City Rights Radio
City Rights Radio is a podcast produced by the social activist group Here to Support, which represents undocumented citizens of Amsterdam. The show discusses political matters and amplifies the voices of its members. Listeners are encouraged to follow the group on Instagram at @cityrightsradio and @heretosupport for more information and to get involved in their activism.
Afleveringen
Samen Tegen Racisme S6E2 – The Far Right Playbook
Anti-immigration rhetoric is surging across Europe, with far-right governments enacting policies that threaten migrants, democracy, and human rights. In this episode, we uncover the tactics and strategies of the far-right in the Netherlands and beyond.Host Mohamed Bah is joined by Kim Van Eekelen from De Goede Zaak, a Dutch NGO advocating for progressive policies. Together, they discuss the rise o
OUR VOICES S7E3 - The beginning of Amsterdam City Rights
In this episode, we dive into the Amsterdam City Rights movement—a unique bottom-up movement in Amsterdam fighting for the rights of undocumented people in the city. We’ll talk with Hidaya Nampiima, Ugandanhuman rights advocate, once the most famous undocumented person and today one of the most outspoken refugee activists in Amsterdam, and Savannah Koolen, founder and director of Here to Support a
OUR VOICES S7E2 - The We Are Here movement
Fighting for visibility and basic human rights in 2012In this episode, we talk with Yoonis Osman Noor, activist from Somalia, about the We Are Here movement—a landmark protest in Amsterdam’s activist history that sparked change for undocumented communities across the Netherlands. Yoonis is a human rights defender andone of the spokesmen of the movement. We Are Here started in 2012 when a group of
OUR VOICES S7E1 – From the White Illegals to Undocumented Activism in the ‘90s
In this episode, with Hans Krikke, a journalist and historian, we dive into the history of migrant activism in the Netherlands. Hans is an activist, founder and director of Ru Paré, and author of the book "Witte Illegalen in Hongerstaking" (White Illegals in Hungerstrike).The Witte Illegalen (White Illegals), were Turkish, Moroccan and Kurdish people who were invited to the Netherlands t
Samen Tegen Racisme S6E3 – A Talk with Rutger, Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam on Migration & Politics
"For me, politics is all about helping people who are having the hardest time." - Rutger Groot Wassink, Deputy Mayor of AmsterdamIn this episode of City Rights Radio, we dive deep into the challenges and rewards of fighting for the rights of marginalized groups within the political system. Our guest, Rutger Groot Wassink, shares his insights on navigating the complexities of local politics, collab
Samen Tegen Racisme S6E1 – De Verzonnen Asielcrisis: Racisme, Extreem-Rechts en de Rechtsstaat
This Episode is in Dutch In gesprek over de verzonnen ‘asielcrisis’ en de consequenties voor migranten en vluchtelingen in Nederland.De afgelopen decennia zijn we getuige geweest van stelselmatige ontmenselijking van vluchtelingen en migranten, dit in combinatie met de opkomst van extreemrechts. Tijdens dit programma reflecteren we op de impact van dit racisme tegen vluchtelingen en migranten en h
Migration Chronicles S5E7 – Berlin Stories Untold
Description: Berlin, Germany is the final destination of many migrants and refugees. But after an exhausting journey, their struggles and problems do not end. Despite high expectations, in Berlin we discover a troubling reality. With your host Mohamed Bah. Directors: Riccardo Biggi and Mohamed Bah. Scriptwriting and production by Riccardo Biggi, with editorial supervision by Osama al Sayad. Edited
Migration Chronicles S5E6 – Poland, Belarus, and the Hybrid War on Refugees
Did you know that at the Polish-Belarusian border, migrants and refugees from the Middle East and Africa are caught in a geopolitical game and in a cold, dangerous forest. You probably do but, if you don't in this episode of the City Rights Radio we discuss this topic in detailsWith your host Mohamed Bah. Directors: Riccardo Biggi and Mohamed Bah. Scriptwriting and production by Riccardo Big
Migration Chronicles S5E5 – The Artificial Emergency in Trieste Italy
Trieste IIIn Trieste, asylum seekers are sleeping in an abandoned building and have no access to proper shelter. Who is responsible for this situation? Guests: Gianfranco Schiavone, director of the International Consortium for Solidarity (ICS)Ismail, mediator and activist in Trieste, from PakistanSilvia, retired physicist, volunteer with NGO Linea d’OmbraHasan Mohamed Sakibul, a very kind man from
Migration Chronicles S5E4 – From the Balkans to Italy
Trieste IThe Balkan Route is a pathway in South-Eastern Europe, through which people walk to reach a place of safety. What is the story of the Balkan Route, and what safety can you find in Italy?With your host Mohamed Bah. Directors: Riccardo Biggi and Mohamed Bah. Scriptwriting and production by Riccardo Biggi, with editorial supervision by Osama al Sayad. Brought to you by Here to Support, and D
Migration Chronicles S5E3 – Beyond the Paradise
