1 00:00:01,290 --> 00:00:16,799 [Music] 2 00:00:12,799 --> 00:00:16,799 okay I 3 00:00:17,750 --> 00:00:30,769 [Music] 4 00:00:34,879 --> 00:00:40,120 welcome to Sputnik orbiting the new year 5 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:43,160 new world we hope with me George 6 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:45,800 Galloway and me gri one of the saddest 7 00:00:43,160 --> 00:00:49,239 of the features of what has happened to 8 00:00:45,800 --> 00:00:51,800 the great Arab civilization in Syria is 9 00:00:49,239 --> 00:00:55,079 the brain drain with surgeons and 10 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:58,079 scientists taking to rubber Inflatables 11 00:00:55,079 --> 00:01:00,239 to leave behind their ancient Society 12 00:00:58,079 --> 00:01:02,840 perhaps forever 13 00:01:00,239 --> 00:01:05,600 Dr Ahmed Al kadur is the antidote to 14 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:08,320 that as a Syrian surgeon he lives and 15 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:10,920 works in Damascus and Pops over here for 16 00:01:08,320 --> 00:01:14,360 a few weeks at the time to keep his hand 17 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:17,960 in at the NHS and refueled goes back to 18 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:21,799 Syria to Brave the bullets and the bombs 19 00:01:17,960 --> 00:01:25,520 I must say doctor in welcoming you back 20 00:01:21,799 --> 00:01:28,600 on board the Sputnik I I cannot hide my 21 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:31,000 admiration and respect for a man who 22 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:33,759 could easily be be living in London and 23 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:35,920 working in the NHS have a safe and good 24 00:01:33,759 --> 00:01:38,360 life but who nonetheless has clung 25 00:01:35,920 --> 00:01:42,159 through all of this Carnage over the 26 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:46,159 last Almost 5 years now so that out of 27 00:01:42,159 --> 00:01:48,880 the way tell us how things are for you 28 00:01:46,159 --> 00:01:51,159 and your family and the millions of 29 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:54,240 people who are living in Syria through 30 00:01:51,159 --> 00:01:56,399 this hill first of all uh I would like 31 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:59,360 to thank you both very much for this 32 00:01:56,399 --> 00:02:03,280 opportun opportunity again I have to say 33 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:05,320 I'm honored to be on your show again and 34 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:08,800 uh much of a greeting from all my 35 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:11,720 colleagues to you to my friends here in 36 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:14,800 UK uh it's been to be honest with you is 37 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:18,560 a nightmare to live in this situation in 38 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:23,160 Syria every day you can hear a bombing 39 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:27,760 or or suicide bombing uh killing 20 30 40 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:31,760 people uh eastern part of Damascus 41 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:35,599 uh on daily basis been hit by 20 30 42 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:39,080 mortars from suburb of Damascus where 43 00:02:35,599 --> 00:02:40,080 the rebels hold the area and holding too 44 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:43,760 many 45 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:46,480 civilians and the Army could not advance 46 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:48,640 to liberate this area because of a lot 47 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:50,760 of civilians 48 00:02:48,640 --> 00:02:53,959 sieged in these 49 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:57,959 areas at the top of that the economy 50 00:02:53,959 --> 00:03:00,599 crisis is getting worse the currency 51 00:02:57,959 --> 00:03:04,920 Syrian currency losing its value before 52 00:03:00,599 --> 00:03:08,440 the crisis when when US dollar was worth 53 00:03:04,920 --> 00:03:11,560 50 Syrian pound now it's about 400 the 54 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:16,040 acceler did not increase to such extent 55 00:03:11,560 --> 00:03:18,319 so everybody is struggling to to get the 56 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:22,640 basic for his 57 00:03:18,319 --> 00:03:26,080 family uh so uh is not easy life I have 58 00:03:22,640 --> 00:03:29,360 to say now we're living in dark days I 59 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:31,280 have to say and what the morale of the 60 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:34,560 people in all of 61 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:35,480 this well people they desperate to find 62 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:38,120 a 63 00:03:35,480 --> 00:03:41,319 solution desperate for this war to end 64 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:42,720 by anyway this this war claimed more 65 00:03:41,319 --> 00:03:46,000 than 66 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:49,120 300,000 deaths so far I have to say 67 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:53,400 million disabled and million 68 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:57,239 displaced so Syrian people everybody is 69 00:03:53,400 --> 00:04:01,159 desperate for this to end I'd love to 70 00:03:57,239 --> 00:04:03,879 see this Ending by tomorrow 71 00:04:01,159 --> 00:04:05,400 uh I have