The No Walls Podcast

Episoade

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  40. Home Office Reforms — Law, Policy and Pushback 20.03.2026 54min

  Lately, we've focused a lot on international law but in this episode, we bring it back to domestic affairs. Sheroy and Toufique discuss the Home Secretary's various announcements and we speak to our good friend and leading public law solicitor, Jeremy Bloom, on two test cases listed to be heard soon - one on the refugee family reunion "suspension" and the second on "Good Character" guidance changes for refugees.
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  39. US/Israel’s unlawful use of force on Iran. 09.03.2026 46min

  The No Walls Podcast is back! We interview Marko Milanović. Marko is Professor of Public International Law at the University of Reading School of Law and Director of the Global Law at Reading (GLAR) research group, as well asthe Raoul Wallenberg Visiting Chair of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, University of Lund. He talks to us about the recent use of force by US-Israel, the UK’s current position – all in the context of international humanitarian law.  Sophie and Toufique also discuss their experience of Iranianasylum claims and the UK Government's approach to them. Join us! 
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  38. Unseen and the Fight Against Human Trafficking: Kate Garbers Speaks to the No Walls Podcast 05.12.2025 43min

  The Home Secretary recently accused asylum seekers of making “vexatious, last-minute trafficking claims” to avoid removal from the UK, as the Home Office said it would review modern slavery laws. The government’s rhetoric and actions targeting migrants continue to take an extreme turn. We speak to Kate Garbers, a founder and director of Unseen, a charity that provides safety, hope and choice to survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery. She has several years working in the anti-slavery sector, directly with survivors, law enforcement agencies, non-governmental organisations and governments on how to effectively tackle the issue of trafficking and modern slavery. She is also a Senior Research Fellow in Policy Evidence and Survivor Support, with the Rights Lab, at the University of Nottingham. Kate speaks about Modern Slavery, what it means, what the reality is and why the Home Secretary has simply got it wrong when it comes to trafficking survivors.
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  37. Barrister Mira Hammad on Pro-Palestinian Demonstrations & the Law 05.09.2025 43min

  In this episode, Toufique speaks with Mira Hammad, a formidable criminal barrister at Garden Court North. Mira speaks about erosion of protest rights in the UK and the stifling of peaceful dissent. She also sheds light on the recent proscription of Palestine Action, its potentially chilling effect on free speech and the ongoing legal challenge.
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  36. Europe’s Frontier: Refugee Rights on Lesvos 04.07.2025 45min

  In this episode, Sophie interviews Lorraine Leete,  lawyer andcoordinator at the Legal Centre Lesvos. Lorraine has extraordinary front-line experience working with migrants and refugees on the island. She gives our listeners an insight into camp conditions, the Hellenic coastguard’s pushbacks operations, and the criminalisation of migrants and human rights defenders. This is a must-listen for those with an interest in migration flows and understanding the human cost of Europe’s militarised borders
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  35. Refugee Rights in India: A Fight for Recognition – Prashant Bushan 26.06.2025 26min

  It’s Refugee Week and we’re releasing three episodes focusing on the experiences of refugees across the globe. In this episode we hear from Prashant Busan, one of India’s most highly regarded Supreme Court advocates who works on landmark cases, including on behalf of Rohingya refugees in India. In this powerful interview, Prashant outlines the atrocities being faced by Rohingya refugees and and their struggle to have their fundamental rights recognised andupheld.
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  34. Goodbye Anna! 19.05.2025 25min

  Goodbye Anna!It's an emotional time for the No Walls Team as we have to say goodbye to Anna as a co-host. This episode goes down memory lane, as Anna, Sheroy and Toufique look back on their favourite episodes. We'll miss you Anna!
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  33. Trump's Second Term So Far 13.05.2025 54min

