Alya Shakir

Alya Shakir works on external affairs and communications at openDemocracy. She started her career as a classical pianist before finding herself in public relations at the US state department. She came to openDemocracy after 'doing time' at a government press office. She is completing a Master degree in Middle East politics from SOAS, is fluent in Arabic and Russian and has a healthy obsession with Dostoevsky.