to say a lot of 72 00:04:03,879 --> 00:04:07,920 people 73 00:04:05,400 --> 00:04:10,840 especially uh targeted minorities they 74 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:14,319 feel possibly they it's War for their 75 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:17,600 existence in that area that's why so 76 00:04:14,319 --> 00:04:20,400 Christian minorities 77 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:22,680 Al they basically got their backs to the 78 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:25,520 war yeah got back to the war they feel 79 00:04:22,680 --> 00:04:28,639 because their existence is in danger 80 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:31,120 Syria was the very best place to be a 81 00:04:28,639 --> 00:04:34,000 Christian in the Arab world I myself 82 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:37,320 have visited many of the churches 83 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:40,919 Cathedrals monasteries convents and the 84 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:44,639 pris way in which all these places were 85 00:04:40,919 --> 00:04:47,759 preserved and kept and the honor given 86 00:04:44,639 --> 00:04:51,039 to the Christian people ancient the 87 00:04:47,759 --> 00:04:53,360 first Christians uh was something that 88 00:04:51,039 --> 00:04:55,479 no visitor whatever their view of the 89 00:04:53,360 --> 00:05:00,080 government in Damascus could 90 00:04:55,479 --> 00:05:02,720 deny uh and of course in Iraq the Chris 91 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:06,639 population has been 92 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:08,880 decimated uh more than decimated half of 93 00:05:06,639 --> 00:05:12,560 all the Christians in Iraq are no longer 94 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:17,080 there they're either dead or in headlong 95 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:19,360 flight yeah uh and yet the Christian 96 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:22,479 politicians in the west who are always 97 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:25,080 telling us how Christian they are uh 98 00:05:22,479 --> 00:05:27,840 appear unmoved by that how does that 99 00:05:25,080 --> 00:05:30,960 feel to the Syrian 100 00:05:27,840 --> 00:05:33,560 Christians well I got too many uh 101 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:38,199 Christian friends they are very worried 102 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:40,440 and possibly uh um more half of them who 103 00:05:38,199 --> 00:05:44,319 found an opportunity outside Syria they 104 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:47,520 moved already uh before this war started 105 00:05:44,319 --> 00:05:51,039 uh we were living in harmony all Syrian 106 00:05:47,520 --> 00:05:56,919 people nobody talk about religions or or 107 00:05:51,039 --> 00:05:59,880 or uh about I am Muslim Sunni or ala or 108 00:05:56,919 --> 00:06:03,360 Jews or Christian nobody talk about this 109 00:05:59,880 --> 00:06:07,120 everybody lives in harmony uh but uh as 110 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:11,160 soon as this problem started and this 111 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:18,400 teir mentality enter our society and 112 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:21,039 this tefy uh uh Works killing K napping 113 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:24,240 targeting these minorities this start to 114 00:06:21,039 --> 00:06:26,360 spark and this fear start to grow these 115 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:28,639 Christian leaders and they called 116 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:30,720 themselves Christian leaders I I myself 117 00:06:28,639 --> 00:06:33,240 never considered were acting on behalf 118 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:35,479 of Christianity real Christians believe 119 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:37,080 in the prophets peace be upon them they 120 00:06:35,479 --> 00:06:39,240 believed in the prophets and how it get 121 00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:42,080 a bigger piece of them but of course 122 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:43,960 most of the people in Syria especially 123 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:48,120 if you say half the Christians have 124 00:06:43,960 --> 00:06:50,360 already fled uh are equally 125 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:54,639 contemplating what life could possibly 126 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:56,800 be like under Isis and alqa and the 127 00:06:54,639 --> 00:06:59,160 other extremist 128 00:06:56,800 --> 00:07:01,479 organizations uh I know Syria very well 129 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:06,039 I know the Syrian people very well they 130 00:07:01,479 --> 00:07:08,879 could never live under this kind of uh 131 00:07:06,039 --> 00:07:12,479 ruler the idea of these black flags 132 00:07:08,879 --> 00:07:15,560 flying in Damascus that really is a 133 00:07:12,479 --> 00:07:19,639 nightmare well I I think one of the goal 134 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:22,680 of this war is distort the picture of 135 00:07:19,639 --> 00:07:26,000 Islam they wanted to give a picture of 136 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:27,800 the Islam is equal to uh 137 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:32,639 extremism uh 138 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:35,199 murder uh as I said behead beheaded uh 139 00:07:32,639 --> 00:07:37,879 people so that's not real picture of 140 00:07:35,199 --> 00:07:40,479 Islam so one