence against the dead in Turkey and Kurdistan. My guest is Şilan Bingöl, from The Amargi's Turkey desk. For over a century, groups excluded and targeted in life, such as Kurds, Armenians, Alevis, women, LGBTQ+ people, and migrants, also face violence after death: unmarked graves, attacks on cemeteries and mourning houses, and dehumanizing language in media coverage. We start with how Şilan comes to work on this topic, then look at how this violence manifests in Turkey historically and today. We discuss what has happened to (PKK) guerrilla graves and cemeteries since the 1990s, including the removal of bodies from Garzan Cemetery in 2017. Finally, we turn to who else is affected beyond guerrillas, and the ongoing search for the disappeared, including the weekly vigils at Galatasaray Square. You can read some of Şilan's work on this topic and other interesting areas here. Host: Sushobhan Parida Guest: Şilan Bingöl Audio Edit: Marta Lučić Graphic Design: An Amargi Production, 2026 About The Amargi: The Amargi is a grassroots-funded online media outlet established by a group of journalists, activists, and academics based in Europe. We are independent from any commercial and political influence, and our donors support us because their democratic values align with our editorial policy. The Amargi’s spotlight is on Kurdistan, but we also focus on Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Iran, as well as the broader Middle East. In a region where undemocratic regimes, foreign intervention, and powerful corporations determine the political discourse and suppress self-determination, dissent, and diversity, we aspire to be a powerful voice for those rendered powerless and voiceless. “Amargi”, a Sumerian word, is regarded as the first known written word for “freedom”. If you want to support and help expand The Amargi by becoming a donor, please visit: https://www.theamargi.com/donate | |||
| Iran's long fight over the Hijab with Mahtab Mahboub | 18 août 2026 | 00:37:01 | |
Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. In this episode, we're looking at the history of compulsory hijab in Iran, from the first protests against it in 1979 to the crackdowns we're seeing today. I'm joined by Mahtab Mahboub, a contributor to our Iran desk at The Amargi. We'll trace how enforcement has changed over the decades, what really shifted after the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, and where this struggle stands now, with the new hijab law suspended but pressure on women and businesses continuing. Host: Sushobhan Parida Guest: Mahtab Mahboub Audio Edit: Marta Lučić Graphic Design: An Amargi Production, 2026 About The Amargi: The Amargi is a grassroots-funded online media outlet established by a group of journalists, activists, and academics based in Europe. We are independent from any commercial and political influence, and our donors support us because their democratic values align with our editorial policy. The Amargi’s spotlight is on Kurdistan, but we also focus on Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Iran, as well as the broader Middle East. In a region where undemocratic regimes, foreign intervention, and powerful corporations determine the political discourse and suppress self-determination, dissent, and diversity, we aspire to be a powerful voice for those rendered powerless and voiceless. “Amargi”, a Sumerian word, is regarded as the first known written word for “freedom”. If you want to support and help expand The Amargi by becoming a donor, please visit: https://www.theamargi.com/donate | |||
| New party, new peace law: Is Turkish politics being remade? with Serap Güneş | 11 août 2026 | 00:16:34 | |
Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. In this episode of the Lines on a Map podcast, we welcome back Serap Güneş from our Turkey desk. Since the last time we spoke to her, politics in Turkey has been very eventful. A new Kurdish Framework Law is being introduced to Parliament on the day of recording, and there is a new kid on the block in Turkish politics, although it seems to be doing quite well for its young age. I talk to Serap about these developments in order to understand them better. Host: Sushobhan Parida Guest: Serap Güneş Audio Edit: Marta Lučić Graphic Design: An Amargi Production, 2026 About The Amargi: The Amargi is a grassroots-funded online media outlet established by a group of journalists, activists, and academics based in Europe. We are independent from any commercial and political influence, and our donors support us because their democratic values align with our editorial policy. The Amargi’s spotlight is on Kurdistan, but we also focus on Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Iran, as well as the broader Middle East. In a region where undemocratic regimes, foreign intervention, and powerful corporations determine the political discourse and suppress self-determination, dissent, and diversity, we aspire to be a powerful voice for those rendered powerless and voiceless. “Amargi”, a Sumerian word, is regarded as the first known written word for “freedom”. If you want to support and help expand The Amargi by becoming a donor, please visit: https://www.theamargi.com/donate | |||
