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Dr. Rowena Abdul Razak
Rowena Abdul Razak holds a DPhil in Oriental Studies from the University of Oxford. She has written on the Cold War in Iran, Arab nationalism in Bahrain, Malaysian-Iranian relations and Iranian labour history. She previously taught at the London School of Economics and Queen Mary, University of London. She is currently a lecturer in Middle East history at SOAS and has recently founded Timur Consulting, which provides expert knowledge on the Middle East and Southeast Asia for heritage projects. She is also an associate with IMAN Research.
Articles by Dr. Rowena Abdul Razak
Malaysia and Potential War in the Gulf
Dr. Rowena Abdul Razak 
2026 Israel’s strikes on Tehran force Malaysia to choose between essential US trade and its deep-rooted ties to the Islamic world.
The Attack on Qatar and Its Implications
Israel’s attack on Qatar sparks global condemnation, causing former allies to shift their support.
Escalation in the Gulf and Malaysia’s Role
Malaysia is strategically placed to play the mediating role.
Chapter One – The Story of Ya
In this chapter, hear an audio recording of a conversation with Ya, a hamba habshi.
Prologue: The Story of Ya
Ya, an African slave from Mecca, recalls her life in Terengganu, revealing a hidden chapter of local history.
Malaysia and the Middle East’s Expanding War
The war has revealed the difficulty Malaysia has always faced between support for Palestine and its desire to be close to the West.