of the goal is to destore 141 00:07:37,879 --> 00:07:41,360 the picture of Islam one of the goal of 142 00:07:40,479 --> 00:07:44,960 this 143 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:49,080 picture uh a lot of people who cannot 144 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:53,000 tolerate living under these rules even 145 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:55,400 Sunni people uh displaced to to 146 00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:57,639 government area they live in harmony so 147 00:07:55,400 --> 00:08:01,319 far in the government control area in 148 00:07:57,639 --> 00:08:05,000 Latakia you can see a lot of raiji uh 149 00:08:01,319 --> 00:08:08,000 moved from Raa alipo and they moved 150 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:13,159 still in harmony normal life in Latakia 151 00:08:08,000 --> 00:08:16,800 in tus with their brothers uh other ala 152 00:08:13,159 --> 00:08:19,840 white or or or Christian whatever so as 153 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:23,919 I said to you this this war targeted the 154 00:08:19,840 --> 00:08:27,319 Syrian Society very clever uh they 155 00:08:23,919 --> 00:08:29,240 wanted to destroy uh the Islam 156 00:08:27,319 --> 00:08:32,440 instruction Real Islam instruction to 157 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:37,159 live in Harmony in peace 158 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:39,680 so um doctor I'm interested in how a to 159 00:08:37,159 --> 00:08:43,120 understand how a hospital functions 160 00:08:39,680 --> 00:08:45,760 under during a war and under bombardment 161 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:48,279 under the continuous threat of 162 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:51,600 terrorism um George spoke about the 163 00:08:48,279 --> 00:08:54,680 brain drain do you in your workplace 164 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:57,480 experience the the the losses of doctors 165 00:08:54,680 --> 00:08:59,480 and nurses going away and is there what 166 00:08:57,480 --> 00:09:03,279 is the substitute for that are there 167 00:08:59,480 --> 00:09:06,279 perhaps Charities and NOS that Supply 168 00:09:03,279 --> 00:09:08,920 the wh perhaps how does that work 169 00:09:06,279 --> 00:09:11,760 unfortunately we losing uh human 170 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:14,800 resources on daily basis in my 171 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:17,680 Hospital uh people wanted to live in 172 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:22,399 peace first of all they wanted their 173 00:09:17,680 --> 00:09:26,560 basic life so uh unfortunately uh we 174 00:09:22,399 --> 00:09:28,920 losing a lot of uh experts from my place 175 00:09:26,560 --> 00:09:30,839 and other places on daily basis we 176 00:09:28,920 --> 00:09:34,240 managed to recruit 177 00:09:30,839 --> 00:09:36,800 Replacements uh for these uh 178 00:09:34,240 --> 00:09:39,079 people uh a lot of 179 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:42,680 people uh they don't want to move they 180 00:09:39,079 --> 00:09:45,279 insist to stay they they they staying 181 00:09:42,680 --> 00:09:48,360 we're trying to keep our uh Health 182 00:09:45,279 --> 00:09:50,680 System uh United and and working 183 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:55,160 efficiently to some extent I cannot 184 00:09:50,680 --> 00:09:59,480 compare it how it was and how it it is 185 00:09:55,160 --> 00:10:03,160 uh at the current time uh as I said uh 186 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:06,160 health system was very good uh before 187 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:10,079 this crisis as a result of this crisis 188 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:13,680 we got a lot of difficulties to do uh 189 00:10:10,079 --> 00:10:16,519 with uh lack of Human Resources uh lack 190 00:10:13,680 --> 00:10:18,880 of uh equipment yeah it's what I sayal 191 00:10:16,519 --> 00:10:22,240 Supply yeah sanctions affected the 192 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:24,360 health system very badly uh the the 193 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:27,240 equipment which we could afford to pay 194 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:29,360 it four years ago now we could not 195 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:32,680 afford to buy the same equipment we have 196 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:35,360 to to to find alternative a cheaper one 197 00:10:32,680 --> 00:10:37,279 uh to keep uh working 198 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:38,800 efficiently now 199 00:10:37,279 --> 00:10:42,839 the 200 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:46,399 narrative from my side of the political 201 00:10:42,839 --> 00:10:49,560 argument over Syria often stresses the 202 00:10:46,399 --> 00:10:51,959 number of foreign Invaders who are 203 00:10:49,560 --> 00:10:55,839 involved in this dirty war and to be 204 00:10:51,959 --> 00:10:58,920 sure there are tens of thousands of such 205 00:10:55,839 --> 00:11:01,120 foreigners but I'm sorry to say that 206 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:04,000 there are many syrians involved in this 207 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:07,040 dirty war also and when it's over and I 208 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:09,120 do believe that the tide has turned I do 209 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:13,440 believe this is going to be a better New 210 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:16,560 Year for you uh than last new year 211 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:19,800 