UK £2 Issue 251, Year 6 April 5, 2020 EU €2.50 www.thearabweekly.com Digital Iraq’s political Sudan’s security transformation woes predicament in the Gulf Page 10 Page 3 Page 9 Accusations to Tehran in killing of dissident add to Turkey-Iran tensions Iran and Turkey are both pursuing aggressive policies aimed at expanding their influence in North Africa and the Middle East, whether through direct military involvement or through regional proxies. Thomas Seibert in Syria and Turkey buys natural gas from Iran, tensions are never far from (Reuters) the surface. Erdogan accused Iran of Istanbul trying to “dominate the region” in the past. Region struggles to cope with the pandemic tatements by Turkish officials The latest spat between the two linking Tehran’s intelligence countries came on February 29, when he Iraqi man pictured above 85,000 cases of the virus and been extended or tightened in most agency to the killing of an Ira- Iran’s Military Advisory Centre (MAC) reflects on the ambivalent 4,000 deaths in the Middle East parts of the Arab world, including S nian dissident in Istanbul form in Syria, a body thought to be linked attitude of many in the as of April 2, including more than Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Besides the latest twist in escalating tensions to the Quds Force of the Islamic T Arab world towards the 3,400 deaths in Iran. Public health preparing for the health situation between Turkey and Iran over the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), COVID-19 pandemic. While he sits experts fear a massive spread of to worsen, governments are taking conflict in Syria. accused Turkish troops in the Syr- in downtown Baghdad amid a cur- the pandemic in refugee camps measures to shield their economies Masoud Molavi Vardanjani was ian province of Idlib of targeting pro- few imposed by the authorities, he and war-stricken countries such as and provide assistance to vulner- shot dead on an Istanbul street on Iranian fighters there. News reports uses gloves and a protective mask. Syria and Yemen. able segments of society. November 14, 2019. Citing Turkish quoted the MAC statement as warn- According to news agency As casualties mount, curfews and officials, Reuters last week reported ing that Turkish soldiers were “in the counts, there have been about other confinement measures have Extensive coverage pages 2-12 that two intelligence officers in Iran’s range” of Iranian weapons and that consulate in Istanbul had instigated “we could have easily taken revenge his killing. on them for the bombardment of our Ali Fathollah-Nejad, a visiting fel- Turkish firms on drone projects. They incident. The United States on April 1 ac- bases.” low at the Brookings Doha Centre, claimed he had approached the Unit- A week after the killing, US Secre- cused Iran’s Ministry of Intelli- The Turkish news agency Anadolu said the fact the accusations against ed States and European countries to tary of State Mike Pompeo had de- gence and Security (MOIS) of being reported that Turkish military ac- Iran in the Vardanjani case were work for them. scribed it as “another tragic example directly involved in the killing of tion in Idlib had killed “31 Shia mili- made public by Turkish authorities One Iranian source said Vardanjani in a long string of suspected Iran- Vardanjani. tias, including one Iranian national, pointed to political background. published documents online that he backed assassination attempts” of “Given Iran’s history of targeted 9 Hezbollah militias and 21 from “The timing of this revelation by had either hacked or obtained from Iranian dissidents. assassinations of Iranian dissidents the Fatemiyoun and Zainabiyoun senior Turkish officials might signal contacts in Iran and ignored requests Pompeo said in a tweet that he and the methods used in Turkey, the brigades.” Ankara’s willingness to put public/ to contact the Iranian Embassy in found disturbing the reports that Ira- United States government believes Experts said Turkey was particu- international pressure on Tehran at Ankara, instead meeting Americans. nian diplomats were involved in the that Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence larly frustrated by the role of pro-Iran a time when both sides have been The source gave no details on the killing of the dissident but that they and Security (MOIS) was directly militias in support of Russia-backed clashing over Syria,” Fathollah-Nejad documents or meetings. were “fully consistent” with their as- involved in Vardanjani’s killing,” a Syrian government troops fighting wrote on Twitter. The second Iranian source said Var- signments. senior administration official told jihadist rebels backed by Turkey in Turkish government officials did danjani had been warned about his “Iran’s ‘diplomats’ are agents of Reuters. Idlib. not respond