The No Walls Podcast

Lately, we've focused a lot on international law but in this episode, we bring it back to domestic affairs. Sheroy and Toufique discuss the Home Secretary's various announcements and we speak to our good friend and leading public law solicitor, Jeremy Bloom, on two test cases listed to be heard soon - one on the refugee family reunion "suspension" and the second on "Good Character" guidance change...

The No Walls Podcast is back! We interview Marko Milanović. Marko is Professor of Public International Law at the University of Reading School of Law and Director of the Global Law at Reading (GLAR) research group, as well asthe Raoul Wallenberg Visiting Chair of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, University of Lund. He talks to us about the recent use of force by US-Israel, the UK’s current posit...

The Home Secretary recently accused asylum seekers of making “vexatious, last-minute trafficking claims” to avoid removal from the UK, as the Home Office said it would review modern slavery laws. The government’s rhetoric and actions targeting migrants continue to take an extreme turn. We speak to Kate Garbers, a founder and director of Unseen, a charity that provides safety, hope and choice to su...

In this episode, Toufique speaks with Mira Hammad, a formidable criminal barrister at Garden Court North. Mira speaks about erosion of protest rights in the UK and the stifling of peaceful dissent. She also sheds light on the recent proscription of Palestine Action, its potentially chilling effect on free speech and the ongoing legal challenge.

In this episode, Sophie interviews Lorraine Leete,  lawyer andcoordinator at the Legal Centre Lesvos. Lorraine has extraordinary front-line experience working with migrants and refugees on the island. She gives our listeners an insight into camp conditions, the Hellenic coastguard’s pushbacks operations, and the criminalisation of migrants and human rights defenders. This is a must-listen for thos...

It’s Refugee Week and we’re releasing three episodes focusing on the experiences of refugees across the globe. In this episode we hear from Prashant Busan, one of India’s most highly regarded Supreme Court advocates who works on landmark cases, including on behalf of Rohingya refugees in India. In this powerful interview, Prashant outlines the atrocities being faced by Rohingya refugees and and th...

Goodbye Anna! It's an emotional time for the No Walls Team as we have to say goodbye to Anna as a co-host. This episode goes down memory lane, as Anna, Sheroy and Toufique look back on their favourite episodes. We'll miss you Anna!

We’re back!! Trump’s executive actions have been described by Amnesty International as “harmful, racist - an anti-immigrant agenda”. We see here in the UK, our own Prime Minister’s rhetoric is becoming more and more extreme. This episode delves into Trump’s recent decisions and we hear from the incredible Karen Tumlin, Founder and Director of the Justice Action Centre and a nationally recognised a...

We’re back! Amid a world of increasing conflict and suffering, this episode shines a light on international justice and the ongoing efforts to seek accountability for human rights violations. We cover the ICC arrest warrants in relation to Palestine, and the recent developments in Syria. We speak to two brilliant guests: Yasmine Ahmed, the UK Director of Human Rights Watch with two decades of expe...

In this episode we hear two brilliant interviews on climate justice and migration.  First from the heavyweight barrister Jessica Simor KC, covering her remarkable career and role in the landmark ECtHR case of Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz and Others v. Switzerland.  Then from Yumna Kamel, Legal Education Officer at Right to Remain and the co-founder and executive director of Earth Refuge, the pl...

Sheroy and Toufique are back discussing the last few years of the Tory government through the lens of some of their cases, Toufique's recent award success and a little on the EUROs.

The latest conflict has plunged Sudan into "one of the worst humanitarian nightmares in recent history", according to the UN who also warn it may trigger the world's largest hunger crisis. UNICEF says some communities in Sudan have been pushed to the brink of famine. We speak to Mark Townsend, a senior global development reporter at the Guardian who has recently visited neighbouring Chad, home to...

This episode shines a light on a formidable human rights defender, Helen Duffy, a Scottish international lawyer and academic. She is a Professor of International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at the University of Leiden and runs her own international law practice ‘Human Rights in Practice (HRiP)' specialising in strategic litigation – with cases from Guantanamo Bay to Palestinian land rights. ...