was uh but you're going to have to come 212 00:11:16,560 --> 00:11:22,720 to terms with the fact that many tens of 213 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:27,440 thousands of your own country men and 214 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:29,760 women uh were murdered by their 215 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:33,079 compatriots um 216 00:11:29,760 --> 00:11:36,279 have you any vision of what a post-war 217 00:11:33,079 --> 00:11:39,360 Syria might look like in that regard 218 00:11:36,279 --> 00:11:42,279 well the uh Syrian government uh pushed 219 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:44,200 for many reconciliation deals last one I 220 00:11:42,279 --> 00:11:47,880 think if you heard about in 221 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:50,079 homes uh thousand of these armed people 222 00:11:47,880 --> 00:11:54,680 they accepted just to leave their arms 223 00:11:50,079 --> 00:11:57,040 and uh they and leave and uh some people 224 00:11:54,680 --> 00:12:00,040 would like to uh get integrated back to 225 00:11:57,040 --> 00:12:02,920 our to Home Society 226 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:04,440 which has been done smoothly I think the 227 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:07,959 government is pushing for more 228 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:12,160 reconciliation deals to to to andity as 229 00:12:07,959 --> 00:12:15,199 well uh uh which has been acted uh for 230 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:17,320 these people to find a door a passway 231 00:12:15,199 --> 00:12:20,600 peaceful Pathway to get integrated back 232 00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:24,040 to society to rebuild this Society again 233 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:27,199 so that's the only hope uh if if I think 234 00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:30,320 we need to get our so Society back uh 235 00:12:27,199 --> 00:12:33,440 there should uh these people to to 236 00:12:30,320 --> 00:12:36,240 convince us after 5 years of war we 237 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:38,959 reach nothing we have to to be one 238 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:42,560 Society one serian Society look for a 239 00:12:38,959 --> 00:12:45,639 future uh look for peace uh rebuild our 240 00:12:42,560 --> 00:12:47,000 society again rebuild our uh a future 241 00:12:45,639 --> 00:12:49,959 for our 242 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:52,120 children Dr alador you're always welcome 243 00:12:49,959 --> 00:12:53,600 when you're in London to join us here 244 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:55,880 thank you much again for this 245 00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:57,320 opportunity and thank you I'm very 246 00:12:55,880 --> 00:13:00,440 honored thank you 247 00:12:57,320 --> 00:13:05,639 bye coming up next one of London's 248 00:13:00,440 --> 00:13:05,639 brightest new novelists Sor do stay 249 00:13:06,990 --> 00:13:11,560 [Music] 250 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:13,680 tuned welcome back to Sputnik domestic 251 00:13:11,560 --> 00:13:16,360 violence and violence against women 252 00:13:13,680 --> 00:13:17,600 exist within all communities but within 253 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:20,880 some it's 254 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:24,360 undercover such as the shame that is and 255 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:26,920 indeed should accompany the idea of men 256 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:29,600 beating women in some immigrant 257 00:13:26,920 --> 00:13:33,440 communities is usually shrouded in 258 00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:36,360 silence Sora dut Has Lifted the veil in 259 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:40,279 his latest novel The Butterfly room and 260 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:45,240 I'm glad to say he joins us now sort of 261 00:13:40,279 --> 00:13:48,600 you're a very hot young novelist in the 262 00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:52,079 past you've dealt with horror novels now 263 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:54,399 you've segued into real life horror 264 00:13:52,079 --> 00:13:56,519 although it's a novel it's only a novel 265 00:13:54,399 --> 00:13:59,560 because people couldn't give you their 266 00:13:56,519 --> 00:14:03,959 names and chapter and verse for a kind 267 00:13:59,560 --> 00:14:06,880 of uh nonfiction work tell us what led 268 00:14:03,959 --> 00:14:07,959 you into this and what you discovered 269 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:10,800 well thank you very much for the 270 00:14:07,959 --> 00:14:12,680 invitation today Georgian gu 3 um just 271 00:14:10,800 --> 00:14:14,920 to put this in context the World Health 272 00:14:12,680 --> 00:14:17,759 Organization statistic came out a matter 273 00:14:14,920 --> 00:14:21,199 of days ago which stated that during the 274 00:14:17,759 --> 00:14:23,440 lifetime of a woman she will be vict a 275 00:14:21,199 --> 00:14:25,680 victim of domestic violence or sexual 276 00:14:23,440 --> 00:14:27,480 abuse and that person she will be 277 00:14:25,680 --> 00:14:29,279 receiving it from will be a man that 278 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:30,839 just gives a scale of the gravity of the 279 00:14:29,279 --> 00:14:33,040 problem in this situation and what was 280 00:14:30,839 --> 00:14:35,199 the figure one in three one in three 281 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:37,360 women during their lifetime will 282 00:14:35,199 --> 