April 15, 2017 CUI BONO – “who benefits” – is the first question an experienced detective asks when investigating a crime. Since I was a detective myself for a short time in my youth, I know the meaning. Often, the first and obvious suspicion is false. You ask yourself “cui bono”, and another suspect, who you did not think about, appears. For two weeks now, this question has … Read more Uri Avnery” CUI BONO?
by Ali Bektaş [via RETORT where Iain Boal added this note: The text of this dispatch was received from Ali on 25.vii.14. It reflects the situation in Rojava during the third week of July. Apologies to AT for the delay in editing (23.viii.14). IB] Temmuz, 2014 A Turkish armored personnel carrier patrolling the zone separating the Kurds between Turkey and Syria (credit: Özgür Gündem) The struggle to abolish borders which separate peoples from … Read more The Struggle Against Borders and for Autonomy in Kurdistan
The Boston Review has just published a major interview with activist & intellectual Yassin al-Haj Saleh by Danny Postel and Nader Hashemi, co-editors of The Syria Dilemma. Yassin al-Haj Saleh is often called the conscience of the Syrian revolution. Born in Raqqa in 1961, he was arrested in 1980, while a medical student in Aleppo, and imprisoned for his membership in a left-wing organization. He remained a political prisoner until 1996, spending the last of … Read more Syrian Intellectual Yassin al-Haj Saleh Speaks Out
Via Electronic Intifada, posted by Sarah Irving on Mon, 02/24/2014 – 23:00 : Iyad Hayatleh, a Palestinian born and raised in Syria, has posted footage of his moving one-man performance The Eternal Refugee, recorded at the Tron Theatre in Glasgow, Scotland in October 2013. The show reflects on life in Yarmouk refugee camp, where, according to Hayatleh, “the scent of Galilean thyme mingled with Damascus jasmine” and Palestinians and Syrians lived side-by-side. But, as he … Read more The Eternal Refugee by Iyad Hayatleh
Fascinating article on Syria, even if I don’t agree with everything Ahmad writes; below the opening paras — you can read the full article in Guernica Magazine, here. October 24, 2013 The problems with the “anti-imperialist” position on Syria. Image from Flickr via david_axe By Muhammad Idrees Ahmad Earlier this month, the British street artist Banksy produced a video on Syria that attracted over five million viewers in three days. At a … Read more Muhammad Idrees Ahmad: On Monsterphilia and Assad
Courtesy of Al Mudon electronic newspaper Dima Wannous, a Syrian journalist and daughter of the late noted playwright Saddallah Wannous, has been providing exceptional coverage of the Arab art and cultural scene for the newly established Lebanese electronic newspaper, Al Mudon. She recently talked with Syrian artist Tamam Azzam, whom she claims remains as engaged in documenting the events of the Syrian revolution through his paintings as he … Read more Tamam Azzam: Artist from Art to Revolution
Among the many Syrian dead, another writer & family, via Al Jazeera: Syrian writer Ibrahim al-Kharit and his son killed by government troops in eastern city of Deir Az-Zor, activists say September 28, 2012 – 17:47 Syrian writer Ibrahim al-Kharit and his son Sumar were killed by government troops in the eastern city of Deir Az-zor, opposition activists and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Friday. They … Read more Ibrahim al-Kharit (1943-2012)
Excellent analysis & overview of the situation in Syria, & the equilibrium or lack thereof between the various factions of the anti-Assad forces by Ammar Abduhamid on his “Syrian Revolution Digest” blog. Very worthwhile reading in toto, though it is quite long. Opening paragraphs below: The Shredded Tapestry: The State of Syria Today A Trip Report (Turkey, August 10-30) Background The trip was arranged for the purpose of … Read more Syria: The Shredded Tapestry
As usual, Avnery’s takes are fascinating & excellent food for the intelletto. This week the topic is Syria: Uri Avnery August 11, 2012 Bloody Spring) ON A flight to London in 1961, I had a unique experience. On the way, the plane made a stop in Athens and a group of Arabs joined us. That by itself was an experience. In those days, Israelis hardly ever met people from … Read more Avnery on Syria
This in via the Arab Literature (in English) site, where you can also read the rest of the article, and a further range of materials concerning Arab literature in translation, such as their previous post detailing what new books translated from Arabic are coming out this year. In Praise of … Khaled Khalifa Posted on June 1, 2012 by mlynxqualey | Leave a comment Even after being beaten last Saturday, and having his left hand broken, Syrian novelist … Read more Writers in Syria