Malta Part 2Malta is the only country in North Africa that is part of the EU. Scratch the surface of this paradise island and you’ll find a murky system of migrant exploitation. Guests:Angelo Angkok, asylum seeker from Sudan living in Malta, university studentBakary, a.k.a. DJ Paper Fly, asylum seeker from Gambia living in Malta, DJ and community leaderChristine Cassar, from Malta, activist with M
Migration Chronicles S5E2 – Rescue & Detention in Malta
Malta Part 1Why do migrant boats disappear in the Mediterranean? And what’s next for those who make it to Malta? What's the reality behind Malta's migration policies?Guests: Aboubakar, an asylum seeker from Sierra Leone living in Malta, a very compassionate personAngelo Angkok, an asylum seeker from Sudan living in Malta, university studentBakary, an asylum seeker from Gambia living in Mal
Migration Chronicles S5E1 – Introduction to Border Politics
The history of European integration begins with a dream of peace and human rights for Europeans. Citizens from countries in the Global South are left out, marginalized, or abandoned. Since 1985 to this day, the EU border politics have created a fortress where migrants struggle to survive. With your host Mohamed Bah. Directors: Riccardo Biggi and Mohamed Bah. Scriptwriting and production by Riccard
Migration Chronicles
Welcome to Migration Chronicles. the podcast about Surviving Border Politics! This is an audio documentary into the human impact of migration laws across the EU: from Malta to Trieste, Poland to Berlin. Join us as we interview migrants, refugees, researchers, activists, and organizations. With your host Mohamed Bah. Directors: Riccardo Biggi and Mohamed Bah. Scriptwriting and production by Riccard
Guest Episode – Imperialism and the Women’s Movement
The struggle for freedom has long been intertwined with the fight against imperialism and women’s oppression. Imperialism reinforces patriarchal structures, deepens gender disparities, and sustains systems of power that disproportionately victimize women. The cultural norms imposed by colonial powers continue to shape and uphold these oppressive systems.In this episode, we explore: • How imperiali
City Rights Radio S3E3 – Facts and Fake News in the Dutch Elections
What Is It Like to Be an Undocumented Asylum Seeker in the Netherlands?Fear, anxiety, trauma. Being undocumented leaves long-term scars. Excluded from society, illegalized migrants are denied the right to work, rent a house, or study.In this third and final episode of our podcast series on migration and asylum ahead of the 2024 Dutch elections, City Rights Radio explores one of the most complex an
City Rights Radio S3E2 – Facts and Fake News in the Dutch Elections: Housing Rights, Refugees’ Rights?
City Rights Radio S3E2 – Facts and Fake News in the Dutch Elections: Housing Rights, Refugees’ Rights?In this episode of City Rights Radio, we dive into the housing crisis in the Netherlands and how it affects asylum seekers, refugees, and the wider population.Asylum seekers and refugees face a lack of stable housing, frequent relocations between reception centers, and a system that keeps them in
City Rights Radio S3E1 – Facts and Fake News in the Dutch Elections: Asylum and Work in the Netherlands
City Rights Radio S3E1 – Facts and Fake News in the Dutch Elections: Asylum and Work in the NetherlandsIn a special collaboration between OneWorld, Ben & Jerry’s, and Here to Support, we dive into the Dutch elections and the realities of asylum and work in the Netherlands.You arrive in a country, request asylum, and can’t wait to start working—but then what? Listen to the story of Haitham and
City Rights Radio S2E4 – Formal Organizations in Amsterdam
In this episode of City Rights Radio, we talk about formal organizations and their role in supporting undocumented people. Hans-Peter from the Amsterdam Coordination Point for Undocumented People, Savannah Koolen from Here to Support, Hidaya from Amsterdam City Rights, and I (Mohamed Bah) come together to discuss the crucial collaboration between formal organizations and informal networks.While gr
City Rights Radio S2E3 – Informal Organizations and Self-Organizing Communities
In this episode of City Rights Radio, Haitham, Eunice, and I (Mohamed Bah) discuss the power of informal organizations and the crucial role of self-organizing communities in supporting undocumented people.Across the Netherlands, migrant communities and allies work tirelessly—often without formal recognition—to ensure safety, provide resources, and defend human rights. These grassroots efforts make
City Rights Radio S2E2 – Undocumented Asylum Seekers: “Let People See Us as Ukrainians”
In this episode of City Rights Radio, our host Joy Caupain from Joygail Radio leads a conversation with Ousmane and me (Mohamed Bah) about our experiences as asylum seekers in the Netherlands and how we both became undocumented.Ousmane was rejected for asylum, while I became undocumented due to a Dublin claim—a system that forces asylum seekers to apply in the first EU country they entered, regard
City Rights Radio S2E1 – Who Are We?
