Episode 20: A clash of the east and west - An Izmir-born Syrian Woman

Today, my guest was Esma Efendi. She is a Turkish-born Syrian Anchorwoman working at TRT Arabic. Her mother is Turkish and from Izmir, while her father is Syrian. Her background spans two completely disparate cultures and identities. She was at the clash of the East and West all from the beginning. She is extremely knowledgeable about The Syrian civil war and its political, social, and economic ramifications. She has experienced many incidents of discrimination and structural segregation. She has tried to preserve and protect many forgotten traditions of the Syrian culture that are overlooked in Turkey. We discussed some difficult topics regarding the massive influx of migrants and the ongoing state of instability in both Turkey and Syria. We hope our two countries can set aside their differences and find a common ground for peace.