A conversation with Koert Debeuf, professor for Middle Eastern Studies. (Please note that the talk starts at 20h00.)
The Middle East dominates headlines, yet its complexities often remain unclear. Whether it’s the war in Gaza, the tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia, or the wars in Syria and Yemen, the region’s dynamics seem to grow more intricate every day. Why doesn’t anyone break it down?
That’s exactly what Koert Debeuf does in his latest book: “Wat je moet weten om het Midden-Oosten te begrijpen” (“What you need to know to understand the Middle East”). In this talk, he will provide an accessible introduction to the key factors shaping the Middle East today. He will be joined by columnist and author Yasmien Naciri and De Standaard’s foreign editor Koen Vidal for a discussion moderated by VRT Middle East expert Inge Vrancken.
The conversation will take place in Dutch. Afterwards, attendees will have the opportunity to get their copies signed at the Passa Porta Bookshop stand.
speaker
Yasmien Naciri is a Belgian entrepreneur, marketing expert, speaker, and columnist. Since 2016, she has written for De Morgen and contributes to Radio 1.
Born in Mol in 1991, she studied Business Management at Karel de Grote Hogeschool and earned a Master’s in Multilingual Professional Communication from the University of Antwerp. She founded Amana vzw, a nonprofit active in Belgium and Morocco, and Fleks, an Antwerp-based initiative supporting youth entrepreneurship.
Her advocacy led to the introduction of a student-entrepreneur status in Belgium, and in 2018, she set a legal precedent against online harassment. She serves on the boards of Netwerk tegen Armoede and Formaat Jeugdhuiswerk Vlaanderen.
Naciri has authored Wij nemen het heft in handen (2018) and Klassenjustitie (2024), tackling issues of inequality and social justice.
moderator
Inge Vrancken is a Belgian journalist with a distinguished career in national and international reporting. Born in Alken in 1972, she began her journalism career at ROB-TV in 1994 before joining VRT in 1999. She played a key role in developing Karrewiet, Ketnet’s youth news program, and later became a reporter for Het Journaal.
Specializing in Middle East affairs, Turkey, North Africa, and the refugee crisis, she has reported from conflict zones and refugee camps in Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey. She also focuses on women’s rights worldwide.
From 2016 to 2020, she served as editor-in-chief of Het Journaal before returning to her passion for field reporting.