00:14:40,120 experience abuse either domestic 283 00:14:37,360 --> 00:14:41,920 violence abuse or sexual abuse so it's 284 00:14:40,120 --> 00:14:43,920 really staggering it really is 285 00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:47,279 staggering what led me to this journey 286 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:48,920 was initially an account of the true 287 00:14:47,279 --> 00:14:51,680 accounts of women who have suffered 288 00:14:48,920 --> 00:14:54,199 domestic violence and sexual abuse and 289 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:56,240 this was planned to be a nonfiction book 290 00:14:54,199 --> 00:14:59,079 however such as the taboo around this 291 00:14:56,240 --> 00:15:00,880 subject and the stigmatization that a a 292 00:14:59,079 --> 00:15:03,040 lot of these ladies wish to remain 293 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:04,959 anonymous so rather than let this good 294 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:07,120 work go to waste I wanted to use their 295 00:15:04,959 --> 00:15:09,519 accounts and then put it into a novel 296 00:15:07,120 --> 00:15:11,079 form and to give back in a certain way 297 00:15:09,519 --> 00:15:13,880 which is that sales from the book would 298 00:15:11,079 --> 00:15:15,880 go to domestic violence Charities but 299 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:19,680 interestingly um I was approached 300 00:15:15,880 --> 00:15:21,560 beforehand by a Lobby of me Men actually 301 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:23,880 who felt that they were being 302 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:25,680 stigmatized by women and this was 303 00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:27,839 disproportionate they were saying that 304 00:15:25,680 --> 00:15:30,000 look the problem isn't quite as bad as 305 00:15:27,839 --> 00:15:32,279 it's made out whereas men are getting a 306 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:34,519 bad rap why don't you write for us and 307 00:15:32,279 --> 00:15:36,519 regarding putting our case forward once 308 00:15:34,519 --> 00:15:38,399 I did some very basic research on this I 309 00:15:36,519 --> 00:15:40,360 realized just how bad the problem really 310 00:15:38,399 --> 00:15:42,680 is for women and I didn't want to 311 00:15:40,360 --> 00:15:45,160 blanket that in any shape or form that's 312 00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:47,880 what led me to write this book well if 313 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:49,920 there are 7 billion people in the world 314 00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:54,399 and half of them are 315 00:15:49,920 --> 00:15:59,000 female uh and a third of those females 316 00:15:54,399 --> 00:16:02,440 will suffer either uh domestic abuse or 317 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:05,600 or sexual violence or perhaps both 318 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:07,920 that's a phenomenal number of women and 319 00:16:05,600 --> 00:16:12,560 if they're all almost all at the hands 320 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:15,880 of men it's a phenomenal number of male 321 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:18,079 criminals but probably the the men that 322 00:16:15,880 --> 00:16:20,000 are abusing are usually close to them 323 00:16:18,079 --> 00:16:22,040 yeah that's the usually the shocking 324 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:24,440 Factor behind it yeah absolutely and 325 00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:26,040 what's really troubling about all these 326 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:28,560 statistics and these accounts is the 327 00:16:26,040 --> 00:16:29,959 number of unreported incidents it's 328 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:32,560 particular particularly prevalent in 329 00:16:29,959 --> 00:16:36,079 some communities in 330 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:38,160 some societies and sectors um just think 331 00:16:36,079 --> 00:16:41,079 about those who can't bring their cases 332 00:16:38,160 --> 00:16:42,680 for fear of stigmatization or taboos and 333 00:16:41,079 --> 00:16:44,600 when you look at the totality of this 334 00:16:42,680 --> 00:16:46,920 problem um you've got to think about 335 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:49,120 those who couldn't bring their cases or 336 00:16:46,920 --> 00:16:52,160 where for example in some circles a 337 00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:55,120 certain type of abuse believe it or not 338 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:57,040 just doesn't Merit a certain threshold 339 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:58,959 um if it's psychological for example if 340 00:16:57,040 --> 00:17:00,600 the man is withholding funds and not 341 00:16:58,959 --> 00:17:03,079 allowing the woman to be financially 342 00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:05,880 independent this doesn't in some circles 343 00:17:03,079 --> 00:17:08,760 count as domestic violence or abuse yet 344 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:11,760 it is just the the preliminary stages of 345 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:15,760 an actual assault battery or even worse 346 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:19,160 some will no doubt complacently imagine 347 00:17:15,760 --> 00:17:23,240 that a country like Britain uh does not 348 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:26,120 have its fair share of these statistics 349 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:29,799 that it's not as common here as it might 350 00:17:26,120 --> 