Hardtalk

A tiny proportion of Muslim women in Britain wear the burqa or niqab; forms of dress which keep the face partially of fully covered. Nonetheless, those women find themselves at the heart of a sometimes bitter argument about religion, values and tolerance in Western society. HARDtalk’s Stephen Sackur speaks to the Islamic scholar and imam- Taj Hargey, who has long stirred controversy amongst fellow Muslims by condemning the burqa and demanding a new form of Islam. Will his ideas ever gain traction in the Muslim community?

When Iran’s President Rouhani was convincingly re-elected last year, Iranians seemed hopeful their living standards might improve. However, inflation, poverty, water shortages and corruption are all things that appear to be getting worse. Now, Iran is again facing US sanctions after President Trump walked away from the nuclear deal with Tehran. Stephen Sackur speaks to Iranian political analyst and erstwhile nuclear talks adviser Mohamed Marandi. Is Iran on the brink of an economic and political crisis?(Photo: Professor Mohamed Marandi)

The Christian religion is divided on issues of sexuality; not least the degree of acceptance and inclusion offered to gay men and women of faith. Amid the fierce theological arguments are stories of individuals torn between their faith and sexual orientation. Stephen Sackur speaks to Vicky Beeching, a popular Christian singer-songwriter, turned public advocate for LGBT rights, whose remarkable story has seen her described as one of the most influential Christians of her generation. Has she found peace after years of turmoil?(Photo: Vicky Beeching in the Hardtalk studios)

Stephen Sackur speaks to Dutch MEP, Sophie Int’ Veld, deputy to the European parliament’s chief Brexit negotiator. British Prime minister Theresa May is running out of time to avoid the Brexit cliff edge. Her proposals for a post Brexit trade deal with Brussels got short shrift from the EUs chief negotiator – she seems to be hoping to get more joy from some of Europe’s national leaders. But with every passing day the prospect of a no deal, potentially chaotic Brexit grows more real. Is Brexit brinkmanship a game no one can win?(Photo: Dutch MEP, Sophie Int’ Veld)

Anger is a powerful force in politics and there's a lot of it about. Donald Trump, Brexit and a host of populist movements have been fuelled by anger with the way things are. Where does it come from? How best to respond? One much discussed, provocative perspective comes not from a politician but the Canadian clinical psychologist, Jordan Peterson, whose defence of traditional values has won him a worldwide following. Is his diagnosis liberating or dangerous?(Photo: Dr Jordan Peterson. Credit: Carlos Osorio/Getty Images)

Zeinab Badawi speaks to Bambang Brodjonegoro, Indonesia's Minister of National Development Planning. President Widodo of Indonesia was recently re-elected to a second term in office and he says he has big ambitions to raise the standard of living of his people. Indonesia is the most populous country in South East Asia and has the biggest economy. But it faces a series of challenges from poor infrastructure to corruption and extreme income inequality. He is in London to try and attract investors, but is the government doing enough to tackle its problems?

It was front page news around the world when a mass grave was discovered at a Mother and Baby Home in Ireland. The remains of almost 800 babies were found. But research by Paul Redmond showed that this was only "the tip of the iceberg". He collected evidence of high death rates at homes for illegitimate children across Ireland and also claimed the catholic nuns who ran them were trading in adoptions; being paid to send children to the United States for adoption often against the mother's wishes and sometimes without her knowledge. He was born in one of those homes and adopted before he was a month old. Now he feels he has a duty to expose what went on.(Photo: Paul Redmond in the Hardtalk studio)

The United Nations Human Rights Commissioner, Zeid Al Hussein, is stepping down in August after four years in the post having said he doesn’t want a second term. In an exclusive interview the veteran Jordanian diplomat tells Zeinab Badawi why he didn’t want to stay in the job. After being criticised for being too outspoken – especially about the US president Donald Trump’s policies – was he too vocal to be effective in promoting human rights globally, or is that just what the job demands?Image: Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein (Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

In August it will be 20 years since more than 200 people were killed when simultaneous truck bomb explosions were carried out on the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. Zeinab Badawi speaks to the acclaimed Kenyan film-maker Wanuri Kahiu who made an award winning film on the tragedy. Her latest film depicting a lesbian love affair however has been banned in Kenya. What does her film making tell us about African society today and how they are viewed by wider audiences?(Photo: Director Wanuri Kahiu attend the screening of Leto at Cannes Film Festival. Credit: Dominique Charriau/WireImage)

Is Australia redefining what it means to be a good bloke? Stephen Sackur speaks to internationally acclaimed author Tim Winton whose prolific output of fiction is rooted deep in the soil and the shoreline of his native western Australia. His latest novel, The Shepherds Hut, focuses on a troubled young man wrestling with demons, and it comes at an opportune time with the Me Too movement demanding an end to ingrained sexism, misogyny and toxic masculinity.)(Photo: Tim Winton in the Hardtalk studio)