  We’re back!!Trump’s executive actions have been described by Amnesty International as “harmful, racist - an anti-immigrant agenda”. We see here in the UK, our own Prime Minister’s rhetoric is becoming more and more extreme. This episode delves into Trump’s recent decisions and we hear from the incredible Karen Tumlin, Founder and Director of the Justice Action Centre and a nationally recognised attorney in the US focusing on immigrants’ rights.Also more personally, Sophie Lucas joins the NWP team as a new host!! She is a barrister at Garden Court Chambers with considerable experience in complex human rights challenges against public bodies, having previously worked as a solicitor. Sophie was named ‘Times Lawyer of the Week’ following the Court of Appeal’s ruling that the Rwanda policy was unlawful.
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  32. ICC Arrest Warrants and Syria 23.12.2024 1h 22min

  We’re back! Amid a world of increasing conflict and suffering, this episode shines a light on international justice and the ongoing efforts to seek accountability for human rights violations. We cover the ICC arrest warrants in relation to Palestine, and the recent developments in Syria. We speak to two brilliant guests: Yasmine Ahmed, the UK Director of Human Rights Watch with two decades of experience in international law and human rights advocacy, and Isabella Kirwan, ex-Duncan Lewis turned international law barrister at Guernica 37 chambers who represents in cases before international criminal tribunals in The Hague. Enjoy!
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  31. Climate Justice & Migration 24.07.2024 1h 14min

  In this episode we hear two brilliant interviews on climate justice and migration. First from the heavyweight barrister Jessica Simor KC, covering her remarkable career and role in the landmark ECtHR case of Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz and Others v. Switzerland. Then from Yumna Kamel, Legal Education Officer at Right to Remain and the co-founder and executive director of Earth Refuge, the planet's first legal think tank dedicated to climate migrants.  Enjoy.   Resources referenced by Yumna for further reading:ICAAD report on the Right to Life with Dignity for Climate Displaced Persons: https://icaad.ngo/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ICAAD-RTLWD-Policy-Brief.pdf Kerilyn Schewel's in/voluntary im/mobility work: https://mixedmigration.org/staying-put-why-its-time-to-pay-more-attention-to-mixed-immobility/UNHCR statement on 'Legal considerations regarding claims for international protection made in the context of the adverse effects of climate change and disasters’: https://www.refworld.org/policy/legalguidance/unhcr/2020/en/123356 Annalisa Savaresi and Joana Setzer from LSE’s Grantham Institute have identified more than 100 climate cases that rely on human rights arguments to promote action on climate change: https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/news/a-first-global-mapping-of-rights-based-climate-litigation-reveals-a-need-to-explore-just-transition-cases-in-more-depth/ Earth Refuge website: https://earthrefuge.org/Socials: @earthrefuge
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  30. 14 years of Tory Home Secretaries 10.07.2024 39min

  Sheroy and Toufique are back discussing the last few years of the Tory government through the lens of some of their cases, Toufique's recent award success and a little on the EUROs.
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  29. What is Happening in Sudan? 09.04.2024 58min

  The latest conflict has plunged Sudan into "one of the worst humanitarian nightmares in recent history", according to the UN who also warn it may trigger the world's largest hunger crisis. UNICEF says some communities in Sudan have been pushed to the brink of famine.We speak to Mark Townsend, a senior global development reporter at the Guardian who has recently visited neighbouring Chad, home to Sudanese refugees. He talks about evidence of ethnic cleansing, in "Darfur's unfolding dystopian nightmare". We also speak to the Co-Directors at Waging Peace, an NGO based in the UK dedicated to building better lives for Sudanese refugees.
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  28. Human Rights Defenders: Helen Duffy 08.03.2024 38min

  This episode shines a light on a formidable human rights defender, Helen Duffy, a Scottish international lawyer and academic. She is a Professor of International Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at the University of Leiden and runs her own international law practice ‘Human Rights in Practice (HRiP)' specialising in strategic litigation – with cases from Guantanamo Bay to Palestinian land rights. A particularly inspiring listen to mark International Women’s Day 2024. Enjoy. 
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  27. The Safety of Rwanda Bill 22.02.2024 48min

