EDUCATION
2019-2024
PhD, Near and Middle Eastern Studies/ History
The Ḥanbalite community in the Abbasid state from ‘Sunni Revival’ to the restoration of the Caliphate (381-656/ 991-1261): A Reading of Ibn Rajab’s (d.795/ 1393) biographical dictionary Dhayl Ṭabaqāt al-Ḥanābilaḧ
2017-2019
Master of Arts, History, Distinction
Dissertation: The life and works of Qaṭarī b. al-Fujā`ah (d. c. 79/ 699), poet and leader of the Azraqites: an application of critical-source methodologies in Khārijite historiography
1999-2004
Bachelor of Arts, Arabic, First Class Honours
School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London, UK
including University of Damascus, Syria (2001 – 2003)
1991-1998
Dulwich College, London, UK
SELECTED PUBLISHED WRITINGS
Pamphlet satirical sermon “Men” as part of a series commissioned by Sofia Niazi (January 2019)
Theatre review: “Does my Bomb Look Big in This?” is a comedy unafraid of tackling dark topics on 5Pillars news website (April 2019)
Otherstan poem in Khidr zine, issue 3 “Frontiers” (November 2018)
Talha Ahsan: “Muslims should support May Ayres’ new art collection” on 5Pillars news website (September 2016)
Return to Exile poem with biography by Ian Brinton, Infinite Riches: Dulwich College Poets 1950 to the Present Day (July 2016)
Obituary for Mike Marqusee on Verso books website (January 2016)
TV Death Row and Scratched on the Wall, poems published in Socialist Lawyer no. 65 (October 2013)
Eight Poems by Syed Talha Ahsan Italian translations with essay by Professor Pietro Deandrea in La Guerra e le armi nella letteratura in inglese del Novecento, University of Turin (2013)
Sonnet of Grime for Rt. Hon. Theresa May in The Huffington Post ( November 15, 2015)
Extradition – Upon my fifth anniversary in prison without trial German translation in Mit Solidarischen Grüβen aus dem Knast: Texte und Bilder von Gefangen, Berlin (2012)
This be the Answer poetry collection with foreword by Aamer Anwar and Richard Haley, Edinburgh (2011)
Damascene Portraits poetry collection, London (2005)
READINGS & PRESENTATIONS
December 22, 2021
Author Evening with Imam Dawud Walid: Blackness and Islam
IHRC Bookshop, London.
December 21, 2021
Chair at Author Evening with Dr Bilal Ware: The Walking Qur’an: Islamic Education, Embodied Knowledge, and History in West Africa
IHRC Bookshop, London.
March 19, 2020
“The Life and Works of Qaṭarī Ibn al-Fujā`ah, Poet and Leader of the Azraqites: An Application of Critical-Source Methodologies in Khārijite Historiography” at fifth annual TIMES Symposium 2021 online.
July 7, 2020
“The Life and Works of Qaṭarī Ibn al-Fujā`ah, Poet and Leader of the Azraqites: An Application of Critical-Source Methodologies in Khārijite Historiography” at Medieval Ideas from the East session, International Medieval Congress, University of Leeds. Awarded bursary.
March 25, 2020
Poetry reading at Virtual Fundraiser Concert for Survivors of Delhi Pogrom by South Asia Solidarity Group
September 28, 2019
Panellist on “Muslims, Resistance, Writing” at Literature Must Fall one-day literature festival, Birmingham Hub
September 11, 2019
Poetry reading at The 87 Press book launch for Ed Luker’s Heavy Waters at The Roebuck SE1
August 23, 2019
Screening of animation of my poem Otherstani at FILMY: A Micro Film Festival by Khidr Collective & Root25
November 21, 2018
Khidr Zine: Issue 3 “”Frontiers” launch at Mirth, Marvel & Maud, London E17
March 24, 2017
Deport, Deprive, Extradite: State Extremism and Expulsion conference organised by the Department of Sociology,University of York at Friends House, London UK
May 13, 2016
Racism, Rights & Resistance: An Evening of Poetry and Spoken Word
Priory Centre, York, UK
April 25, 2016
Readings and conversation with Hannah Silva for British Library archives
February 26, 2016
Race & Poetry & Poetics in the UK
Senate House, London, UK
November 6, 2015
Reclaim Diwali!
Karibu Education Centre, London, UK
September 15, 2015
Bosnia Genocide Remembered
Rich Mix, London, UK
July 4, 2015
The Oranges of Revolution – In Dialogue
Keats House, London, UK
OTHER TRAINING & QUALIFICATIONS
January 2008
Community Learning Champions Programme
Lewisham College
December 2007
Certificate of Achievement: Short Course in Creative Writing and Communication
London Metropolitan University
Decemeber 2005
CELTA
Oxford House College, London
AWARDS AND OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
Shortlisted for Outspoken prize for poetry, film category (Otherstani) 2020
Winner of Leopold de Rothschild prize for best individual poem (Grieving) at Koestler Trust awards 2013
Winner of Bronze award for Poetry Collection (Grieving and other poems) at Koestler Trust awards 2013