00:17:32,960 be in countries where The Immigrant 351 00:17:29,799 --> 00:17:35,280 communities originally came from is that 352 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:37,919 accurate well regarding this issue I 353 00:17:35,280 --> 00:17:41,240 mean uh lots of in Britain the problem 354 00:17:37,919 --> 00:17:42,919 is just as bad um certain austerity cuts 355 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:45,200 are stripping domestic violence 356 00:17:42,919 --> 00:17:47,240 Charities and organizations of the funds 357 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:49,160 and means to provide help and assistance 358 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:51,000 to these women um it's not just 359 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:52,880 immigrant communities it doesn't matter 360 00:17:51,000 --> 00:17:54,240 whether it's Indian or Pakistani it 361 00:17:52,880 --> 00:17:56,960 could be Eastern European it could be 362 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:59,520 British women British citizens it runs 363 00:17:56,960 --> 00:18:02,640 the Spectrum and the g the taboo 364 00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:04,039 uh is more prevent in some communities 365 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:06,440 absolutely I mean the Genesis of the 366 00:18:04,039 --> 00:18:08,880 book was based on accounts in South Asia 367 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:10,799 and India to start with although it ran 368 00:18:08,880 --> 00:18:12,679 across interviews women everywhere but 369 00:18:10,799 --> 00:18:14,400 you're right in Britain a lot of the 370 00:18:12,679 --> 00:18:16,799 Immigrant communities first generation 371 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:18,799 second generation third generation the 372 00:18:16,799 --> 00:18:21,919 stigmatization has continued through 373 00:18:18,799 --> 00:18:24,360 generation through class through any 374 00:18:21,919 --> 00:18:26,320 spectrum of society sometimes is a focus 375 00:18:24,360 --> 00:18:29,559 to say oh well the women who are being 376 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:31,840 abused come from a lower class or uh a 377 00:18:29,559 --> 00:18:34,480 lower income band this isn't true 378 00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:36,760 whatsoever in Britain in fact those who 379 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:39,520 can be abused or stigmatized and suffer 380 00:18:36,760 --> 00:18:42,000 this sort of abuse can be CEOs they can 381 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:44,440 be lawyers they can be doctors they 382 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:47,080 don't have to be spinsters or 383 00:18:44,440 --> 00:18:49,240 Housewives as an anthropologist I also 384 00:18:47,080 --> 00:18:51,919 conducted qualitative research as you've 385 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:53,840 done yourself and I did mine amongst 386 00:18:51,919 --> 00:18:55,760 poor communities and I know how 387 00:18:53,840 --> 00:18:57,679 difficult it is to enter these 388 00:18:55,760 --> 00:19:00,840 communities so I wonder how it was for 389 00:18:57,679 --> 00:19:03,960 you as a man to get in touch with them 390 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:05,880 and get the women to talk to you well 391 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:07,720 the initial stages of my research came 392 00:19:05,880 --> 00:19:10,240 through some legal work through legal 393 00:19:07,720 --> 00:19:11,960 aid um as you your background yeah and 394 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:13,480 as you may know legal aid cuts of men 395 00:19:11,960 --> 00:19:15,320 that are lot of women who suffer 396 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:18,159 domestic violence abuse simply cannot 397 00:19:15,320 --> 00:19:20,480 bring cases whereas once they could have 398 00:19:18,159 --> 00:19:22,280 um yes you're correct when when I 399 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:24,159 approached women initially they were 400 00:19:22,280 --> 00:19:26,000 skeptical to say the least about why a 401 00:19:24,159 --> 00:19:27,200 man would be wanting to interview them 402 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:29,480 and that I would have certain 403 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:32,360 preconceptions but once it it was clear 404 00:19:29,480 --> 00:19:35,240 where I was going with this book um the 405 00:19:32,360 --> 00:19:38,039 the the response has been phenomenal um 406 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:39,919 I believe that as a man it's part of my 407 00:19:38,039 --> 00:19:42,840 battle and struggle as well with regards 408 00:19:39,919 --> 00:19:45,120 to gender inequality um we see very 409 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:48,280 often How brave women um are giving 410 00:19:45,120 --> 00:19:50,000 mediums and platforms to speak and Men 411 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:53,120 you know they clap along and they 412 00:19:50,000 --> 00:19:55,159 provide assurances and promises but they 413 00:19:53,120 --> 00:19:57,320 aren't putting action where words are 414 00:19:55,159 --> 00:20:00,120 being placed um take for example India 415 00:19:57,320 --> 00:20:03,400 just as a simple example um it's 3 years 416 00:20:00,120 --> 00:20:06,039 almost to the day in a sense where a 417 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:07,919 horrible rape occurred in Delhi a lot of 418 00:20:06,039 --> 00:20:10,200 promises were made a lot of assurances 419 00:20:07,919 --> 00:20:13,280 by men no less of funds which would be 420 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:15,840 