Sarah Glynn
@sarahglynn.bsky.social
Architect Academic Activist
www.sarahglynn.net
www.sarahglynn.net
I enjoy not just looking at buildings but also reading them to try and understand why they are the way they are. I hope that this article - compiled from my housing lectures - can help people in Scotland enjoy reading the streets around them.
sarahglynn.net/tenements-to...
sarahglynn.net/tenements-to...
Tenements, towers, and cul-de-sacs – the building blocks of Scottish towns
In the lockdown summer of 2020, I started to rewrite the housing lectures that I had given to students in Paisley with the aim of making a book on Scottish housing. I never finished this because th…
sarahglynn.net
December 14, 2025 at 2:46 PM
I enjoy not just looking at buildings but also reading them to try and understand why they are the way they are. I hope that this article - compiled from my housing lectures - can help people in Scotland enjoy reading the streets around them.
sarahglynn.net/tenements-to...
sarahglynn.net/tenements-to...
KURDISH émigrés talk about returning home to Turkey – and if dedication to hope were enough to bring about change, they'd be there tomorrow. In the real uncertain world, their future sits on a knife-edge. My latest for @scotnational.bsky.social
www.thenational.scot/politics/256...
www.thenational.scot/politics/256...
Waiting for peace in Kurdistan is a rollercoaster of hope and fear for the future
Kurdish émigrés talk about the possibility of one day returning home to Turkey – and if dedication to hope were enough to bring about change,…
www.thenational.scot
November 17, 2025 at 4:55 PM
KURDISH émigrés talk about returning home to Turkey – and if dedication to hope were enough to bring about change, they'd be there tomorrow. In the real uncertain world, their future sits on a knife-edge. My latest for @scotnational.bsky.social
www.thenational.scot/politics/256...
www.thenational.scot/politics/256...
Turkey's deposed mayors and the Council of Europe - in which I ask what is being done by Europe's organisation for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law - and what more they could be doing?
www.theamargi.com/posts/turkey...
www.theamargi.com/posts/turkey...
Turkey’s deposed mayors and the Council of Europe
Abdullah Zeydan, the deposed DEM Party co-mayor of the metropolitan city of Van, was in Strasbourg last week at the Council of Europe. The Council’s raison d’être is the preservation of human rights, ...
www.theamargi.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Turkey's deposed mayors and the Council of Europe - in which I ask what is being done by Europe's organisation for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law - and what more they could be doing?
www.theamargi.com/posts/turkey...
www.theamargi.com/posts/turkey...
I interviewed Abdullah Zeydan, deposed DEM Parti co-mayor of Van, who is here in Strasbourg for the Congress of Local Authorities at the Council of Europe
www.greenleft.org.au/2025/1441/wo...
www.greenleft.org.au/2025/1441/wo...
Dismissed DEM Parti Co-Mayor: ‘For real peace, there should be democracy’
Abdullah Zeydan, of the pro-Kurdish leftist Peoples Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Parti), was elected in a landslide as co-mayor of the Turkish city of Van in 2024, before the Turkish government s...
www.greenleft.org.au
October 30, 2025 at 9:40 AM
I interviewed Abdullah Zeydan, deposed DEM Parti co-mayor of Van, who is here in Strasbourg for the Congress of Local Authorities at the Council of Europe
www.greenleft.org.au/2025/1441/wo...
www.greenleft.org.au/2025/1441/wo...
In my latest for Green Left I look at Turkey and the Council of Europe and ask what is the point of lobbying www.greenleft.org.au/2025/1440/wo...
Turkey and the Council of Europe
When it comes to bringing Turkey to account for its attack on dmeocracy and human rights abuses against the Kurds, the Council of Europe has been "kicking the ball into the long grass", yet advocates ...
www.greenleft.org.au
October 8, 2025 at 11:15 AM
In my latest for Green Left I look at Turkey and the Council of Europe and ask what is the point of lobbying www.greenleft.org.au/2025/1440/wo...
Turkey is "a democracy but it's kind of authoritarian" so America's "genius" president will give Erdoğan "legitimacy". Oh and "Erdogan keeps Lockheed moving". Another demonstration of the skills of US Ambassador Tom Barrack x.com/mintelworld/...
x.com
September 25, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Turkey is "a democracy but it's kind of authoritarian" so America's "genius" president will give Erdoğan "legitimacy". Oh and "Erdogan keeps Lockheed moving". Another demonstration of the skills of US Ambassador Tom Barrack x.com/mintelworld/...
