About us

The Liberum - an old Latin term for ‘the free’ - champions a free marketplace of ideas and thoughts, emphasising the importance of press freedom and independent journalism to motivate support. Highlighting that freedom of speech and the right to publish through independent media are increasingly under threat helps keep readers aware of current dangers.  

Liberum opposes this erosion of press freedom and encourages everyone to stand up for independent journalism, empowering the audience to protect our democratic rights.  

We operate as an independent platform focused on providing uncensored news, stories, and opinion pieces often overlooked by mainstream media, covering geopolitics, socialcultural issues, and global dossiers that matter to us all. We advocate for press freedom and the freedom to express (unapologetic) opinions.

Editorial Team

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“An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind” (Gandhi)

Editor-in-chief

Paul Cliteur

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“All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” (Arthur Schopenhauer)

Philosopher, Writer & Columnist

Emad Aysha

“"Connecting the dots to make or break the news for the world"”

Arab Science Fiction Expert

“When power speaks, we question.”

Senior Analyst

Filip Dewinter

“Own people first - (Eigen volk eerst)”

Politician, journalist & commentator

“It is not the strongest that survives, but the most adaptable to change”

Corporate Expert

Murielle Hebbo

“Your difference is what makes you great” (Ellen Oh)

Columnist

Vasif Huseynov

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“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” (Martin Luther King Jr.)

Senior Geopolitcal Analyst

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“Clarity is the ultimate sophistication”

Senior Humanistic Realist

Hiba Abdulwahhab

“The free person defends the idea, regardless of who voices it; the slave defends the person, regardless of the idea.” (Ibn Khaldun)

Hiba Abdulwahhab

Independent Researcher, MENA Politics & Society

Ken van Ierlant

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“Never a dull moment”

Ken van Ierlant

Senior Analyst

Adnan Nasser

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“Never conform and never surrender”

Foreign policy analyst and economic - market researcher

Dina-Perla Portnaar

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“Everyone is included in exclusion. We either abandon our humanity and civilization or rise to the challenge.”

Dina-Perla Portnaar

Senior Critical Thinker

Nikola Mikovic

“In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way.” (Franklin D. Roosevelt)

Senior Geo-political Analyst

“War is progress, peace is stagnation” (Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel)

Senior Security Analyst

Rafic Taleb

“I hold that all people are created equal and born free, this is the foundation of my belief and the compass of my actions.”

Sociopolitical Analyst

Hiba Kilany

“Have no fear of perfection, you will never reach it” (Salvador Dali)

Communication Globetrotter Specialist

“No discrimination of any kind shall be made against any citizen on grounds of religion, caste, or creed” (Muhammad Ali Jinnah)

Geological Analyst

Marco Mattiussi

“We are our choices” (Jean-Paul Sartre)

Marco Mattiussi

Senior Political Analyst

Glen Kalem-Habib

“Passionate love is a quenches thirst” (Kahlil Gibran)

Glen Kalem-Habib

Kahlil Gibran Scholar

Dr. Aart G. Broek

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (Bible, King James Version, John I)

Dr. Aart G. Broek

Sociologist & Literary scholar

Joon W

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“Si le monde était clair, l'art ne serait pas” (Albert Camus)

Cartoonist

“It’s all about your transformation story”

Communication Consultant

Mienke de Wilde

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“Taking yourself too seriously is intellectual vanity”

Mienke de Wilde

Columnist

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“To see what is in front of one’s nose needs a constant struggle.” (George Orwell)

Radical Thinker

Max von Kreyfelt

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“Where power deceives, let truth resound — unbroken, unwavering”

Max von Kreyfelt

Senior Independent Thinker

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“In quiet and trust you shall find your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15)

“Live like there’s no yesterday”

Columnist and Storyteller

More about the Liberum

Since our inception in 2022, The Liberum has attracted a distinguished mix of talented young and senior authors from the Middle East, Europe and Asia. Our analyses and opinions are unsencored and do not shy away from putting fingers on the sore spot. Swimming against the tide is our daily bread.   

Our authors come from various cultural and religious backgrounds, including Western, Arabic, and Jewish voices, which strengthens our mission by showcasing diverse perspectives. All on one platform.  

The right to express opinions without government restraint is a democratic ideal that dates back to ancient Greece. Alarmingly, many elected leaders, who should defend press freedom, are actively trying to silence critical media voices and favour outlets with supportive coverage. This should make everyone feel concerned about the future of democracy.  

This trend is linked to a global decline in democracy, with the erosion of press freedom signalling and accelerating the breakdown of democratic institutions. Addressing this now is critical to safeguarding our future.  

Born in 2015 as The Levant News, The Liberum was launched in December 2022 by veteran journalist Arthur Blok, a well-known Dutch-Lebanese journalist and author, who serves as the platform's Executive Editor-in-Chief. He founded the outlet with a focus on investigative reporting and geopolitical analysis, often covering topics related to the Middle East, freedom of speech, and (global) international politics.   

Our mission to "Defy the Ordinary" and our motto "There is no religion higher than truth" are something we are proud of and are non-negotiable. So do not even try it.  We hope you enjoy the ride.

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