MADRASSA

"The Paper Trail of War: A Review of American War Propaganda Leaflets by Khajistan Press" unveils the covert yet powerful role of psychological warfare in shaping modern conflicts. From blood-stained Iraqi flags bearing haunting caricatures of Saddam Hussein to promises of peace superimposed over scenes of destruction, this collection lays bare the intricacies of U.S. psyops during The Gulf War, the War in Afghanistan, and beyond.

As a child, I wanted life around me to be seen in the media around me without a top-down gaze as lower-class stories are represented…imitated. As a grown man who could speak English, I got access to the guarded spaces of the upper and the middle classes, of rich diasporas and the whites. I wanted the life I had known around me to be understood by these others: the culture-makers, the trendsetters, the ones whose narratives are imperial, are heard, acknowledged, and lauded, and whose hot-takes, opinions, and stories are ‘nuanced’ and thus overwrite our stories.

A Khajistan podcast explores Iran’s Looti men, hyper-masculine working-class figures whose identity blends power, loyalty, and defiance. Rejecting rigid sexual labels, their culture reflects resilience, harsh upbringings, and camaraderie, showcased through tattoos and Instagram expressions.

Saad Khan, founder of Khajistan, is featured in Dazed MENA 100 for his innovative work in preserving overlooked cultural histories from the Greater Middle East. Explore his mission and impact.

Explore the Khajistan Digital Archive—a living record of over 65,000 images and videos capturing humor, struggles, and inner worlds from the Greater Middle East. Dive into a playful space where meaning is yours to make. Visit archive.khajistan.com.