Shirin Jaafari is a reporter for The World focusing on the Middle East. She has covered conflicts in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Ukraine. Her reporting focuses on current events, politics, conflict and human rights. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from Harvard’s Extension School. Before joining The World, Shirin worked for the BBC in Washington, DC. Shirin was a finalist for the Livingston Award for Young Journalists in 2009 and she received an honorable mention from the Gracie Award in 2022 for her coverage of the US withdrawal from Afghanistan.When not filing for radio, she can be found hiking and camping in the mountains.You can find her on Twitter @Shirinj.
'We are dead inside:’ Women in Afghanistan protest Taliban ban of beauty salons
The ban will come into effect in five days, leaving roughly 60,000 women out of work.
A traditional Iranian sport has been closed off to women. One activist wants to change that.
Parts of Iraq are drying up, impacting already vulnerable communities
Women in Afghanistan are devastated by the Taliban’s ban on beauty salons
This startup is fighting to keep Iraq’s palm trees alive
Decades of war, mismanagement and the impact of climate change have taken a toll on Iraq’s iconic palm trees. One group is trying to help change that.
After Taliban ban, women NGO workers in Afghanistan struggle to make ends meet
Last December, in yet another blow to women’s rights in Afghanistan, the Taliban announced a ban on women working for nongovernmental organizations. Thousands of women lost their jobs overnight. The months since have been some of the most difficult for them.
Factory that made essential therapeutic food for malnourished children in Sudan burns down
Meanwhile, the ongoing fighting in Sudan continues to make it difficult for aid to get into the country, leaving many children at risk of starvation.
Negotiations continue in Saudi Arabia to end fighting in Sudan
Talks are underway in Saudi Arabia to end the fighting in Sudan. But so far, there’s been no major breakthrough. The World’s Shirin Jaafari spoke with Fahad Nazer, spokesperson for the Saudi Embassy in Washington, about where the talks are headed.
In Sudan, volunteers step up to help those caught in the crossfire
While many Sudanese are fleeing the country, most people remain trapped in their homes as food and medical supplies dwindle. In the absence of outside help, neighborhood committees have formed to bring in food and water and to check on people's welfare.
Canada unveils a first-of-a-kind Eid stamp this year
Canada Post has released a unique Eid stamp this year that features a centuries-old artifact from Iran. Museum curator Fahmida Suleman discussed the project with The World.
‘I wished to die’: Syrian American sues Syria’s government over alleged torture
A Syrian American man has filed a civil lawsuit in the US against the government of Syria for allegedly detaining and torturing him in 2012. Obada Mzaik was 22 years old when he was arrested at the Damascus airport.
This Iraqi lost an eye in a protest. He's still fighting for 'real democracy.'
Mohannad Saad Mohammad lost an eye in Iraq’s protests that became known as the Tishreen or the October movement. The demonstrations that began in 2019 have mostly dissipated but Mohammad says he won’t stop fighting for a better Iraq.
4 years later, the legacy of ISIS prevents these Iraqi children from going to school
Thousands of Iraqi children who lived under the brutal rule of ISIS in northern Iraq still face obstacles. Iraqi families who were issued official identification documents by ISIS continue to have a hard time getting their kids into school, because the government doesn't recognize their paperwork.
Young Iraqis reflect on the US-led invasion, its aftermath and their hopes for the future
Monday marks 20 years since the start of “Operation Iraqi Freedom," the US-led invasion of Iraq that toppled the president, Saddam Hussein, and aimed to spread democracy in the country. Two decades later, Iraqis who've lived through these turbulent and violent years share their thoughts about the war's impact on their lives, about how they view the US now and about their hopes and concerns for the future of Iraq.