released money that would be raised and 421 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:18,559 they just haven't been followed through 422 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:21,120 um so to just to digress slightly from 423 00:20:18,559 --> 00:20:23,200 that um I can understand the skepticism 424 00:20:21,120 --> 00:20:25,080 towards men and what their motives are 425 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:27,200 but with me I simply wanted to provide a 426 00:20:25,080 --> 00:20:30,120 voice and I wanted to be one of the few 427 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:32,080 men unfortunately minority who does 428 00:20:30,120 --> 00:20:33,480 speak about this and does debate about 429 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:35,960 this and does want to give a voice to 430 00:20:33,480 --> 00:20:38,960 the voiceless and the double standards 431 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:42,080 of course are Brazen uh there's a 432 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:45,840 notorious case right now in Saudi Arabia 433 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:49,360 oh yes uh where a s Lankan woman and a 434 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:52,880 Sri Lankan man working in Saudi Arabia 435 00:20:49,360 --> 00:20:54,200 have been convicted of extra marital 436 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:57,840 sexual 437 00:20:54,200 --> 00:21:01,760 relations the man is to be lashed and 438 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:06,559 the woman is to be be stoned to death uh 439 00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:08,880 this kind of brazen double standards uh 440 00:21:06,559 --> 00:21:11,240 would not be permitted here but there 441 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:15,279 are plenty of double standards of a 442 00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:19,200 lesser standard and Common Place men 443 00:21:15,279 --> 00:21:20,080 don't feel this pain in the way that 444 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:22,799 women 445 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:25,600 do absolutely true I mean the 446 00:21:22,799 --> 00:21:27,880 stigmatization that comes across simply 447 00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:29,240 by a woman raising their concerns is 448 00:21:27,880 --> 00:21:31,559 horrifying 449 00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:33,600 when a woman speaks out about this for 450 00:21:31,559 --> 00:21:35,880 some reason she's vilified she's not 451 00:21:33,600 --> 00:21:38,240 seen as an independent person voicing 452 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:39,919 concern rather a rabble Rouser a 453 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:42,240 troublemaker someone who's trying to 454 00:21:39,919 --> 00:21:44,679 make an issue where there isn't one 455 00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:46,840 unfortunately their issues are prevalent 456 00:21:44,679 --> 00:21:49,360 they are do need to be discussed but yes 457 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:50,919 there is a double standard because if a 458 00:21:49,360 --> 00:21:52,840 woman particularly in countries such as 459 00:21:50,919 --> 00:21:55,559 India countries such as Saudi Arabia or 460 00:21:52,840 --> 00:21:58,039 elsewhere raise their voices they are 461 00:21:55,559 --> 00:21:59,279 ostracized they their voices are pushed 462 00:21:58,039 --> 00:22:02,080 to the side 463 00:21:59,279 --> 00:22:04,240 and try and attempted to be as made as 464 00:22:02,080 --> 00:22:06,640 minuscule as possible why is this we 465 00:22:04,240 --> 00:22:09,000 have to get Beyond this we're in 2016 466 00:22:06,640 --> 00:22:10,640 now and we're looking at a point where 467 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:13,600 we must debate these things out in the 468 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:15,840 open and it can't be on um Independent 469 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:17,400 Women's day I I have I have take a bit 470 00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:19,880 of umage with the day international 471 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:21,799 women's day um this is a day where 472 00:22:19,880 --> 00:22:24,200 everyone collates and a lot of media 473 00:22:21,799 --> 00:22:26,400 Echo Chambers talk about how this is so 474 00:22:24,200 --> 00:22:29,240 important and lots of money is raised 475 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:31,520 and the day after the issue is forgotten 476 00:22:29,240 --> 00:22:34,039 well of course you are yourself from 477 00:22:31,520 --> 00:22:37,600 South Asian background Indian 478 00:22:34,039 --> 00:22:40,159 background um and uh there are millions 479 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:43,720 of people in Britain today from that 480 00:22:40,159 --> 00:22:45,880 Community half of them are men uh what's 481 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:48,679 their attitude to your novel The 482 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:51,120 Butterfly room well the men themselves 483 00:22:48,679 --> 00:22:53,440 well again they feel that whilst this is 484 00:22:51,120 --> 00:22:55,799 an issue that must be discussed you 485 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:58,640 can't say too much which is kind of you 486 00:22:55,799 --> 00:23:00,159 know it's ridiculous in itself it's it's 487 00:22:58,640 --> 00:23:02,000 almost as if a certain level of 488 00:23:00,159 --> 00:23:03,760 criticism is permitted but if you go 489 00:23:02,000 --> 00:23:05,799 beyond that and if