DARK SECRETS: Shadi khan saif | Vintage Vibes

When your home country is ravaged by war, is it possible to stay neutral?

Refusing to take sides in wartime can be dangerous. The ‘choice’ for civilians trying to survive is often an illusion

The Guardian - AU · Mar 20

My youngest is starting school for the first time. How can I best preserve his relentless curiosity?

I wonder how Naveed will navigate his own path – and how much I must nurture and how much I must learn to let go

The Guardian - AU · Feb 1

Australia’s stance on Afghan cricket is flawed – and deeply painful for people like me. There is another path

When I arrived in Australia after the fall of Kabul, seeing Rashid Khan in the BBL eased my grief and reminded me that pride and belonging were possible

The Guardian - AU · Jan 2

Of all the languages I know, Persian is the one that speaks directly to me and offers a new way of being

I’ve found metaphors that mirror my own journey, phrases that feel like home and poetry that speaks directly to the soul

The Guardian - AU · Aug 25, 2025

A four-day work week could help communities of faith – and us all

For Muslims, being able to attend congregational Friday prayers stress-free would be a great boon and help counter stereotypes and prejudice

The Guardian - AU · Apr 16, 2023

I feel embraced by Melbourne but dejected by Australia's visa policies, as I await my wife and children to join me

I fled the horrors of state collapse in Afghanistan and am gradually feeling embraced by Melbourne. However, there's still one thing that overshadows my life here, writes Shadi Khan Saif.

ABC News · Mar 21, 2023