IBB Bulletin: The Habibi Effect

Nick Gillespie and Steven Pinker host a riveting discussion, we're publishing our first book, Faisal is featured on the Human Rights Foundation's Dissidents and Dictators podcast, and more!

Ahlan wa sahlan, fellow navigators of the winds of change.

Strap on your metaphorical sand goggles as we venture through the shifting dunes of progress. (Not the capital-D Dune in Arrakis with Timothy Chalemet… think more real-world Al-Hajarah with Faisal.) Beware of camels of cynicism and mirages of misinformation.

At Ideas Beyond Borders, we're in the business of smuggling—smuggling knowledge, that is. Think of us as the intellectual equivalent of runners of contraband, except instead of sneaking exotic spices or silk across borders, we're hustling ideas, stories, and innovation from one mind to another. Our 'contraband'? Books that open eyes, articles that spark debates, and initiatives that plow through the negative stereotypes you might hear about the Middle East. In a world where borders can be as rigid as a day-old pita, our work ensures that the flow of knowledge remains as fluid as hummus at a family gathering. So, if you ever hear someone whispering about the latest 'shipment' from Ideas Beyond Borders, know it's just us, doing our bit to keep the black market of ideas thriving. Like a kebab vendor at 3 AM, we're here for anyone craving something more substantial than the status quo. Now, enough of my musings, and onto our recent updates:

Firstly, IBB’s spirit of challenging the status quo was embodied in a recent conversation between two of our valued board members and supporters, Nick Gillespie of Reason Magazine and Steven Pinker of Harvard. Steven Pinker discussed the intellectual climate at Harvard, critiquing the narrowing range of acceptable opinions and the administration's tendency to suppress dissent to avoid controversy, and argues this trend toward an intellectual monoculture undermines academic freedom.

Next up, Faisal found himself featured on a billboard (albeit missing his right eye) at the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square. He was in good company and featured alongside the Muslim American Leadership Alliance (MALA), a nonprofit committed to celebrating Americans of Muslim heritage. MALA’s President and Founder, Zainab Khan, and Chairwoman, Maha Khan, along with multi-Grammy and Emmy Award-winning artist Malik Yusef, rang the Opening Bell. Faisal was also featured on the Human Rights Foundation’s podcast, Dissidents and Dictators, where he discussed the origins of his activism and life’s work, and “The Habibi Effect.”

Looking to the future, we have a lot to be excited about. IBB is poised to publish our inaugural book, delving deep into the secrets and stories behind the extraordinary Innovation Hub program. This upcoming release is not just a book; it’s a journey into the heart of ingenuity. Packed with stories of daring visionaries and game-changing projects, it’s an inspirational exploration of how ideas can transcend borders and ignite a spark of progress in the most unexpected places. This riveting read will take you behind the scenes of groundbreaking projects, showcasing the fearless innovators who are reshaping the future. Stay tuned for an official release date.

I’ll leave you with this: Here at IBB, we treat boundaries (geographical and ideological) like we do our family's dietary advice during a feast—kindly acknowledged but gleefully ignored. To all who celebrate, happy Ramadan.

Yours,

Reid Newton
Lead Editor, Ideas Beyond Borders

80% of every dollar we receive goes directly towards supporting our programs, including Substack subscriptions!

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Dissidents and Dictators

A podcast from the Human Rights Foundation

Ideas Beyond Borders Founder Faisal Al Mutar joins Casey and Elisha to discuss the importance of creating a sense of national security for Iraqis, as well as his experience combatting the villainy of authoritarianism and extremism. Then there’s the Habibi effect.

When people think about these militias and terrorist groups, etc, they think they're just bad guys, and then these bad guys kill a bunch of people, and they are murderers and gangs. My experience was slightly different— there was an ecosystem that allowed these groups and militias to be able to thrive. That's why my activism and my work has not been focused on the terrorists or on the extremists, but on the people who would sympathize with them, who would offer them homes. My activism’s focus is like, let's look at what's really allowing the environment for these bad actors to be able to gain support, to gain legitimacy from the local populations. Because I think the solution has to come from within, and we can’t just focus on the bad apples. If we just take them out and think suddenly we're gonna live in heaven, I mean, I think it's been a proven false every time it's been tried.

Steven Pinker: What Went Wrong at Harvard

Ideas Beyond Border’s board members Nick Gillespie and Steven Pinker discuss what went wrong at Harvard.

I think that as knowledge increases, and as the arena of debate, discussion, power, and deliberation expands, there's just certain things that have to fall by the wayside. Barbaric practices of antiquity, like a human sacrifice—you throw a virgin into a volcano to get better weather—sooner or later you discover that's the wrong theory. That actually does not, in fact, prevent crop failures. Or that certain races are fit for slavery—that's just empirically incorrect. That women are not capable of intellectual work, but are designed just for the home. 

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From Adversity to Empowerment: Women's Voices in the Middle East

From translating in their cars to running underground schools in Afghanistan, the women of IBB are paving the way toward a brighter future for women and girls in the Middle East. We took the chance this Women’s History Month to celebrate them.

When the devastating earthquakes hit Turkey and Syria, Razan Hamida and her brother fled their collapsing building, spending a terrifying night in the rain on a broken bench. Despite the fear and uncertainty, Razan's thoughts were consumed by her most precious possession: her laptop. She braved the dangers of the aftershocks to return home and rescue it—her work as a translator for IBB was at the top of her mind, even in the aftermath of such a terrifying disaster. She continued her translation work from her car until she was able to return home. Razan’s determination to continue her work exemplifies her strength and commitment to spreading ideas, even in the face of adversity.

Navigating the Crossroads

In the International Correspondent, Faisal Al Mutar writes about Iraq’s critical choice: succumb to expanding Iranian influence or pursue its own interests and sovereignty.

Despite all the pressure, that spirit is still there, waiting for its opportunity to be heard and realized. Iraqi youth want change. Liberal coalitions were formed in an attempt to institutionalize the movement's goals despite increasing pressure from the government and its Iranian proxies to silence dissent. I was a part of the coalition, meeting with members during one of my recent visits home. I was happy to discover I wasn’t alone in my desire for an Iraq that is diverse, multicultural, secular, and free. How can the United States and its allies support the growing movement of Iraqi youth advocating for sovereignty and democracy? The answer is simple: a weaker Iran means a stronger Iraq.

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In March alone, the Innovation Hub received 169 applications and funded 20 projects, disbursing $45,600 in grants to aspiring innovators and entrepreneurs in Iraq and Afghanistan, empowering those who will change their home communities for the better.

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