Idrees Ahmad
@idreesahmad.bsky.social
Director of Journalism, University of Essex; Associate Editor, New Lines Magazine; Contributing Editor, LA Review of Books; Bylines: New York Review of Books, Times Literary Supplement, Foreign Policy, The Observer, Washington Post.
How do I stop them from following me around and judging me?
May 13, 2025 at 5:38 PM
How do I stop them from following me around and judging me?
Like most dull politicians, Keir Starmer probably knows no Shakespeare beyond "to be or not to be". Because in the only surviving piece of his handwriting, these are the words the greatest Englishman wrote for Thomas More, who is confronting an anti-immigrant mob.
May 12, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Like most dull politicians, Keir Starmer probably knows no Shakespeare beyond "to be or not to be". Because in the only surviving piece of his handwriting, these are the words the greatest Englishman wrote for Thomas More, who is confronting an anti-immigrant mob.
Reject any ideology that requires you to justify this
May 7, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Reject any ideology that requires you to justify this
The time to speak up is now. Let no one who is silent over this utter the words “human rights” “freedom” “justice” ever again. This is happening in front of the world’s eyes. No one can say “we didn’t know”.
May 7, 2025 at 10:44 PM
The time to speak up is now. Let no one who is silent over this utter the words “human rights” “freedom” “justice” ever again. This is happening in front of the world’s eyes. No one can say “we didn’t know”.
Another child killed by starvation. There is a video and it is excruciating to watch. Israel has blocked all aid, including food and medicine, for over 60 days. What we have here is the profundity of evil.
May 6, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Another child killed by starvation. There is a video and it is excruciating to watch. Israel has blocked all aid, including food and medicine, for over 60 days. What we have here is the profundity of evil.
That's a child pleading for help. A bomb blasted him onto his neighbors roof and split his sister's body in two (you can see her body parts behind him, along with another dead man). No one can reach him because Israeli drones, planes & snipers also target rescuers.
What if these were your children?
What if these were your children?
April 24, 2025 at 6:37 PM
That's a child pleading for help. A bomb blasted him onto his neighbors roof and split his sister's body in two (you can see her body parts behind him, along with another dead man). No one can reach him because Israeli drones, planes & snipers also target rescuers.
What if these were your children?
What if these were your children?
Shortly after Hossam Shabat reported on the killing of fellow journalist Muhammad Mansour (who was killed along with his wife) he too was murdered.
An ideology that consecrates land theft sees no value in human life. Israel has now killed over 200 journalists.
An ideology that consecrates land theft sees no value in human life. Israel has now killed over 200 journalists.
March 24, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Shortly after Hossam Shabat reported on the killing of fellow journalist Muhammad Mansour (who was killed along with his wife) he too was murdered.
An ideology that consecrates land theft sees no value in human life. Israel has now killed over 200 journalists.
An ideology that consecrates land theft sees no value in human life. Israel has now killed over 200 journalists.
Johnny Blue Eyes
February 19, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Johnny Blue Eyes
A freshly baked sourdough
February 18, 2025 at 9:11 PM
A freshly baked sourdough
Alas, he is not alone in trying to diminish my productivity. He is assisted by Ameera.
February 18, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Alas, he is not alone in trying to diminish my productivity. He is assisted by Ameera.
Meet Dr Spice, who regularly commandeers my computer for his musings.
February 18, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Meet Dr Spice, who regularly commandeers my computer for his musings.
In November 2019, I had the extraordinary pleasure of spending a few hours in Hanoi with Bao Ninh, whose masterpiece "The Sorrow of War" had haunted me when I first read it. His recently short story collection "Midnight in Ha Noi" also has some gems.
January 26, 2025 at 11:10 PM
In November 2019, I had the extraordinary pleasure of spending a few hours in Hanoi with Bao Ninh, whose masterpiece "The Sorrow of War" had haunted me when I first read it. His recently short story collection "Midnight in Ha Noi" also has some gems.
Adam Sameer, 8, is the first child to be killed in Gaza in 2025. According to his father, he went to sleep hungry. He was dismembered by an Israeli airstrike before he woke up.
January 1, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Adam Sameer, 8, is the first child to be killed in Gaza in 2025. According to his father, he went to sleep hungry. He was dismembered by an Israeli airstrike before he woke up.
Reading time with Ameera
December 28, 2024 at 1:27 AM
Reading time with Ameera
An Israeli citizen with a large following responds to news that three children froze to death in north Gaza.
December 26, 2024 at 3:43 AM
An Israeli citizen with a large following responds to news that three children froze to death in north Gaza.
Say hello to Ameera, who joined the family today, and wishes you all the happiest of holidays.
December 25, 2024 at 9:27 PM
Say hello to Ameera, who joined the family today, and wishes you all the happiest of holidays.
Now consider that this is from research that was conducted long before October 7 by former IDF psychologist and Hebrew University professor Yoel Elitzur. This part of his conclusion is most frightening.
December 23, 2024 at 6:28 PM
Now consider that this is from research that was conducted long before October 7 by former IDF psychologist and Hebrew University professor Yoel Elitzur. This part of his conclusion is most frightening.
Imagine for a moment that this was your child or brother.
December 23, 2024 at 6:26 PM
Imagine for a moment that this was your child or brother.
A tribute to the martyr Khaled Nabhan from Hama, Syria.
December 20, 2024 at 5:52 PM
A tribute to the martyr Khaled Nabhan from Hama, Syria.
He died the way he lived: helping others.
December 17, 2024 at 12:33 PM
He died the way he lived: helping others.
Sheikh Khaled's kindness extended to all God's creatures.
December 16, 2024 at 10:29 PM
Sheikh Khaled's kindness extended to all God's creatures.
Even death couldn't steal the radiance of his smile.
December 16, 2024 at 7:07 PM
Even death couldn't steal the radiance of his smile.
This was Sheikh Khaled just being his kind, generous self.
December 16, 2024 at 7:06 PM
This was Sheikh Khaled just being his kind, generous self.
This was Sheikh Khaled Nabhan bidding farewell to his grand daughter Reem.
December 16, 2024 at 7:03 PM
This was Sheikh Khaled Nabhan bidding farewell to his grand daughter Reem.