Experts on countries of origin by country
Bluth, Christoph
Professor of International Studies at the University of Leeds with extensive knowledge of the human rights situation and asylum matters relating to political persecution and trafficking. Particular experience and expertise in relation to Vietnamese refugees (political activists, victims of trafficking and persons persecuted for religious activities, Chinese asylum seekers (adherents of persecuted religious groups, political activists and victims of trafficking), and applicants from Pakistan (applicants facing threats in relation to family honour, issues relating to the blasphemy laws, sexual orientation, applicants facing threats from terrorists and due to their political activities such as members of the UKPNP). I am acknowledged as a leading expert on the Korean peninsula (North Korea and South Korea). I also have considerable expertise in matters relating to asylum seekers from Iraq and Iran in relation to family honour, political activism and religious persecution. Among numerous publications, reference can be made to the book Security, Culture and Human Rights in South Asia and the Middle East, Global Research Publications 2019, a guide for country experts on the regions.
Christian, Dr. Patrick James
The Expert is a psychoanalytical anthropologist of violent ethnic & cultural conflict in Eurasia, South Asia, Middle East, Central and South America, West Africa, North Africa and the Horn of Africa with experience working in military, diplomatic, and humanitarian interventions in intra-state violent conflicts.
Fatah, Dr Rebwar
The Expert has worked as an expert witness on the Middle East, producing Country Expert Reports (CER) for the past 20 years.
The Expert has produced on average between 200-300 reports each year on the MENA region for British, European, and US courts.
The Expert’s areas of expertise include tribal issues, gender-based violence, security issues, extremist groups and militias, human rights law and violations, the situation for minorities, trafficking, and the availability of medical services. In addition to CERs,
The Expert also authenticates documents from the region, and conducts nationality and ethnicity reports in order to assess the likely origin of an individual within MENA.
The Expert is able to conduct nationality assessments in Arabic, Farsi, Sorani, and Bahdini/Kurmanji.
Gabbay, Shaul
Dr. Shaul Gabbay completed a BA at Bar Ilan University and an MA at Tel-Aviv University. In 1991 he received a Presidential Fellowship from the U.S. to continue his studies. In 1995 he completed the PhD program at Columbia University in New York and received an invitation from the University of Chicago for a Post Doctoral program. In 1998 Dr. Gabbay returned to Israel to join the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. Professor Gabbay joined the University of Denver as the Director of the Institute for the Study of Israel in the Middle East at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies in 2001- 2010. He continued his research at DU as a Senior Scholar until 2015 when he was appointed Director of the Global Research Institute.
His areas of expertise include Middle East cultures and societal norms, Middle East conflicts, and human rights issues existing in Muslim societies. He is regularly cited and acts as a commentator in national and international media such as the Associated Press, CBS, NBC, FOX and MSNBC.
George, Alan
Academic with expertise on many countries in the Middle East
Ghaderi, Dr Farangis
The expert is lecturer in Kurdish and Gender Studies at the University of Exeter and has extensive experience in providing country expert reports, nationality assessment, and language analysis.
Middle East Expert Witness and Consultant
Ghobadi, Dr Kaveh
Independent researcher. Country expert reports, nationality assessment, language analysis, Gender-based violence, Ethnic and religious minorities in the Middle East, and Document authentication.
Giustozzi, Dr. Antonio
Guest, Ms Julia
Journalist and Broadcaster, with direct experience of 'post-war' Iraq
Hafidh, Dr Hasan
The Expert is a Lecturer in Comparative Politics and International Relations of the Middle East.
Laizer, Sheri J
Extensive experience in expert reports on all the countries listed, and also in particular, Kurds in country of origin and diaspora
Landesmann, Sonya
Intercultural and psychoanalytic psychotherapist, specialising in issues relevant to various Muslim countries, incl vendettas, honour killing, domestic violence, PTSD, Rape Trauma Syndrome, assault in detention and traumas of migration and exile.
Mustafa, Awat
20 years experience in translation and knowledge in migration and displacement, 4 years ECOSOC representative for NGO at the human right council at UN-GENEVE and 10 years experience with humanitarian agencies and the world bank
Nasr, Hatem
CEO and founder at Xsolutions Ltd, is an experienced advocate in the appellate court of Egypt. With over 12 years of practice, they specialize in various legal areas, including Egyptian Civil Law, human rights, domestic abuse, trade regulations, criminal law, and Sharea (Islamic Law). They collaborate closely with lawyers, judges, and the Ministry of Interior on national security and civil registration cases. Additionally, they provide reports related to human rights, asylum, gender violence, and political persecution.
Nasr, Noha
With over two decades of experience in the media sector, I have demonstrated
exceptional leadership and management skills. I have led the External Media Sector at the London Office and the Department of West Europe Media Sector, overseeing media operations and enhancing Egypt’s image in the European press. My expertise includes preparing and presenting media memos and bulletins, analysing and reporting on critical issues, and managing foreign relations files. I have edited and curated numerous publications on significant topics such as the Brotherhood’s activities in Britain, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam talks, the Libyan crisis, and human rights in Egypt. Additionally, I have prepared thousands of memos and presentation notes, participated in media seminars and conferences, and developed media directives and annual plans. My achievements also include producing competency reports, responding to the Central Auditing Organization, and managing departmental needs, showcasing my ability to handle high-stakes, global issues and ensure continuous improvement within the department.
Panjwani, Dr Imranali
Dr. Imranali Panjwani is the Head of Diverse Legal Consulting, UK (www.diverselegal.com) and a Lecturer in Law at Anglia Ruskin University in Chelmsford, Essex. He has the unique combination of being a lawyer and academic having lived and worked in the UK, Middle East and Australia. His country expert reports draw upon primary country and theological sources with stringent analysis of evidence, law and language. He resides in the UK.
Pargeter, Alison
The Expert is a North Africa and Middle East specialist and has produced over 400 expert witness reports for the UK courts across a range of countries including Libya, Iraq (including KRI), Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria. The Expert has also served as an expert witness in several terrorism related cases in the UK, US and Ireland; as an expert witness in a Libyan case at the Commercial Division of the UK’s High Court; and as a country guidance expert on Libya in the UK courts (2017). The Expert has also carried out numerous linguistic and nationality assessments and provides translation services (Arabic-English).
Phelps, Dr. Sandra
The Expert is a Gender & Social Inclusion International Development specialist across multiple global south countries - She holds a Ph.D. in Gender & Postcolonial Studies, University of Sydney, Australia, 2005.
The Expert is an experienced senior consultant and academic with 15+ years in educational program design and management across humanitarian and development sectors, including democracy, education, civil society, and government collaboration in diverse global regions. Her expertise in creating effective development programs with a focus on inclusion and sustainable livelihoods.
Rahimi, Sadeq
The Expert’s research and publication interests have covered diverse aspects of culture, health and subjectivity ranging from collective self-esteem and perception of racism to schizophrenia and culture, political subjectivity, radicalization, clinical trials, behavioral economics, and artificial intelligence.