Next Saturday John Clarke and I will be speaking on CLIMATE and CLASS at an online forum hosted by the Global Ecosocialist Network and Marxmail.
If you would like to join us you can register for the event here: forms.gle/K8D8w72Tn2ih...
You can also find our wee book here: climateandclass.net
If you would like to join us you can register for the event here: forms.gle/K8D8w72Tn2ih...
You can also find our wee book here: climateandclass.net
September 15, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Next Saturday John Clarke and I will be speaking on CLIMATE and CLASS at an online forum hosted by the Global Ecosocialist Network and Marxmail.
If you would like to join us you can register for the event here: forms.gle/K8D8w72Tn2ih...
You can also find our wee book here: climateandclass.net
If you would like to join us you can register for the event here: forms.gle/K8D8w72Tn2ih...
You can also find our wee book here: climateandclass.net
In my latest for Green Left I examine the Turkish Kurdish “peace process” www.greenleft.org.au/content/ther...
Is there a Kurdish-Turkish peace process?
It is six months since imprisoned Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan’s call for the disarmament and dissolution of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), giving rise to hopes of a new “peace process”, writes ...
www.greenleft.org.au
September 1, 2025 at 7:58 AM
In my latest for Green Left I examine the Turkish Kurdish “peace process” www.greenleft.org.au/content/ther...
Over the years I have spent a lot of time grappling with the contradictions inherent in our relationship with TRADITION - as an academic, as an activist, and in my own life. I have tried to sum up these contradictions and the questions they raise:
August 24, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Over the years I have spent a lot of time grappling with the contradictions inherent in our relationship with TRADITION - as an academic, as an activist, and in my own life. I have tried to sum up these contradictions and the questions they raise:
What is happening in Syria and what does it mean for Kurds and other minorities - my latest for @GreenLeftOnline
www.greenleft.org.au/content/conf...
www.greenleft.org.au/content/conf...
Conflicting futures for Syria’s Kurds and other minorities?
Two days after meeting with Turkey’s Foreign Minister, Hakan Fidan, the Syrian government announced it was pulling out of a planned meeting with the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, ...
www.greenleft.org.au
August 13, 2025 at 12:59 PM
What is happening in Syria and what does it mean for Kurds and other minorities - my latest for @GreenLeftOnline
www.greenleft.org.au/content/conf...
www.greenleft.org.au/content/conf...
A week ago, I spoke at a Green Left
@GreenLeftOnline
meeting looking at the Kurds and the Israel-US war on Iran. I chose to look at the current situation in the context of a century of imperialism. This is my speech – written and prerecorded video.
links.org.au/imperialism-...
@GreenLeftOnline
meeting looking at the Kurds and the Israel-US war on Iran. I chose to look at the current situation in the context of a century of imperialism. This is my speech – written and prerecorded video.
links.org.au/imperialism-...
Imperialism, repression and resistance: The long war against Kurds in Iran
Like other conflicts in the Middle East, Iran’s troubled relations with the US and Israel — and with Iranian Kurds — have their roots in imperialism, writes Sarah Glynn.
links.org.au
August 9, 2025 at 9:35 AM
A week ago, I spoke at a Green Left
@GreenLeftOnline
meeting looking at the Kurds and the Israel-US war on Iran. I chose to look at the current situation in the context of a century of imperialism. This is my speech – written and prerecorded video.
links.org.au/imperialism-...
@GreenLeftOnline
meeting looking at the Kurds and the Israel-US war on Iran. I chose to look at the current situation in the context of a century of imperialism. This is my speech – written and prerecorded video.
links.org.au/imperialism-...
In memory of Tom Lehrer, who died two days ago and whose songs span the generations
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHPm...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHPm...
Tom Lehrer Full Copenhagen Performance
YouTube video by Tom Lehrer
www.youtube.com
July 28, 2025 at 2:08 PM
In memory of Tom Lehrer, who died two days ago and whose songs span the generations
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHPm...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHPm...
My latest article for @GreenLeftOnline looks at what has been happening in the Druze governorate of Suwayda and its implications for the future of Syria www.greenleft.org.au/content/suwa...