| The logic(s) of Iran's Nuclear Program with Sara Kermanian | 04 août 2026 | 00:35:07 | |
Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. In this episode of the Lines on a Map podcast, we interview Sara Kermanian, our contributor for our Iran desk, and a research scholar in international relations and transnational politics. We talk about how Iran's nuclear program developed over the years, the purposes it serves for the Islamic Republic, the degree of support it has within Iran, and the possible ways ahead to deter the further nuclear armament of the state. Host: Sushobhan Parida Guest: Sara Kermanian Audio Edit: Marta Lučić Graphic Design: An Amargi Production, 2026 About The Amargi: The Amargi is a grassroots-funded online media outlet established by a group of journalists, activists, and academics based in Europe. We are independent from any commercial and political influence, and our donors support us because their democratic values align with our editorial policy. The Amargi’s spotlight is on Kurdistan, but we also focus on Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Iran, as well as the broader Middle East. In a region where undemocratic regimes, foreign intervention, and powerful corporations determine the political discourse and suppress self-determination, dissent, and diversity, we aspire to be a powerful voice for those rendered powerless and voiceless. “Amargi”, a Sumerian word, is regarded as the first known written word for “freedom”. If you want to support and help expand The Amargi by becoming a donor, please visit: https://www.theamargi.com/donate | |||
| Iraq's anti-corruption crackdown with Renwar Najm | 28 juil. 2026 | 00:29:43 | |
Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. In this episode of the Lines on a Map podcast, we dive deep into the recent anti-corruption drive in Iraq initiated by new President Ali al-Zaidi. We talk to our Iraq correspondent, Renwar Najm, about the state of corruption in Iraq, how Iraqis view the recent anti-corruption efforts, and also take a deeper look at the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). Host: Sushobhan Parida Guest: Renwar Najm Audio Edit: Marta Lučić Graphic Design: An Amargi Production, 2026 About The Amargi: The Amargi is a grassroots-funded online media outlet established by a group of journalists, activists, and academics based in Europe. We are independent from any commercial and political influence, and our donors support us because their democratic values align with our editorial policy. The Amargi’s spotlight is on Kurdistan, but we also focus on Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Iran, as well as the broader Middle East. In a region where undemocratic regimes, foreign intervention, and powerful corporations determine the political discourse and suppress self-determination, dissent, and diversity, we aspire to be a powerful voice for those rendered powerless and voiceless. “Amargi”, a Sumerian word, is regarded as the first known written word for “freedom”. If you want to support and help expand The Amargi by becoming a donor, please visit: https://www.theamargi.com/donate | |||
| Magical Realism and Kurdish Mythology with Jîl Şwanî | 21 juil. 2026 | 00:30:20 | |
Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. In this episode of the Lines on a Map podcast, we talk with our Editor, Jîl Şwanî, and talk to him about his upcoming book, My Name is a Dream. We also talk about the magical realism that the book draws from, and Kurdish mythology and its role in shaping Kurdish identity. You can subscribe to Jîl's Substack here. Host: Sushobhan Parida Guest: Serap Gunes Audio Edit: Marta Lučić Graphic Design: An Amargi Production, 2026 About The Amargi: The Amargi is a grassroots-funded online media outlet established by a group of journalists, activists, and academics based in Europe. We are independent from any commercial and political influence, and our donors support us because their democratic values align with our editorial policy. The Amargi’s spotlight is on Kurdistan, but we also focus on Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Iran, as well as the broader Middle East. In a region where undemocratic regimes, foreign intervention, and powerful corporations determine the political discourse and suppress self-determination, dissent, and diversity, we aspire to be a powerful voice for those rendered powerless and voiceless. “Amargi”, a Sumerian word, is regarded as the first known written word for “freedom”. If you want to support and help expand The Amargi by becoming a donor, please visit: https://www.theamargi.com/donate | |||
