Stories by Rafia Zakaria

Rafia Zakaria is an attorney and human rights activist. She is a columnist for DAWN Pakistan and a regular contributor for Al Jazeera America, Dissent, Guernica and many other publications.

She is the author of The Upstairs Wife: An Intimate History of Pakistan (Beacon Press 2015). She tweets @rafiazakaria

Rafia Zakaria
Silver linings

Silver linings

As Syria endures revolutionary pangs, the undaunted women of the SWPM are working to ensure that Syrian women will claim a place in their unwritten future. Updated 28 Feb, 2026 09:37am
Photo-op moment

Photo-op moment

India is desperate for American attention. Published 21 Feb, 2026 06:28am
India caves

India caves

New Delhi’s inflated view of itself has received a reality check. Updated 07 Feb, 2026 09:22am
Savage mountain

Savage mountain

‘The Last First’ is more a study in resentment. Published 31 Jan, 2026 05:34am
Just deserts

Just deserts

Europe has now discovered it has no recourse against Trump. Published 24 Jan, 2026 06:03am
White America

White America

The agony over visas does not matter to Trump’s administration. Updated 17 Jan, 2026 09:16am
Pound of flesh

Pound of flesh

The cuddly US that indulged Europe’s domestic spending has gone. Published 10 Jan, 2026 05:19am

A Muslim mayor

Mamdani’s vision will require a fight to translate into reality. Published 03 Jan, 2026 05:51am
The mega-shadi

The mega-shadi

The Pakistani wedding used to be a rich cultural event full of heritage. Published 27 Dec, 2025 06:28am
Dead inside

Dead inside

America’s glamour cannot mask the violence that goes on. Published 20 Dec, 2025 05:34am
How India became Hindutva

How India became Hindutva

How did India, once a secular and admired democracy, fall into such a deep pit of propaganda and historical mistruths? Updated 13 Dec, 2025 09:39am
Darkness for women

Darkness for women

Men often justify violence when women make their own choice. Published 06 Dec, 2025 05:35am
Punishing Afghans

Punishing Afghans

Trump has been given an opportunity to reinforce his myopic stance. Updated 29 Nov, 2025 08:51am
Lost in translation

Lost in translation

American interest in the region is not tied to any narrative that Modi may want to peddle. Published 22 Nov, 2025 06:39am
Men and laws

Men and laws

This world will be even harsher for women, who will now have to fight in public realms for fundamental rights and to protect their lives. Updated 15 Nov, 2025 08:56am
Mad for Mamdani

Mad for Mamdani

The real story is also one of immigrants and of Muslims. Published 08 Nov, 2025 06:01am
Cruelty in marriage

Cruelty in marriage

A landmark judgement provides a glimmer of hope for women. Published 01 Nov, 2025 06:07am
Scam compounds

Scam compounds

Our digitised lives have spawned new forms of slavery. Published 25 Oct, 2025 05:01am
A trove of secrets

A trove of secrets

Is Ashley Tellis’s arrest part of a crackdown on experts that the Trump administration sees as having divided loyalties? Published 18 Oct, 2025 06:45am