Middle East Editor, Newsletters Editor @newlinesmag. Former Guardian Mideast correspondent. Gamer dad.https://bsky.app/profile/kshaheen.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/kshaheen.bsky.social/post/3mcuui7ryvs2qThe uprising in Iran has left neighborhoods destroyed and thousands dead, while the government refuses to explain what happened. Diaspora politics and state repression will shape what comes next. Kourosh Ziabari reports for @newlinesmag.bsky.social https://newlinesmag.com/spotlight/irans-protest-movement-and-diaspora-politics/20 Jan 2026 19:14 +0000at://did:plc:4gddredbssbqynm2wmsmidrd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcuui7ryvs2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/kshaheen.bsky.social/post/3mcue4ko5vc2bUp to 300,000 Syrians remain missing a year after Assad’s fall. White Helmets and a new national commission are exhuming bodies, mapping grave sites and building records in a search that will take years. Our latest essay in @newlinesmag.bsky.social.20 Jan 2026 14:21 +0000at://did:plc:4gddredbssbqynm2wmsmidrd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcue4ko5vc2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/kshaheen.bsky.social/post/3mbkhh5ah5c2qMy 6 yo is currently performing an 18-part dance number involving the use of 2 living room throws and it’s so silly and honestly the best way to start 2026 for me03 Jan 2026 22:28 +0000at://did:plc:4gddredbssbqynm2wmsmidrd/app.bsky.feed.post/3mbkhh5ah5c2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/kshaheen.bsky.social/post/3m23kkcqdas2zMan all these people upset about the Riyadh comedy fest should campaign for their comedians to boycott American venues because of everything their government is up to including abetting Israel’s genocide.30 Sep 2025 22:18 +0000at://did:plc:4gddredbssbqynm2wmsmidrd/app.bsky.feed.post/3m23kkcqdas2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/kshaheen.bsky.social/post/3lzlmpmqdks2yDear @support.blizzard.com , your new Brewfest mount in the game is called the Barrel Bomber, which is a weapon used extensively in the Syrian war, and its use has been deemed a war crime. Would you consider changing it?24 Sep 2025 14:14 +0000at://did:plc:4gddredbssbqynm2wmsmidrd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lzlmpmqdks2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/kshaheen.bsky.social/post/3lzjbtlle222qIf you weren't raptured today feel free to send us story pitches @newlinesmag.bsky.social23 Sep 2025 15:54 +0000at://did:plc:4gddredbssbqynm2wmsmidrd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lzjbtlle222qhttps://bsky.app/profile/kshaheen.bsky.social/post/3lzjbos4y7c2zThis is honestly one of the most extraordinary pieces of journalism I've had the pleasure of editing [contains quote post or other embedded content]23 Sep 2025 15:51 +0000at://did:plc:4gddredbssbqynm2wmsmidrd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lzjbos4y7c2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/kshaheen.bsky.social/post/3lzjbo5lrwk2zA Syrian air force colonel who once dropped barrel bombs across the country now hides in Baghdad with multiple fake IDs. In a confessional profile, he recalls missions, bribery and betrayals. Kamal Shahin reports for @newlinesmag.bsky.social https://newlinesmag.com/reportage/confessions-of-a-syrian-barrel-bomber/23 Sep 2025 15:51 +0000at://did:plc:4gddredbssbqynm2wmsmidrd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lzjbo5lrwk2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/kshaheen.bsky.social/post/3lzjbl43o6k2zMan if you told me 2-3 years ago Dembele would be a contender let alone win the Ballon d'Or I'd never have believed it. Not sure it's even a comeback story, just one of extraordinary perseverence. [contains quote post or other embedded content]23 Sep 2025 15:49 +0000at://did:plc:4gddredbssbqynm2wmsmidrd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lzjbl43o6k2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/kshaheen.bsky.social/post/3lw5iy6jkps2nI tried to write a tribute for Anas al-Sharif, but my words failed