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The international literature festival berlin (ilb): Worldwide reading against the Assad regime and for freedom and democracy in Syria
Appeal for a worldwide reading against the Assad regime and for freedom and democracy in Syria
The international literature festival berlin (ilb) calls upon intellectuals, writers, artists, cultural institutions, schools, universities, radio and TV stations, to participate in a worldwide reading on 23 April 2012, the World Book Day. Excerpts from the diary of the Syrian author Samar Yazbek will be read – also in front of Syrian embassies. Yazbek has documented in her diary the events in Syria since the beginning of the rebellion last year. She is also the author of the attached appeal. The texts from her diary will be made available to be read in Arabic, English, French and German by the festival. The reading and a commemorative minute of silence will be dedicated to the victims of the revolt. They are meant as a manifestation of our solidarity with the opponents of the Assad regime, and an expression of our hope for a free, democratic and secular country.
In view of the peaceful demonstrations early last year, the Syrian government responded with the militarization of cities, with terror and murder. This, in turn, triggered rebellion in the communities and caused the divide in society and in the army. Soldiers who refused to obey and to kill civilians had to desert. They founded the Free Army of Syria, whose goal is the protection and the defence of the citizens of the country.
Security forces have been using heavy artillery for months to kill and destroy. Cities are under siege and are being pillaged; women are being raped, their dead bodies thrown into the night. Young people are being sent to jail, where they are tortured and murdered. According to human rights activists, about 10,000 people have lost their lives since the beginning of the protests. While Syria’s civilization and the unique history of the country are about to die, the world limits its commitment to the mere observation of Assad’s military undertakings. The events hosted at the World Book Day are meant to overcome the silence by demanding Assad’s resignation and issuing a plea for freedom and democracy in a secular state of Syria.
Please let us know, if you want to join us with a reading on 23 April 2012. Please write to: worldwidereading@literaturfestival.com
This appeal was signed by: Adamesteanu, Gabriela, Romania; Agualusa, José Eduardo, Angola; Banciu, Carmen-Francesca, Germany; Benameur, Jeanne, France; Cercas, Javier, Spain; Cheheltan, Amir Hassan, Iran; Dimkovska, Lidija, Macedonia; Dische, Irene, Germany/ USA; Dorfman, Ariel, Chile; Dragomán, György, Hungary; Shamsur Rahman Faruqi, India; Franz, Carlos, Chile; Gordimer, Nadine, South-Africa; Guelfenbein, Carla, Chile; Gürsel, Nedim, Turkey/ France; Gustafsson, Lars, Sweden; Hart, Kevin, USA/ Australia; Jelinek, Elfriede, Austria; Viktor Jerofejew, Russland; Manea, Norman, Romania/ USA; Manguel, Alberto, France/ Canada; Martin-Liao, Tienchi aus China/ Germany; Mastretta, Ángeles, Mexico; Monzó, Quim, Spain; Palmstierna-Weiss, Gunilla, Sweden; P.E.N.-Zentrum Deutschland; Plessen, Elisabeth, Germany; Salamun, Tomas, Slovenia; Moritz Rinke, Germany; Sansal, Boualem, Algeria; Schlögel, Karl, Germany; Schneider, Peter, Germany; Schulz, Hermann, Germany; Sguiglia, Eduardo, Argentina; Shimon, Samuel, Great Britain/ Iraq; Sofsky, Wolfgang, Germany; Stead, C.K., New Zealand; Teller, Janne, Danmark/USA; Thor, Annika, Sweden; Vargas Llosa, Mario, Peru; Vlavianos, Haris, Greece; Vöros, Istvan, Hungary; Wawerzinek, Peter, Germany; Welsh, Irvine, Scotland; Zivlak, Jovan, Serbia.
In the attachment are some texts about Syria in english, arabic and french including the selection of Samar Yazbeks book.
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12. internationales literaturfestival berlin | 04. - 15.09.2012
Fokus Kunst und Literatur
www.literaturfestival.com
Chausseestraße 5
10115 Berlin
Tel.: +49 (0)30 - 27 87 86 0
Fax: + 49 (0)30 - 27 87 86 85