Suwayda’s resistance and the struggle for Syria’s future
A week of brutal sectarian violence in Suwayda, in southern Syria, has left more than 1000 people dead, during which disparate Druze factions united against the Syrian government and Israel further co...
www.greenleft.org.au
July 22, 2025 at 8:26 AM
My latest article for @GreenLeftOnline looks at what has been happening in the Druze governorate of Suwayda and its implications for the future of Syria www.greenleft.org.au/content/suwa...
Anticipating the PKK's firs disarmament My latest article for Green Left
www.greenleft.org.au/content/anti...
www.greenleft.org.au/content/anti...
Anticipating the PKK’s first disarmament
Twenty to thirty Kurdistan Workers’ Party guerillas will come down from the mountains and destroy their weapons in front of witnesses from around the world, in a symbolic act of the PKK’s commitment t...
www.greenleft.org.au
July 11, 2025 at 7:05 AM
Anticipating the PKK's firs disarmament My latest article for Green Left
www.greenleft.org.au/content/anti...
www.greenleft.org.au/content/anti...
With this brief tour of the 4 parts of Kurdistan, I end my weekly news column. Medya News is closing, but I intend to go on providing analysis of key developments, so please look out for future articles in Green Left, and also via my website, below
medyanews.net/after-the-wa...
medyanews.net/after-the-wa...
After the war the crackdown: in this week’s Kurdish news
Sarah Glynn The twelve-day war between Israel and Iran seems to be over – for now. Since my last article
medyanews.net
June 30, 2025 at 7:31 AM
With this brief tour of the 4 parts of Kurdistan, I end my weekly news column. Medya News is closing, but I intend to go on providing analysis of key developments, so please look out for future articles in Green Left, and also via my website, below
medyanews.net/after-the-wa...
medyanews.net/after-the-wa...
The short war between Israel and Iran has left the world a more dangerous place- a round-up of current events in the 4 parts of Kurdistan, centring on the crackdown on Iranian Kurds and the political prisoners in Evin Prison. medyanews.net/after-the-wa...
After the war the crackdown: in this week’s Kurdish news
Sarah Glynn The twelve-day war between Israel and Iran seems to be over – for now. Since my last article
medyanews.net
June 29, 2025 at 6:16 PM
The short war between Israel and Iran has left the world a more dangerous place- a round-up of current events in the 4 parts of Kurdistan, centring on the crackdown on Iranian Kurds and the political prisoners in Evin Prison. medyanews.net/after-the-wa...
Amidst fears of Armageddon, Kurds are dreaming of autonomy within Iran. This week’s article examines both the huge risks being taken by Israel and America, and the political thinking of the Kurdish groups who hope to see an Iranian 'Rojava Revolution'
medyanews.net/hopes-and-fe...
medyanews.net/hopes-and-fe...
Hopes and fears in Iran – last week in Kurdish news
Sarah Glynn Is this what the beginning of a world war feels like? The sparrows are chirping from their nest
medyanews.net
June 21, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Amidst fears of Armageddon, Kurds are dreaming of autonomy within Iran. This week’s article examines both the huge risks being taken by Israel and America, and the political thinking of the Kurdish groups who hope to see an Iranian 'Rojava Revolution'
medyanews.net/hopes-and-fe...
medyanews.net/hopes-and-fe...
Les sans-abri et des centaines de leurs sympathisants étaient devant la préfecture de Strasbourg ce soir
June 18, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Les sans-abri et des centaines de leurs sympathisants étaient devant la préfecture de Strasbourg ce soir
Hope has always been an essential part of the Kurdish Freedom Movement, but when it comes to the “Peace Process”, there are many grounds for concern. I look at the need for progressive forces to come together in the struggle for democracy.
medyanews.net/interrogatin...
medyanews.net/interrogatin...
Interrogating the “Peace Process” – last week in Kurdish News
Sarah Glynn “The balances and the political system of the 21st century are being re-established. And this new design of
medyanews.net
June 14, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Hope has always been an essential part of the Kurdish Freedom Movement, but when it comes to the “Peace Process”, there are many grounds for concern. I look at the need for progressive forces to come together in the struggle for democracy.
medyanews.net/interrogatin...
medyanews.net/interrogatin...
As N&E Syria negotiates its future, I look at what the Autonomous Administration has achieved and how, yet again, US & friends have promoted Islamist reactionaries rather than risk encouraging a progressive alternative that might challenge their control.
medyanews.net/how-far-can-...
medyanews.net/how-far-can-...
