Tawseef Khan
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tawseefkhan.bsky.social
Tawseef Khan
@tawseefkhan.bsky.social
3.4K followers 300 following 110 posts
Writer & Immigration Solicitor

Buy Determination: https://www.waterstones.com/book/determination/tawseef-khan/9781804442326

Buy Muslim, Actually: How We Get Islam Wrong and Why It Matters - https://atlantic-books.co.uk/book/muslim-actually/
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Tawseef Khan
fruitjournal.bsky.social
Hi writing folks! We've just migrated to bluesky and thought we should introduce ourselves. We're an online queer literary journal, we've been going since 2019 and we love writing that is daring and innovative.

We're looking to be connected to the writing community here, so please follow and RT! 🍎🍇
November 4, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Reposted by Tawseef Khan
fruitjournal.bsky.social
🏳️‍🌈 QUEER WRITERS OF COLOUR! 🏳️‍🌈

We’re now open for submissions until 30th November.

We want to read your boundary-bending writing – fiction, non-fiction, poetry, hybrid & visual work all welcome!🍎

See our guidelines: fruitjournal.co.uk/submit/
Text on a photographed background of mixed fruit. Text reads: Fruit queer literary journal. Submissions open for Writers of Colour, now until 30th November.
October 30, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Reposted by Tawseef Khan
tawseefkhan.bsky.social
Spent a month eating at nearly every Afghan restaurant in Manchester and then wrote about it here:

hyphenonline.com/2025/10/08/m...
Afghan food is revolutionising Manchester’s culinary scene
From standout rice dishes to fragrant stews and crispy stuffed flatbreads, the flavours of Kabul and beyond have found a new northern home
hyphenonline.com
October 9, 2025 at 9:24 AM
tawseefkhan.bsky.social
Spent a month eating at nearly every Afghan restaurant in Manchester and then wrote about it here:

hyphenonline.com/2025/10/08/m...
Afghan food is revolutionising Manchester’s culinary scene
From standout rice dishes to fragrant stews and crispy stuffed flatbreads, the flavours of Kabul and beyond have found a new northern home
hyphenonline.com
October 9, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Reposted by Tawseef Khan
bsonblast.bsky.social
I’m actually reeling. They are literally walling people inside Elfashir, so they can exterminate them.

And we’re all just watching it happen.

The helplessness is soul crushing 😭😭😭

#KeepEyesOnSudan
bsonblast.bsky.social BSonblast @bsonblast.bsky.social · Sep 28
- Per a report by Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab, RSF has nearly completed building walls around the besieged city.

- The berms now stretch "for over 68km around Elfashir, leaving only a 3-4km gap before the city is fully enclosed". (Sudan Tribune)

#KeepEyesOnSudan
September 28, 2025 at 6:33 AM
Reposted by Tawseef Khan
rafil.bsky.social
I have approximately zero following on this app, sharing in the hopes it can get in front of the right person. A man I went to college with’s wife was kidnapped by ICE at a green card hearing, and he’s trying to find a reporter who will speak to him about the situation
September 28, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Reposted by Tawseef Khan
tabouchadi.bsky.social
The success of the far right is not only measured in votes and seats but in its impact on rhetoric, policy and ideology. The fact that a (nominally) social democratic head of government with a huge majority choses to say and do this is maybe the biggest success of the far right in Europe yet.
September 26, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Reposted by Tawseef Khan
jomcmillan.bsky.social
A vital novel whose complex characters struggle against their own and their family’s expectations, against a society that doesn’t see or value them, and against the random cruelties of the UK immigration system. A thoughtful and touching must-read.