you try to dig deeper 490 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:07,840 into the reasons and the rationale they 491 00:23:05,799 --> 00:23:09,640 don't want to hear that whilst we are 492 00:23:07,840 --> 00:23:10,919 moving into Generations that do want to 493 00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:13,240 hear more about these problems and 494 00:23:10,919 --> 00:23:16,000 issues and do something about it 495 00:23:13,240 --> 00:23:18,480 unfortunately certain prejudices and 496 00:23:16,000 --> 00:23:20,840 discriminatory attitudes are passed on 497 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:24,480 from generation to generation people 498 00:23:20,840 --> 00:23:26,919 seeing their father beating their mother 499 00:23:24,480 --> 00:23:30,159 are far more likely to be their own 500 00:23:26,919 --> 00:23:32,279 wives when they have one yeah um this is 501 00:23:30,159 --> 00:23:35,039 a pattern that unfortunately is bearing 502 00:23:32,279 --> 00:23:36,799 to be true um it's it's the sins of the 503 00:23:35,039 --> 00:23:39,080 father being passed along and is if it's 504 00:23:36,799 --> 00:23:41,240 not physical it comes across in another 505 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:43,520 way like I said um it could be for 506 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:45,679 example confiscating the credit card 507 00:23:43,520 --> 00:23:47,880 confiscating any financial means of 508 00:23:45,679 --> 00:23:50,200 Independence um where one is a bread 509 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:52,559 winner who earns a considerable amount 510 00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:54,840 in the city for example and and insists 511 00:23:52,559 --> 00:23:56,480 that the woman remains at home while she 512 00:23:54,840 --> 00:23:58,600 does remain at home she has no 513 00:23:56,480 --> 00:24:00,600 independence of herself and the argument 514 00:23:58,600 --> 00:24:03,200 is always brought back that well I'm the 515 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:04,720 F owner I'm the bread winner here listen 516 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:06,679 to me and listen to what you say and 517 00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:09,440 listen to what I say and if you were to 518 00:24:06,679 --> 00:24:11,279 raise your voice think about what others 519 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:13,440 will think of you within the family this 520 00:24:11,279 --> 00:24:14,919 is a very particular problem within 521 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:16,919 South Asian communities and immigrant 522 00:24:14,919 --> 00:24:18,279 communities it's a concern about what 523 00:24:16,919 --> 00:24:21,039 others will think perceive what they 524 00:24:18,279 --> 00:24:24,039 perceive and they it's a fascinating 525 00:24:21,039 --> 00:24:26,200 novel The Butterfly room it's being 526 00:24:24,039 --> 00:24:28,559 published not just in Britain but 527 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:30,120 internationally how's it doing it's 528 00:24:28,559 --> 00:24:32,600 doing very well it's come to the 529 00:24:30,120 --> 00:24:35,159 attention of um MPS figureheads and 530 00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:37,600 Charities um Amnesty International UK 531 00:24:35,159 --> 00:24:40,559 for example picked up on the book um 532 00:24:37,600 --> 00:24:42,480 several um um Leaders with Jeremy Corbin 533 00:24:40,559 --> 00:24:44,880 even number 10 believe it or not has a 534 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:47,440 copy of the book um he doing very well 535 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:48,880 is going to be published um in India 536 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:50,520 present which has been a bit of a 537 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:53,360 difficult uphill struggle actually when 538 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:55,120 it shouldn't have been um and it's of 539 00:24:53,360 --> 00:24:57,080 the taboo just because of the taboo just 540 00:24:55,120 --> 00:24:58,760 because of the criticism again you're 541 00:24:57,080 --> 00:25:01,840 allowed to say a bit but don't say too 542 00:24:58,760 --> 00:25:03,720 much um and importantly I've I've bonded 543 00:25:01,840 --> 00:25:05,960 with several Charities major Charities 544 00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:07,799 who have taken part um women's Aid 545 00:25:05,960 --> 00:25:09,520 refuge and one in particular called the 546 00:25:07,799 --> 00:25:11,600 Sharon project who's a who's a 547 00:25:09,520 --> 00:25:13,360 relatively new organization helping 548 00:25:11,600 --> 00:25:15,919 women in this country in the United 549 00:25:13,360 --> 00:25:17,600 Kingdom and the praise has been 550 00:25:15,919 --> 00:25:19,559 unanimous so far so I'm very thankful 551 00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:23,120 for that well excellent It's a first 552 00:25:19,559 --> 00:25:25,880 class read and a real eye opener s d 553 00:25:23,120 --> 00:25:28,520 thank you for joining us alas that means 554 00:25:25,880 --> 00:25:30,679 on this new year that's the end of of 555 00:25:28,520 --> 00:25:33,480 the show but please stay in touch with 556 00:25:30,679 --> 00:25:35,880 us through Twitter at rtor Sputnik or on 557 00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:38,640 Facebook Sputnik on Russia today it's 558 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:40,960 goodbye from me gri and from me George 559 00:25:38,640 --> 00:25:42,400 Galloway it's been marvelous Happy New 560 00:25:40,960 --> 00:25:55,729 Year 561 00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:55,729 [Music]