SOAS in the Media: September 2025

Gaza, Israel, and the UN

• Dr Nimer Sultany provided insight and comment to BBC News in an article examining Israel's military operation in Gaza and proportionality.
• Dr Sultany was also interviewed by Channel 4 News and shared insight with Arab News following the United Nations commission of inquiry stating Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
• Professor Hagar Kotef wrote for The Conversation, delving into the accounts of Israeli doctors revealing their conflicted stories of treating Palestinian prisoners at the notorious ‘black site’ Sde Teiman.
• Dr Yair Wallach spoke to German based publication ND on the term ‘Intifada’ in regard to Israel and Gaza.

International relations across the West and Global South

• Dr Nick Westcott spoke to LBC News and German News programme ARD to discuss US president Donald Trump’s forthcoming visit to the UK.
• Dr Westcott also featured on LBC News discussing NATO’s response to relations between China and Russia.

The re-openings into enquiries around the death of Steve Biko

• SOAS Vice Chancellor Adam Habib reflected on the life of South African anti-apartheid activist Steve Biko, with BBC Radio 4’s ‘Today’ programme as an investigation is to be re-opened into Biko’s death. 

Bangladesh’s ‘missing billions’

• Professor Mushtaq Khan featured in a new documentary with The Financial Times – charting Bangladesh’s ‘missing billions’ during the 15-year tenure of prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

More on the effects of unexploded weaponry on the environment

• Additional insights from Dr Sarah Njeri were included in an article from The Conversation on unexploded weaponry and its effects on the environment.

The value of academic research and academic freedoms

• Professor Naomi Hossain wrote for Bangladeshi publication Prothom Alo on the importance of academic research and academic freedoms. 

Politics in Indonesia

• Dr Soe Tjien Marching with Indonesian based publication Tirto, wrote an open letter to the country’s Former Minister of Finance, Sri Mulyani.

Legacies of music in Nigeria

• Professor Lucy Durán featured on BBC World Service’s ‘The History Hour’ to discuss the musical legacy of Nigeria’s Festac’77 festival.

The life of Salama Binti Rubeya

• Dr Ida Hadjivayanis’s book ‘Salama Binti Rubeya: Memories from the Swahili Littoral’ was reviewed by Tanzanian publication The Citizen.

The effects of unexploded weaponry on the environment

• Dr Sarah Njeri wrote for in The Conversation on the adverse effects of unexploded weaponry on the environment.

Relations between China, North Korea and Russia

• Director of the SOAS China Institute Professor Steve Tsang spoke to The Wall Street Journal and Central News Agency Taiwan on the divisions surrounding relations between China, North Korea and Russia.
• Dr James Hoare from SOAS’s Centre of Korean Studies wrote for The Conversation on the key takeaways from North Korea’s attendance at the recent Beijing summit.

Gaza and the international pressures on Israel

• Dr Dina Matar wrote for Scene 48 on the act of Memorcide taking place in Gaza.
• Emeritus Professor Gilbert Achcar’s works which provides analysis of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, was covered by French publication L’ Humanite.
• Maria Gloria Polimeno from the SOAS Middle East Institute was interviewed by South China Morning Post, discussing the increasing international pressure on Israel to end the Gaza war.
• Professor Rebecca Gould wrote for The New Arab on the famine in Gaza, addressing Israel and the narratives taken in the media.

Making India's cities safer 

• Professor Sanjay Srivastava spoke to German publication DW on what more is required in regard to the safety of women in India.

Liberation in Indonesia

• Dr Soe Tjen Marching was interviewed by Nikkei Asia on Ethnic Chinese Indonesians welcoming a new era of feeling liberated after escaping unrest.

Sharia Law in the UK

• Professor Samia Bano provided insight to The Daily Telegraph surrounding on a Sharia Law job posting from The Department for Work and Pensions.

More on the myth of ‘good AI’

• Professor Arshin Adib-Moghaddam was interviewed by E-International Relations, surrounding the myth of ‘good AI’.

K-Pop on the big screen 

• Dr Cholong Sung wrote for The Conversation to provide insights on the hit film, K Pop Demon Hunters.

Politics in the Global South

• Dr Soe Tjen Marching Wrote for The Conversation to provide insight into the political fractures in Indonesia.
• Teaching Assistant Dr Nidah Kaiser wrote for Indian-based publication Scroll.In on the legal restrictions surrounding social media use in the Uttarakhand region of the country.
• Professor Mushtaq Khan featured in an article from the Bangladesh-based Business Standard and The Daily Star, alongside a expert panel on the country’s need for political reform.

The latest on China’s SCO summit and relations with North Korea 

• Director of the SOAS China Institute Professor Steve Tsang spoke to The Washington Post and featured on BBC World Service, Times Radio, CNN, Al Jazeera, DW News, France24, ABC News, Newsweek, NBC News and other publications to share insights on China’s international relations at the SCO summit.
• Professor Hazel Smith was interviewed by BBC Radio 4's 'Today Programme' and BBC World Service on the intentions of North Korea’s relations with China, as Kim Jong Un made a recent visit to Beijing for the Victory Day parade.
• Professor Tsang also spoke to Sky News on the happening of Beijing’s Victory Day parade. 

Gaza and the ICJ genocide case

• As the UN confirms famine in Gaza, Dr Nimer Sultany addresses what's next for South Africa’s genocide case against Israel in the South African publication Ground Up. 

Changes in international politics and diplomacy

• SOAS Vice Chancellor Adam Habib wrote for The Conversation on South Africa’s approach to global politics.
• Dr Nick Westcott wrote for The Conversation on international diplomacy and what it means when an ambassador is summoned by the host government in whose country they are working.
• Dr Westcott also featured on South African Radio station 702 to discuss Burkina Faso’s wider relations with both Russia and France.

Developments across Africa 

• Professor Phil Clark was interviewed by RFI on Rwanda accepting refugees and asylum seekers from the US.

China’s Yun-Gui cuisine

• Dr Jakob Klein provided insight to South China Morning Post on the growing popularity of China’s Yun-Gui cuisine.

Insights on investments and ESG

• Professor Daniela Gabor featured in Italian publication L’Espresso on approaches to investments across Europe.
• Professor Jakob Thomä wrote for Responsible Investor on what the “degrowth narrative” means for ESG.