@tawseefkhan.bsky.social
shorturl.at/topdh
Determination
‘A compassionate, beautifully told portrait’ Guy Gunaratne ‘Absorbing, witty, eloquent fiction, as well as a trenchant political critique’ Tom Benn’A hymn to empathy, …
shorturl.at
August 26, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Reposted by Tawseef Khan
pantibliss.bsky.social
John Boyne lives in Ireland where we’ve had self-ID for trans people for over ten years and Boyne (who, just for the record, is vocally anti-trans and supports the views of anti trans hate groups) can’t point to a single instance where this has caused conflict with women’s rights
jayhulmepoet.bsky.social Jay Hulme @jayhulmepoet.bsky.social · Aug 14
Polari prize update: John Boyne has now made a statement. I'm putting it below.
For 6 years, since the publication of My Brother's Name is Jessica I've been the focus of an extraordinary amount of bullying and intimidation not just at the hands of trans activists but also by a small group of toxic novelists My views on trans rights have never changed and they're quite simple: All human beings should have the same rights, but if the rights of trans women come into conflict with the rights of what you call 'cis' women, then the latter must take precedence. There's 4 billion of them, after all, and it took them 2,000 years to achieve even a semblance of equality. That's pretty much my only thoughts on the subject To the organisers and judges of the Polari Prize: thank you for standing strong in the face of extraordinary intimidation To the writers who withdrew from the prize and those who organised petitions, I say this: You may have meant well. You may have thought you were doing an honourable thing. But you forgot one crucial fact. That the novelist you're protesting, and the novel you tried to exclude, is part of a sequence about sexual abuse from a gay man who endured that very trauma at school, was denied justice because my abuser died in the months leading up to the trial, and is still coping with not getting my day in court. And how do I cope? When I published my debut novel in 2000, I would have given my left arm to find myself on a prize list. The attention it brings to a new writer - or, more importantly - a writer's work is terrific. You sell more copies, your publisher starts thinking about your next contract, and you get to continue doing the job you love. It seems absurd and wrong to me that so many debut writers are losing their opportunity for this either through misguided ideas about who I am or as I'm aware has happened in some cases because you too were bullied or intimated into withdrawing. I love fiction I love literature and I've always supported new writers through reviews and blurbs so this and this alone weighs on me. So, I propose the following. I have shelves full of awards at home and my book sales are extremely healthy. I would encourage all the debut writers on the Polari Longlist to return to the list, to look forward to the shortlist announcement and, in time, the fun and excitement of the ceremony. One of you gets to win the prize, and that's as it should be. The organisers stood firm and didn't expel me from the longlist, which I appreciated. And I am not withdrawing from the longlist. However, should the debut writers all return, I would respectfully ask the judges not to consider Earth for the shortlist. I don't think I can say any fairer than that. I came very close to the edge this week because of endless harassment at the hands of both strangers and fellow writers. I remained silent throughout but there's been a few moments where I thought it would be easier not to go on. There's really only so much abuse one person can take. However, I'm still here. Because I have too many books in me that I still want to write. And so do all of you. The Elements, the combined edition of the novellas Water, Earth, Fire, and Air, will be published on September 9th in the US and September 25th in the UK and Ireland. I hope you get a chance to read it. I'm very proud of the book. But then I'm proud of all my books and of the fact that I've spent my 33-year career helping other writers, elevating them, and finding opportunities to promote them, rather than trying to tear them down. Online bullying has has to stop. John Boyne
August 14, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Reposted by Tawseef Khan
suchmayer.bsky.social
What you're normalising by doing photo age verification:

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Controversial AI technology will assess disputed ages of UK Asylum seekers
New system could be problematic, a watchdog says, especially where a child is denied rights and protections
www.independent.co.uk
July 24, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Reposted by Tawseef Khan
noreenmasud.bsky.social
By my count this makes 5 out of 12 authors on the Polari First Book longlist who have withdrawn. It's hard to understate the moral courage this involves, esp for folk launching their first book into the world. As so often, those with the most to lose end up showing the most moral fibre. Solidarity x
sachacoward.bsky.social Sacha Coward @sachacoward.bsky.social · Aug 9
Here is my statement about the Polari award with alt text. Sorry for missing this the first time. X
August 9, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Reposted by Tawseef Khan
tawseefkhan.bsky.social
Wrote my latest substack around a question I get asked a lot at literary events: ‘what can we do?’ It’s about voting better, how we can support refugees, and appraising Labour’s record on immigration one year in. It’s also full of food/film/music/book recs!

tawseefkhan.substack.com/p/why-you-di...
Why You Didn't Necessarily Vote Better
On the Labour party and its track record on immigration.
tawseefkhan.substack.com
July 30, 2025 at 10:42 AM
tawseefkhan.bsky.social
Wrote my latest substack around a question I get asked a lot at literary events: ‘what can we do?’ It’s about voting better, how we can support refugees, and appraising Labour’s record on immigration one year in. It’s also full of food/film/music/book recs!

tawseefkhan.substack.com/p/why-you-di...
Why You Didn't Necessarily Vote Better
On the Labour party and its track record on immigration.
tawseefkhan.substack.com
July 30, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Reposted by Tawseef Khan
lottelydia.bsky.social
God, the number of people who were willing to believe that the South Yorkshire police were too woke to prosecute sexual abuse cases, when in fact the police force was itself an instrument of patriarchal sexual violence. It’s like a case study in the worst excesses of the British press.
Five survivors of Rotherham grooming gangs say they were also raped by police officers
Three former South Yorkshire police officers arrested in investigation into claims by the women, as young as 12 at the time
www.theguardian.com
July 30, 2025 at 9:57 AM
Reposted by Tawseef Khan
jomcmillan.bsky.social
Just arrived in Berlin!

