Shirin Jaafari
PRI
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Past articles by Shirin:
Post-9/11 law could allow president to bypass Congress to wage war with Iran
President Donald Trump's administration has been trying to make the case that a 9/11 law applies to Iran — which would allow him to bypass Congress and go to war. But those efforts have reinvigorated debates about the law in Washington. → Read More
Did a US bomb kill an innocent Somali man? His family says yes.
Ahmed Hassan Hirei says his brother, Ibrahim Hirei, was killed in a US airstrike in Somalia. Now, he wants answers. → Read More
Today, women's clothing in Afghanistan includes far more than the blue burqa
Fashion is powerful. It can be used as a political tool. It can be a statement about identity. It can also be healing. In Afghanistan, it is all of that and more. → Read More
She saved a pregnant woman’s life. Now, she works to make childbirth safer for all Afghan women.
The Taliban forbids women to leave the house unless they are accompanied by a male relative. Feroza Mushtari, who was a teenager at the time of the Taliban takeover, defied that rule to save a pregnant woman's life. → Read More
Charlie Chaplin on the streets of Kabul? One Afghan takes on the Little Tramp.
For the past five years, Karim Asir has been recreating some of Charlie Chaplin's sketches on the streets of Kabul, Afghanistan. → Read More
Saudi Arabia loosened some of its strict social rules, but intimidation of activists continues
In the past few months, Saudi Arabia has seen some of the most drastic social changes in its history. But the rejoicing has been short-lived. A number of recent arrests has raised alarms for many Saudis. → Read More
Will Saudi women drive once ban is lifted? US car companies want to find out.
Saudi Arabia's King Salman issued a decree last year that lifted a decades-old ban on women driving in the Kingdom. The announcement caught many — including auto manufacturers — by surprise. → Read More
How a soldier gets ready for deployment
The US is going to increase its military presence in Afghanistan over the next few months. The US Army plans to increase the total force by as many as 1,000. So, what is it like for an Army officer getting ready to deploy? We followed one of them. → Read More
They lived in limbo in Australian offshore camps for years. Now they call the US home.
The United States and Australia struck a deal back in 2016. The US agreed to accept about 1,200 refugees from Australia's offshore detention centers. In return, Australia would resettle refugees from Central America. → Read More
A 3-year-old held up by Canada’s no-fly list? His parents say it’s 'ridiculous'
The US and Canada share information from their no-fly lists, but there’s very little Canadians can do if they think they’re being flagged and delayed from boarding flights in error. It’s not just an inconvenience — it’s stigmatizing. → Read More
Why some Iranian women are taking off their headscarves and hanging them on a stick
Last December, a woman in Tehran stood on top of a utility box, hung her white headscarf on a stick and started waving it silently. She was protesting the compulsory covering of women in the Islamic Republic. Since then, some others have followed. → Read More
Violence in Kabul is so extreme, citizens are carrying around 'in case I die' notes
A string of attacks in Afghanistan's capital has left Kabul residents on edge. Some have started carrying notes in their pockets that detail crucial information in case of an emergency: Name, age, blood type. → Read More
These young women are raising awareness about sexual health in Iran
After learning about sexually transmitted diseases for the first time in college, two young women decided to bring sexual health awareness to their native Iran. → Read More
The US has been expanding the role, number and power of its border agents abroad
Homeland Security has long been looking to expand its operations beyond US borders. Some countries have pushed back, stating concerns about possible civil rights violations; others are still debating. → Read More
What I learned by getting my very first Christmas tree
For the past 13 years, every Christmas I have looked in confusion as my non-Christian friends head to Christmas tree lots in search of a Christmas tree to bring home. This year, for the first time, I wanted to find out what it was like. → Read More
Why German pilots won't fly Afghan refugees back to Afghanistan
German media recently reported that some pilots have refused to fly Afghan refugees whose asylum applications have been rejected back to Afghanistan. But is their action out of sympathy? → Read More
Sanctions on Iran make it difficult to donate after the devastating earthquake. Here's how you can help.
As a result of US sanctions on Iran, you can't donate to Iranian relief organizations directly, unless you have a special license. → Read More
Saudi Arabia has a new citizen: Sophia the robot. But what does that even mean?
Last week, during a high-profile financial summit in Riyadh, a robot called Sophia was granted Saudi citizenship. A publicity stunt, according to some analysts, but what does it actually mean to give a robot citizenship? → Read More
The new DHS plan to gather social media information has privacy advocates up in arms
Last month, the Department of Homeland Security announced that it has been collecting social media information from visa applicants and immigrants. It said it plans to expand gathering of social media data to include aliases, associated identifiable information and search results. Privacy and civil rights advocates are up in arms. → Read More
An Iranian piano prodigy. A big dream. And an arduous visa process.
Amir Darabi was a child prodigy. He started playing the piano when he was 3 years old. Later, he felt there wasn't enough competition in Iran. But for an Iranian, getting to the US is a Herculean task. → Read More