to a request for a com- contacts with foreign diplomats. terror and have conducted multiple Turkey is a sponsor of loyal militias Iran and Turkey are both pursuing ment on the Vardanjani case. The US statement about the Var- assassinations and bomb plots in Eu- and Sunni militants fighting against aggressive policies aimed at expand- Talking to Reuters, two Iranian danjani murder gave an additional rope over the past decade,” Pompeo Syria’s government while Iran pro- ing their influence in North Africa and security sources implicitly con- boost to Turkey’s accusations. said. vides Shia fighters supporting the the Middle East, whether through di- firmed Tehran’s involvement say- The United States had not previ- government. Even though Ankara rect military involvement or through ing Vardanjani had defied a warning ously disclosed its assessment on Thomas Seibert is a correspondent and Tehran cooperate with Russia regional proxies. from the IRGC not to cooperate with who might have been behind the for The Arab Weekly in Istanbul. Radio Karantina brings solace to listeners on days of lockdown Samar Kadi tina may perhaps be a space where words from Marguerite Duras and brought together musicians, artists tos: “Stay safe and play sounds” and a harmonious voyage outside the Delphine Seyrig and other sound and individuals who are currently at “Stay safe and stay tuned.” confines of our walls can happen,” sources such as Lebanese jingles. home in self-isolation. “It is a beautiful link that is being Beirut he said. “I went online on the first day of “It (Radio Karantina) has created created among people. Some have Radio Karantina first began trans- total lockdown in Lebanon. Since a virtual community where people been sending videos of themselves rom the confinement of his mission on March 15, mixing music I am a DJ, I thought why not share are happy to listen to music. I have dancing on the balcony with their room in Beirut, Lebanese with film excerpts, video clips and some of my music with relatives so many requests on the Instagram neighbours across the street doing DJ Nasri Sayegh is shar- and friends whom I am not able to page from people in Yemen who the same or working at home. F ing his special music mixes welcome at home. It was like open- want to hear old vintage sounds “Music has always been an in- through online Radio Karantina, ing a window to spread music to the from Yemen. I also have requests tegral part of society, whether which he set up to bring some joy to people I love,” Sayegh said. from Tehran, Istanbul, Palestine et through ritualistic communal prac- the millions of people on lockdown The enthusiastic engagement cetera… It is just great.” tices, times of joy and sorrow or as a across the globe and encourage with Radio Karantina rapidly grew. However, Radio Karantina is not means of expression,” Sayegh said. them to stay at home and stay safe. “It was a hit,” Sayegh said. “First meant for mere entertainment, Listeners can tune in daily on the “From Beirut to the world and I thought I would share daily mixes Sayegh explained. Radio Karantina Soundcloud page, vice-versa Radio Karantina is a pro- from myself, but the day after I was “It is rather aimed to encour- as well as via Facebook and Insta- ject that conjures together music, happily hijacked by friends and age people to continue to create gram under the same handle. stories and images from quaran- people who wanted to share their while sitting at home, to think and Find Radio Karantina on: tine during the exceptional times own music, intimate playlists and meditate because what’s happening Soundcloud: https://soundcloud. the world is currently witnessing,” podcasts from wherever they are in today is terrible, and it is an oppor- com/radiokarantina Sayegh said. the world.” tunity to slow down and to rethink Instagram: https://www.insta- “It is something to listen and The material uploaded on Insta- our whole humanity, post isolation, gram.com/radiokarantina/ dance to in the comfort of our gram, Facebook and Sound Cloud and I hope we don’t simply go back Facebook: https://www.facebook. homes. The practice of self-isolating is being curated by Sayegh as well to our old ‘normal’ lives.” com/radiokarantina is a test of our times, when walls, as music lovers confined in Bei- The radio’s main purpose is to streets and towns await life anew. Radio Karantina logo. rut, Berlin, Baltimore and Mon- invite people to stay home, for the Samar Kadi is The Arab Weekly In this waiting room, Radio Karan- (Nasri Sayegh) treal, among others. The radio also good of all, and it has two main mot- Travel and Society section editor. 2 April 5, 2020 Top news Egypt steps up battle UN urges ceasefire in to prevent spread Yemen over looming of COVID-19 pandemic COVID-19 threat The Arab Weekly staff Ahmed Megahid health authorities.