me and I was left with just this. Never forget. The Murder of Gaza’s Mockingbird @newlinesmag.bsky.social https://newlinesmag.com/spotlight/the-courage-and-death-of-anas-al-sharif/11 Aug 2025 19:14 +0000at://did:plc:4gddredbssbqynm2wmsmidrd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lw5iy6jkps2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/kshaheen.bsky.social/post/3lqv2qz43dk2qHAVE THEY EVEN SAID THANK YOU ONCE05 Jun 2025 19:32 +0000at://did:plc:4gddredbssbqynm2wmsmidrd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lqv2qz43dk2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/kshaheen.bsky.social/post/3lqmrstp3os2tIn Iraq’s Basra, age is a luxury. Residents live under a constant cloud of pollution from oil flares, leading to a surge in cancer cases, while the government colludes with oil companies to dismiss the crisis @newlinesmag.bsky.social https://newlinesmag.com/reportage/big-oil-is-fueling-a-rise-in-cancer-in-iraqs-basra/02 Jun 2025 12:31 +0000at://did:plc:4gddredbssbqynm2wmsmidrd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lqmrstp3os2thttps://bsky.app/profile/kshaheen.bsky.social/post/3lq5zwdh2bs2tA spyware app distributed among thousands of Syrian military officers last year may have compromised Assad's military, gathering reams of sensitive data on deployments and military ranks. Open q who built it. Fascinating investigation in @newlinesmag.bsky.social https://newlinesmag.com/reportage/how-a-spyware-app-compromised-assads-army/27 May 2025 15:46 +0000at://did:plc:4gddredbssbqynm2wmsmidrd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lq5zwdh2bs2thttps://bsky.app/profile/kshaheen.bsky.social/post/3lq3733zikc2iFascinating investigative piece: A hidden cyberattack involving spyware distributed among Syrian officers may have played a critical role in the sudden collapse of the Assad regime, reports Kamal Shahin for @newlinesmag.bsky.social https://newlinesmag.com/reportage/how-a-spyware-app-compromised-assads-army/26 May 2025 12:40 +0000at://did:plc:4gddredbssbqynm2wmsmidrd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lq3733zikc2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/kshaheen.bsky.social/post/3lptvfzvvjk2jWe have a couple of really incredible reporting stories out of Syria, including a fascinating investigation into the use of spyware against the army ahead of Assad's collapse on Monday, and this excellent investigation into the violence against the Druze: https://newlinesmag.com/spotlight/syrias-druze-are-wary-in-the-wake-of-attacks/23 May 2025 14:59 +0000at://did:plc:4gddredbssbqynm2wmsmidrd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lptvfzvvjk2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/kshaheen.bsky.social/post/3lpjrfnvwfc2nThe opening music of Clair Obscur evoked such emotional turmoil in me it made me want to start a videogame newsletter to talk about the art form and how we interact with it.19 May 2025 14:20 +0000at://did:plc:4gddredbssbqynm2wmsmidrd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lpjrfnvwfc2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/kshaheen.bsky.social/post/3lpcgxobbk22vI’ll tolerate many things in this life but not Bruce Springsteen abuse [contains quote post or other embedded content]16 May 2025 16:25 +0000at://did:plc:4gddredbssbqynm2wmsmidrd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lpcgxobbk22vhttps://bsky.app/profile/kshaheen.bsky.social/post/3lnvpt3vew22aVoted today in my first free election. So proud and lucky to be able to cast my vote. Also #never5128 Apr 2025 21:34 +0000at://did:plc:4gddredbssbqynm2wmsmidrd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lnvpt3vew22ahttps://bsky.app/profile/kshaheen.bsky.social/post/3ln2qi5um7s2pThis is a nice place18 Apr 2025 04:04 +0000at://did:plc:4gddredbssbqynm2wmsmidrd/app.bsky.feed.post/3ln2qi5um7s2phttps://bsky.app/profile/kshaheen.bsky.social/post/3lgtkehdcnk2qHow do you know if someone doesn’t like Dragon Age Veilguard? Don’t worry, they’ll tell you.28 Jan 2025 22:54 +0000at://did:plc:4gddredbssbqynm2wmsmidrd/app.bsky.feed.post/3lgtkehdcnk2q