Mervat Shehadeh is a Kurdish-Syrian journalist, writer, and editor based in Cologne, Germany, whose professional journey is closely connected to cultural journalism, humanitarian storytelling, and documentary-oriented narratives related to migration, identity, women’s issues, and Syrian diaspora communities.

Born in Damascus, Syria, she studied Journalism at Damascus University before beginning her work in written media and cultural reporting, developing her experience across journalistic writing, social commentary, and human-centered storytelling within Arabic and multilingual media environments.

Over the years, she contributed articles, reports, and cultural texts to several newspapers, magazines, and independent media platforms in both Arabic and German, while expanding her work toward journalism connected to Syrian communities in Europe and issues related to migration, integration, memory, and cultural identity.

She worked for four years with Sindbad Magazine in Germany as editor of the Arabic section, contributing to a media experience that combined cultural journalism with contemporary diaspora narratives and social documentation.

Alongside her journalistic work, Shehadeh became actively involved in human rights and women-focused initiatives. She is a member of Masar Alliance for the forcibly disappeared in Syria within its media office, a member of the Syrian Women’s Lobby, and part of the Syrian Women’s Network.

Currently, she works within the media team of Ebdaa Platform while also producing visual journalistic reports and documentary-oriented coverage for cultural events and artistic activities across Germany and Europe, in addition to participating in documentary film projects.

Her journalistic language reflects a strong interest in human stories, memory, women’s perspectives, and cultural identity, often approaching social realities through a documentary-oriented sensibility and realistic narrative tone.

After participating in the Documentary Films Selection Committee during the 2023 and 2024 editions, Mervat Shehadeh returns at the 6th edition of the Kobani International Film Festival 2025 as a member of the Documentary Films Committee, contributing a perspective shaped by cultural journalism, documentary storytelling, and socially engaged narratives.