| Suwayda Massacres of July 2025 with Soha Ezzi | 14 juil. 2026 | 00:26:38 | |
Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. In this episode of the Lines on a Map podcast, we turn our attention to Suwayda, in Syria, where one year ago, Syrian armed forces and their allies carried out a military operation that left over 1,700 people dead and many more displaced. We talk with Soha Ezzi, our Syria Correspondent, who gives us a deep insight into how the massacres unfolded, and how the Druze people in Suwayda have been coping with it in the year since then. Host: Sushobhan Parida Guest: Soha Ezzi Audio Edit: Marta Lučić Graphic Design: An Amargi Production, 2026 About The Amargi: The Amargi is a grassroots-funded online media outlet established by a group of journalists, activists, and academics based in Europe. We are independent from any commercial and political influence, and our donors support us because their democratic values align with our editorial policy. The Amargi’s spotlight is on Kurdistan, but we also focus on Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Iran, as well as the broader Middle East. In a region where undemocratic regimes, foreign intervention, and powerful corporations determine the political discourse and suppress self-determination, dissent, and diversity, we aspire to be a powerful voice for those rendered powerless and voiceless. “Amargi”, a Sumerian word, is regarded as the first known written word for “freedom”. If you want to support and help expand The Amargi by becoming a donor, please visit: https://www.theamargi.com/donate | |||
| Opposition politics in Turkey with Serap Güneş | 07 juil. 2026 | 00:21:38 | |
Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. In this episode, I talk with our Turkey correspondent, Serap Gunes, about the current happenings with the Turkish Opposition Party, the CHP, and why the Kurdish question in the country has implications for Turkish democracy itself. Host: Sushobhan Parida Guest: Serap Gunes Audio Edit: Marta Lučić Graphic Design: An Amargi Production, 2026 About The Amargi: The Amargi is a grassroots-funded online media outlet established by a group of journalists, activists, and academics based in Europe. We are independent from any commercial and political influence, and our donors support us because their democratic values align with our editorial policy. The Amargi’s spotlight is on Kurdistan, but we also focus on Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Iran, as well as the broader Middle East. In a region where undemocratic regimes, foreign intervention, and powerful corporations determine the political discourse and suppress self-determination, dissent, and diversity, we aspire to be a powerful voice for those rendered powerless and voiceless. “Amargi”, a Sumerian word, is regarded as the first known written word for “freedom”. If you want to support and help expand The Amargi by becoming a donor, please visit: https://www.theamargi.com/donate | |||
| What is The Amargi? with Kamal Chomani | 30 juin 2026 | 00:41:09 | |
Hey! I'd love to hear your thoughts, send me a voice note. In this first episode, I catch up with The Amargi's Editor-in-Chief, Kamal Chomani, to discuss how The Amargi was conceived, the challenges it faces, and the values it stands for. Host: Sushobhan Parida Guest: Kamal Chomani Audio Edit: Marta Lučić Graphic Design: An Amargi Production, 2026 About The Amargi: The Amargi is a grassroots-funded online media outlet established by a group of journalists, activists, and academics based in Europe. We are independent from any commercial and political influence, and our donors support us because their democratic values align with our editorial policy. The Amargi’s spotlight is on Kurdistan, but we also focus on Turkey, Iraq, Syria, and Iran, as well as the broader Middle East. In a region where undemocratic regimes, foreign intervention, and powerful corporations determine the political discourse and suppress self-determination, dissent, and diversity, we aspire to be a powerful voice for those rendered powerless and voiceless. “Amargi”, a Sumerian word, is regarded as the first known written word for “freedom”. If you want to support and help expand The Amargi by becoming a donor, please visit: https://www.theamargi.com/donate | |||