Season 2 of City Rights Radio: The Reality of Being UndocumentedIn this episode, Marion and I (Mohamed Bah) discuss our lives as undocumented citizens of Amsterdam. We reflect on the different circumstances faced by migrant workers and asylum seekers, highlighting the unique struggles, systemic barriers, and daily challenges of life without papers.Despite these realities, we continue to fight for
Pilot E10 – Do You Recognize Me as a Human Being?
In this episode of City Rights Radio, Asmara and I (Mohamed Bah) discuss healthcare issues and human rights violations in Hamburg and Amsterdam.From our experiences, we see that undocumented people and refugees are not always treated as humans—denied essential care, subjected to systemic exclusion, and forced to fight for their basic rights. As Asmara puts it: “Humans are humans, and if people are
Pilot E9 – Human Rights Cities
In this episode of City Rights Radio, Barbara and I (Mohamed Bah) discuss the concept of Human Rights Cities—cities that commit to protecting fundamental rights such as shelter, food, and safety for all residents, regardless of status.We explore what these commitments mean in practice and whether they truly translate into protection for undocumented people. Barbara highlights the power of local ac
Pilot E8 – Human Rights Laws & the Protection of Undocumented People
In this episode of City Rights Radio, we dive into the effectiveness of human rights laws when it comes to protecting undocumented people.While international treaties and human rights frameworks promise dignity, safety, and fundamental rights for all, how well are these laws actually enforced? Do undocumented people truly benefit from the legal protections on paper, or do systemic barriers render
Pilot E7 – Collective Activism Throughout Europe: Comparing Barcelona & Amsterdam
In this episode of City Rights Radio, Paula and I (Mohamed Bah) discuss the experiences and differences between the Netherlands and Spain when it comes to migrant rights and activism.We explore creative initiatives that challenge the exclusion of undocumented people, and Paula shares insights on how people in Spain organize and unionize to fight for their rights. What can Amsterdam learn from thes
Pilot E6 – Expectations vs. Reality
In this episode of City Rights Radio, we explore the stark contrast between expectations and reality for undocumented people navigating life in the Netherlands.What do we hope for when we arrive? What does society promise? And how does the system of exclusion shape our daily experiences? From barriers to basic rights to the constant fight for dignity, we break down the mental, social, and structu
Pilot E5 – Inferiority Complex and Deprivation of Continuity
🎙 In this expectation vs. reality episode of City Rights Radio, Yusuf and I (Mohamed Bah) dive into the ways the Dutch exclusion system creates inferiority complexes among undocumented people, stripping us of the continuity of life that so many take for granted.We explore how constant uncertainty, lack of recognition, and systemic barriers make it nearly impossible to build a stable future. But co
Pilot E4 – From Cycling Through a Red Light to Seven Months in Detention
In this episode of City Rights Radio, Dennis, Teferi, discuss the harsh reality of the criminalization of undocumented people in the Netherlands. I don't know if you knew this but , lacking official identification makes people vulnerable to profiling, exclusion, and constant uncertainty in daily life. What happens when the absence of papers turns into a tool for systemic discrimination? And h
Pilot E3 - Ethnic Profiling & the Safety a City Card Could Bring A Conversation with Dennis & Mpanzu Bamenga
Mpanzu Bamenga, who is currently serving as a member of the Tweede Kamer (Dutch House of Representatives), has been a key figure in the fight against racial profiling. In collaboration with Amnesty International and others, he organized a lawsuit challenging the Koninklijke Marechaussee’s discriminatory border checks in the Netherlands. Although the case was lost in court, it led to a significant
Pilot E2 - From New Haven to Amsterdam
In this episode of City Rights Radio, I sit down with Michiel Bot to explore the concept of City Cards and their potential impact. We discuss the origins of the City Card in New Haven and the IDNYC—New York City’s municipal ID examining how they have benefited both undocumented and documented residents.What if Amsterdam had its own City Card? Could it offer greater access to essential services, im
Pilot E1 - I have a voice because I am
Welcome to our first episode City Rights Radio!In this episode of City Rights Radio, Mular and I (Mohamed Bah) dive into the struggles we face due to not having the right documentation to reside in the Netherlands. We share how policies directly impact our daily lives—limiting our opportunities, restricting our rights, and shaping how society treats us.As we navigate these challenges, we also refl