As the UK's House of Lords currently debates the 'Safety of Rwanda Bill', this episode returns to Rwanda. We hear from Michela Wrong, an award-winning journalist and author who has spent over two decades writing about Africa. She has written for Reuters, the BBC and the Financial Times, amongst others. She has also written several books, including ‘Do Not Disturb’ - a scathing assessment of Rwanda...

This episode dives into International Criminal Law, including the avenues for international criminal accountability and the role and power of the International Criminal Court. We hear a fascinating interview with Toby Cadman, barrister and co-founder of The Guernica 37 Group and Joint Head of Guernica 37 Chambers, and an experienced international criminal and humanitarian law specialist. However,...

This episode dives into International Humanitarian Law, specifically in the context of what is happening right now in Gaza especially as Israel resumes its offensive. We hope to provide you with a clear overview of the international legal position through insights from two highly-informed guests: Clive Baldwin, Senior Legal Advisor at Human Rights Watch, and Professor Andrew Clapham, Professor of...

We are back for Season 3! On Wednesday 15 November, the UK Supreme Court unanimously held the Secretary of State's Rwanda policy to be unlawful. Tune in to hear our co-hosts plus solicitor Sophie Lucas debrief on the judgment, discuss the process running up to it and what it was like to be in the Courtroom when Lord Reed read out those words.

Music plays a central role in the lives of so many, not least those who want to express their views of protest and resistance through the medium of art. The No Walls Podcast is back, this time with two extremely gifted guests: Nick Armstrong KC of Matrix Chambers - one of the country’s leading barristers, and Bumi Thomas - an inspirational musician with lived experience of standing up to the Home...

With 21 episodes and an increasing audience, The No Walls Podcast is continuing to grow! If you're interested in listening, we've put together a short trailer so you can hear some of the conversations we've had over the past 16 months and the kind of content you can expect going forward! The trailer includes the following clips: 1. Toufique Hossain, one of our co-hosts, talking about h...

It's been an interesting few months! This episode attempts to summarise the latest issues that are keeping those working in the immigration and asylum fields very busy...and worried. Toufique and Sheroy talk Rwanda, Rule 39 interim measures, ECHR, asylum accommodation on barges and the dreaded Illegal Migration Bill. Tune in!!

Spanish Version of S02 Special - Part 2 En este episodio, entrevistamos a Adil Jose Meléndez Marquez, un extraordinario abogado colombiano de derechos humanos. Es uno de los pocos abogados que trabaja en casos de restitución de tierras y enjuiciamiento de (para)militares en la región norte de Bolívar. Representa principalmente a personas desplazadas e indígenas. Adil Meléndez sobrevivió a tres int...

We now bring you Part 3 of our mini-series within Season 2, where each episode will focus on a different human rights defender in a different country across the world. We hope it inspires you and provides hope to all who stand up for people's rights...you are not alone! This episode interviews Milica Svabic, a Serbian human rights lawyer who works for the NGO KlikAktiv, the Center for Development...

We cannot wait for you all to listen to Part 2 of our mini-series within Season 2, where each episode will focus on a different human rights defender in a different country across the world. We hope it inspires you and provides hope to all who stand up for people's rights...you are not alone! This episode interviews Adil Jose Meléndez Marquez, an extraordinary Colombian human rights lawyer. He is...

This our second International Women’s Day episode with two new faces. Sophie Lucas, a solicitor in the public law team interviews the formidable Phillippa Kaufmann KC, a leading silk at the top of her field. In this candid conversation we discuss Phillippa’s career, the challenges surrounding gender equality in the judiciary and why police are failing to protect women’s rights. Phillippa has fasci...

Happy International Women’s Day! In celebration, we’re releasing two episodes this week each one interviewing an incredibly inspiring woman working in this field. First up is Cristel Amiss, Joint Coordinator at Women Against Rape. Cristel has had a remarkable three-decade career, where she has consistently and fearlessly advocated for marginalised women and survivors of gender-based violence seeki...