Heartbreak, bureaucracy, and a sweary ISIS teen – what could possibly go wrong?

Join Nussaibah Younis, Associate at Chicago University’s Pearson Institute, alongside Hugo Rifkind, award-winning Times columnist, for a lively dive into Fundamentally, the darkly hilarious debut novel that’s turning heads.

Inspired by her work in post-ISIS peacebuilding, Younis delivers a sharp comedy about international aid and belonging. In Fundamentally, Nadia, an Oxford academic escaping heartbreak, takes on a UN job in Iraq to rehabilitate ISIS brides. Amid bureaucratic chaos, she bonds with Sara, a sweary East London teen who joined ISIS at fifteen. But a shocking secret soon tests their unlikely friendship.

Moderated by the ever-witty Hugo Rifkind, settle in for an evening that proves humour can take on even the toughest social and political issues—without losing heart.

Event Schedule

6:00pm: Pre-event socialising and networking

A cash bar will be available for refreshments.

6:30pm: Event begins

7:30pm: Event ends

Speakers:

Dr Nussaibah Younis is a peacebuilding practitioner and a globally recognised expert on contemporary Iraq. For several years, she advised the Iraqi government on proposed programs to de-radicalise women affiliated with ISIS. She studied at Oxford, Durham and Harvard Universities, and has a PhD in International Affairs. Dr Younis was a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council in Washington DC, where she directed the Task Force on the Future of Iraq. She has published Op-Eds in the Wall Street Journal, the Guardian, and the New York Times. She was born in the UK to an Iraqi father and a Pakistani mother, and currently lives in London.

Hugo Rifkind is a columnist, critic and leader writer for The Times. He also presents a Saturday morning show on Times Radio from 10am-1pm. Formerly a columnist for The Herald, The Spectator and GQ, he joined The Times in 2005 as a diarist and features writer. He now writes a weekly opinion column, the weekend TV review and My Week, a diary parody. He has won two Press Awards, three Comment Awards and one Stonewall Award