The History Hour
Mar 21, 2026
Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service.
We hear from a Cypriot lawyer, imprisoned by the British for almost two years during the "Cyprus Emergency” of 1955-1959.
Our guest, Professor Rebecca Bryant, explains how this period impacted life in Cyprus in the following years.
Plus, the story of India’s controversial nuclear deal with the USA in 2006 and when thousands of people rallied against a racially motivated killing in Norway.
We also learn about the questionable conviction of four men in Mauritius, who became known as the L’Amicale Four, and about how Tunisian independence helped improve women’s rights 70 years ago.
And finally, the remarkable story of when the unfancied Czech Republic reached the final of Euro 96.
Contributors:
Renos Lyssiotis - former Cypriot lawyer.
Dr Rebecca Bryant – Professor of cultural anthropology at Utrecht University.
Ronen Sen – former Indian ambassador to the United States.
Luciana Parvaneh Zehi – friend of Benjamin Hermansen.
Imran Sumodhee – one of the L’Amicale Four.
Saida El Gueyed – founding member of the Women’s Union in Tunisia.
Patrik Berger – former Czech footballer.
(Photo: British troops searching for EOAK fighters in 1956. Credit: Bert Hardy/Getty Images)