Determination by @tawseefkhan.bsky.social
Determination by Tawseef Khan
July 23, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Reposted by Tawseef Khan
theferocity.bsky.social
Some personal news…

@roxanegay.bsky.social and @debbiemillman.bsky.social are relaunching @therumpus.net!!! And I’m excited to be joining their team as poetry editor! 🤓 WEEEEE!!! You can submit your poetry for consideration here: therumpus.submittable.com/submit
The Rumpus Submission Manager
The Rumpus publishes original fiction, poetry, literary humor writing, comics, essays, book reviews, and interviews with authors and artists of all kinds. Founded in 2009 and independent from the star...
therumpus.submittable.com
July 15, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Reposted by Tawseef Khan
suchmayer.bsky.social
2 book year for me – BAD LANGUAGE (Peninsula) in Nov & this amazing compendium I've had the honour to edit w/ Sarah Shin @silver-press.bsky.social in Oct!

More Le Guin, this time w/ added Bhanu Kapil, @davidnaimon.bsky.social, @unamccormack.bsky.social & more!

uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
The Word for World: The Maps of Ursula K. Le Guin a book by Ursula K. Le Guin, Sarah Shin, and So Mayer.
When Ursula K. Le Guin started writing a new novel, she would begin by drawing a map. The Word for World is the first publication focusing on maps by the celebrated author, publishing many for the fir...
uk.bookshop.org
July 15, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Reposted by Tawseef Khan
tawseefkhan.bsky.social
Just posted my second newsletter over at the place beginning with ‘S’. It’s about Pride month and reading lists, and the kinds of books and authors they end up excluding. Ignore the fuzzy picture, it’s a good read! 🥰
July 9, 2025 at 11:23 AM
Reposted by Tawseef Khan
helenrye.bsky.social
Another interesting read from my buddy @tawseefkhan.bsky.social’s new substack. This week: on being a queer writer whose work isn’t considered ‘queer enough’ for reading lists…
open.substack.com/pub/tawseefk...
Why I've Taken Against Reading Lists
On Pride Month, Queerness and Exclusion
open.substack.com
July 9, 2025 at 12:01 PM
tawseefkhan.bsky.social
Just posted my second newsletter over at the place beginning with ‘S’. It’s about Pride month and reading lists, and the kinds of books and authors they end up excluding. Ignore the fuzzy picture, it’s a good read! 🥰
July 9, 2025 at 11:23 AM
tawseefkhan.bsky.social
In case you missed it: my first newsletter!
tawseefkhan.bsky.social Tawseef Khan @tawseefkhan.bsky.social · Jun 25
Published my first newsletter today, over at the place beginning with ‘S’. 👀 It’s about getting over my shyness and discomfort with sharing personal things on social media. Can be found under my government name! (Or reply and I’ll send you the link!)
June 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
tawseefkhan.bsky.social
Published my first newsletter today, over at the place beginning with ‘S’. 👀 It’s about getting over my shyness and discomfort with sharing personal things on social media. Can be found under my government name! (Or reply and I’ll send you the link!)
June 25, 2025 at 3:27 PM
tawseefkhan.bsky.social
Trying to give you all a break from my incessant self-promotion, but I’m in Newcastle tomorrow talking about Determination and the asylum system, if you fancy coming along. Tickets are free!

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/author-tal...
Author Talk with Tawseef Khan
An expert on the UK immigration system, Tawseef will share the stage with guests for a discussion of his novel and Q&A.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
June 25, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Reposted by Tawseef Khan
marcusjdl.bsky.social
Ask Faiza Shaheen about this one.
samwetherell.bsky.social Sam Wetherell @samwetherell.bsky.social · Jun 25
Its worth noting that in Britain, Mamdani would have thrown out of the Labour Party by a small room full LinkIn weirdos and then replaced by a former private healthcare lobbyist who would go on to lose by 5,000 votes to a Reform candidate who was a convinced sex offender.
June 25, 2025 at 7:37 AM