Stephen Sackur speaks to Elmar Brok, MEP - the longest serving member of the European parliament and a close ally of Chancellor Angela Merkel. The EU is bedeviled by problems that simply won’t go away – from Brexit to immigration to an increasingly vexed relationship with the Trump Administration. Germany is the EU’s most powerful economy, but is its political clout on the wane?(Photo: Elmar Brok prior to the beginning of the EU foreign ministers meeting on the constitution in Brussels, 2004. Credit: Thierry Monasse/AFP)

There are growing concerns that India, the world’s most populous democracy is in the grip of a divisive brand of populism. The ruling BJP Hindu nationalist party has been accused by the country’s 180million plus Muslims of treating them as second class citizens. India may be one of the most dangerous countries in the world for women because of the high risk of sexual violence. Stephen Sackur speaks to India’s Law and Justice Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad, who is at the centre of many of these storms. Is India facing its darkest hour since independence?(Photo: Ravi Shankar Prasad, Law and Justice Minister for India)

Stephen Sackur speaks to Hameed Haroon, CEO of the Dawn Media Group. In just a few days’ time Pakistanis will go to the polls to elect a new Government. Democracy rather than military dictatorship is becoming a habit. Or is it? Accusations are flying inside the country of military meddling - intimidation of critical media voices, and tacit support for friendly politicians. Is Pakistan's democracy in danger?(Photo: Hameed Haroon, CEO of the Dawn Media Group)

How far will Trump take his love of disruption? Stephen Sackur speaks to Christopher Ruddy, CEO of Newsmax Media Inc. President Donald Trump seems to value his gut instinct more than expert advice; and appears to respect raw power more than traditional alliances. This is not a President ready to make nice with Europe simply because of shared values. Amid the constant churn of Administration staff his informal advisers seem to know him best - like long time Trump ally and conservative media mogul Christopher Ruddy.(Photo: Christopher Ruddy, CEO of Newsmax Media Inc)

For nearly three decades the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia has been locked in a bitter dispute with neighbouring Greece over its name. There’s a Greek province called Macedonia. Last month the two countries signed a historic accord to change the name of this small Balkan state to the Republic of North Macedonia - subject to a referendum. The agreement paves the way for Macedonia to join the EU and Nato. This would be a welcome step for a country that is one of the poorest in Europe. But challenges from nationalist hardliners, the opposition and the President signal stormy times ahead for the social democratic government. Zeinab Badawi speaks to Prime Minister Zoran Zaev. Does he have what it takes to change hearts and mind and set his country on a path of greater prosperity?(Photo: Prime Minister Zoran Zaev speaks at signing ceremony renaming Macedonia to Republic of North Macedonia, 2018. Credit: Sakis Mitrolidis/AFP)

HARDtalk goes to the Hay Literary Festival in Wales, where we are joined by an audience to meet a world-renowned specialist in death. For many of us, it is the hardest subject of all to think and talk about - yet for author Sue Black, it is the very business of life. She's a professor of forensic anthropology, whose ability to read the clues and stories in human remains has made her a world renowned investigator. What does she see when she looks death in the face?Image: Sue Black (Credit: BBC)

HARDTalk is in Jerusalem, an ancient city which arguably stirs more passion, argument and hostility than any other. Israel claims all of it as its eternal, undivided capital - a claim at odds with international law and much world opinion, but boosted by President Trump's decision to move the US embassy there. Stephen Sackur talks to Jerusalem's two term mayor Nir Barkat. Can Israel conclusively win the struggle for Jerusalem?Image: Nir Barkat (Credit: Getty Images)

Sarah Montague speaks to Ben Rhodes who was Deputy National Security Adviser for President Barack Obama. During his time at the White House he developed such a close bond with the President that he earned a reputation for being able to anticipate his thinking and administration insiders described him as the single most influential voice shaping American foreign policy aside from Obama himself. So how does he feel about the new occupant of the White House and what he has done with their legacy?(Photo: Ben Rhodes speaks about the President Obama's upcoming trip to Cuba during a daily press briefing at the White House, 2016. Credit: Brendan Smialowski/AFP)

The internet is perhaps the defining technological advance of the last fifty years. It has opened up a new world of possibilities, but what if it also represents an existential threat to humanity? That is the alarming possibility raised by computer scientist Jaron Lanier. He is no tech-phobic sensationalist; he is a Silicon Valley insider who was a hugely influential pioneer in Virtual Reality and a consultant to some of the biggest tech giants. In what ways are we sowing the seeds of our own destruction?(Photo: Jaron Lanier in the Hardtalk studio)

Since the beginning of 2018, the Iranian Government has locked up a number of environmental scientists and campaigners. One respected conservationist was found hanged in his cell in what the authorities said was a suicide. What is going on? HARDtalk’s Stephen Sackur speaks to Kaveh Madani, a scientist invited back to Iran from an academic post in London to be deputy head of the Environment Department. He got caught up in the crackdown and fled Iran in April. Why has environmental activism become so dangerous in Iran?(Photo: Kaveh Madani)