WHAT THE WORLD GETS WRONG ABOUT THE MIDDLE EAST

15.01.2026

This edition takes a closer look at media narratives and their ideas that strongly influence Western policy. We analyze the complex role of sectarianism, tribal structures and loyalty in the Middle East.

TOPICS

How global media covers (or ignores) Middle Eastern minorities

What stories resonate with audiences in the West

Impact of misinformation

Christianity's 2,000-year-old presence in the Middle East

Why Middle Eastern Christians are both ancient and endangered

How international legal frameworks (ICC/ICJ) help or harm minority survival

PROGRAMME

Panel: what the world gets wrong about the Middle East

Breaking narratives, misconceptions about sects, tribes, and loyalties, understanding nuances beyond headlines

Fireside chat

Media, truth, and representation: who tells the minority story?

Fireside chat

Faith, identity, and persecution: a Middle Eastern christian perspective

Roundtable 1

Shared fears, shared futures: how do we build resilience? Prompt the audience (Jewish community under pressure) to retlect on parallels. What minority experiences felt familiar? What lessons apply to Jewish communities today? What alliances matter now?

Roundtable 2

The role of diaspora in shaping the region's future. What responsibility do diaspora communities have? How does advocacy work from abroad? How can stories be told ethically and effectively