  As the UK's House of Lords currently debates the 'Safety of Rwanda Bill', this episode returns to Rwanda.We hear from Michela Wrong, an award-winning journalist and author who has spent over two decades writing about Africa. She has written for Reuters, the BBC and the Financial Times, amongst others. She has also written several books, including ‘Do Not Disturb’ - a scathing assessment of Rwanda under President Kagame which brought our attention to her.We hope you enjoy. Link to the transcript of Baroness Hale’s comments in the House of Lords as mentioned in the introduction: https://hansard.parliament.uk/lords/2024-02-19/debates/69F06855-C925-4753-9277-D92C1BEB6CD0/SafetyOfRwanda(AsylumAndImmigration)Bill
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  26. International Criminal Law (plus Rwanda round 2- a constitutional crisis!) 20.12.2023 50min

  This episode dives into International Criminal Law, including the avenues for international criminal accountability and the role and power of the International Criminal Court. We hear a fascinating interview with Toby Cadman, barrister and co-founder of The Guernica 37 Group and Joint Head of Guernica 37 Chambers, and an experienced international criminal and humanitarian law specialist. However, first our co-hosts speak more on the government's proposed plans for Rwanda following the Supreme Court's Judgment. Note: our interview with Toby Cadman was recorded on 23 November 2023 and therefore some facts and statistics may be slightly out-of-date.
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  25. International Humanitarian Law: Israel-Gaza 01.12.2023 1h 8min

  This episode dives into International Humanitarian Law, specifically in the context of what is happening right now in Gaza especially as Israel resumes its offensive. We hope to provide you with a clear overview of the international legal position through insights from two highly-informed guests: Clive Baldwin, Senior Legal Advisor at Human Rights Watch, and Professor Andrew Clapham, Professor of International Law at the Graduate Institute.
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  24. The Supreme Court's Rwanda Judgment 20.11.2023 37min

  We are back for Season 3!On Wednesday 15 November, the UK Supreme Court unanimously held the Secretary of State's Rwanda policy to be unlawful. Tune in to hear our co-hosts plus solicitor Sophie Lucas debrief on the judgment, discuss the process running up to it and what it was like to be in the Courtroom when Lord Reed read out those words.
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  23. Music, Protest & Resistance 09.06.2023 1h 30min

  Music plays a central role in the lives of so many, not least those who want to express their views of protest and resistance through the medium of art. The No Walls Podcast is back, this time with two extremely gifted guests: Nick Armstrong KC of Matrix Chambers - one of the country’s leading barristers, and Bumi Thomas - an inspirational musician with lived experience of standing up to the Home Office. Bumi was kind enough to let us feature one of her original songs at the end of the episode, and both have been kind enough to provide us with playlists of the songs that they refer to. Follow the link below to listen to their selections!https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2NHe2RxowpUrgGCL13QvhZ?si=EC9u5TE1Qz6rx6Ub6GYM6g
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  The No Walls Podcast: a trailer! 30.05.2023 15min

  With 21 episodes and an increasing audience, The No Walls Podcast is continuing to grow! If you're interested in listening, we've put together a short trailer so you can hear some of the conversations we've had over the past 16 months and the kind of content you can expect going forward! The trailer includes the following clips: 1. Toufique Hossain, one of our co-hosts, talking about his most moving moment over his extensive career (S01E02). 2. Dr Emilie McDonnel, Advocacy Coordinator at Human Rights Watch, talking about the UK's Rwanda policy (S01E07). 3. Alphonsine Kabagabo, the director of the NGO Women for Refugee Women and survivor of sexual violence & the Rwandan genocide, talking about the impact of gender-based violence and Home Office shortcomings (S01E10). 4. Michael Etienne, barrister at Garden Court Chambers, talking about the role of racial prejudice and bias in the legal profession (S01E09). 5. Bella Sankey, director at the time of the NGO Detention Action, talking about myths in the sphere of immigration and asylum (S01E03).
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  22. The Illegal Migration Bill, Rwanda, the ECHR....a summary! 12.05.2023 29min

  It's been an interesting few months! This episode attempts to summarise the latest issues that are keeping those working in the immigration and asylum fields very busy...and worried. Toufique and Sheroy talk Rwanda, Rule 39 interim measures, ECHR, asylum accommodation on barges and the dreaded Illegal Migration Bill. Tune in!!