How far can Rojava swim against the imperialist tide? Last week in Kurdish news
As followers of Medya News may have noticed, I spent last week in Kurdistan as part of a delegation led
medyanews.net
June 8, 2025 at 9:33 AM
As N&E Syria negotiates its future, I look at what the Autonomous Administration has achieved and how, yet again, US & friends have promoted Islamist reactionaries rather than risk encouraging a progressive alternative that might challenge their control.
medyanews.net/how-far-can-...
medyanews.net/how-far-can-...
After the PKK’s decision to dissolve/disarm: what the Turkish Gov needs to do next, versus what they have done, & lessons from Northern Ireland.
+ While Kurds reaffirm radical politics, Trump deals arms and Syria falls within the US sphere of influence.
medyanews.net/peace-proces...
+ While Kurds reaffirm radical politics, Trump deals arms and Syria falls within the US sphere of influence.
medyanews.net/peace-proces...
Peace processes and arms deals – last week in Kurdish news
Sarah Glynn On Monday, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) announced the decision taken at their twelfth congress, which was held
medyanews.net
May 17, 2025 at 10:04 PM
After the PKK’s decision to dissolve/disarm: what the Turkish Gov needs to do next, versus what they have done, & lessons from Northern Ireland.
+ While Kurds reaffirm radical politics, Trump deals arms and Syria falls within the US sphere of influence.
medyanews.net/peace-proces...
+ While Kurds reaffirm radical politics, Trump deals arms and Syria falls within the US sphere of influence.
medyanews.net/peace-proces...
Politics surrounding the expected announcement of the dissolution of the PKK.
The Paris meeting between Macron and Syria’s Interim President, Ahmed al-Sharaa.
The relative weakness and short-term pragmatism of al-Sharaa e.g. worrying recent appointments.
medyanews.net/between-war-...
The Paris meeting between Macron and Syria’s Interim President, Ahmed al-Sharaa.
The relative weakness and short-term pragmatism of al-Sharaa e.g. worrying recent appointments.
medyanews.net/between-war-...
Between war and peace in Turkey and Syria – last week in Kurdish news
Sarah Glynn Since this article was initially written, we have received news that the PKK Congress was held from the
medyanews.net
May 9, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Politics surrounding the expected announcement of the dissolution of the PKK.
The Paris meeting between Macron and Syria’s Interim President, Ahmed al-Sharaa.
The relative weakness and short-term pragmatism of al-Sharaa e.g. worrying recent appointments.
medyanews.net/between-war-...
The Paris meeting between Macron and Syria’s Interim President, Ahmed al-Sharaa.
The relative weakness and short-term pragmatism of al-Sharaa e.g. worrying recent appointments.
medyanews.net/between-war-...
Remembering the other 8 May 1945 and the massacre of thousands of Algerians by French colonial troops - Strasbourg
May 8, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Remembering the other 8 May 1945 and the massacre of thousands of Algerians by French colonial troops - Strasbourg
The importance of the Kurdish Unity Conference is highlighted by the sectarian violence against the Druze in southern Syria, fuelled by troubled post-war conditions. And all is made more dangerous by the disruptive roles being played by Israel and Turkey.
medyanews.net/kurdish-unit...
medyanews.net/kurdish-unit...
Kurdish unity versus Syria’s deadly sectarianism- last week in Kurdish news
Sarah Glynn Last Saturday’s Kurdish Unity Conference made a powerful call for the recognition of ethnic and religious diversity and
medyanews.net
May 3, 2025 at 5:07 PM
The importance of the Kurdish Unity Conference is highlighted by the sectarian violence against the Druze in southern Syria, fuelled by troubled post-war conditions. And all is made more dangerous by the disruptive roles being played by Israel and Turkey.
medyanews.net/kurdish-unit...
medyanews.net/kurdish-unit...
The BBC documents the Turkish military take over of northern Iraq and the role of the Kurdistan Democratic Party. (This was made before Öcalan's call for PKK dissolution and the PKK ceasefire but this is acknowledged at the end)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgVU...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgVU...
The Forbidden Zone: Why Is Turkey building military bases inside Iraq? - BBC World Service Docs
YouTube video by BBC World Service
www.youtube.com
April 30, 2025 at 9:04 AM
The BBC documents the Turkish military take over of northern Iraq and the role of the Kurdistan Democratic Party. (This was made before Öcalan's call for PKK dissolution and the PKK ceasefire but this is acknowledged at the end)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgVU...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgVU...