|
7:00 PM
Syria: Quo Vadis?
Talking event|Freedom, Home, Prison, Exile, and the World
-
ACUD Studio, Berlin
- Language German, Arabic
- Price free entrance
- Part of series: Syria: Quo Vadis?
Building on this intense discussion, our guests on February 18 will reflect on the condition of exile in the context of lost and possibly regained homelands, exploring freedom, reconciliation, and new beginnings.
Programme
19:00 – 19:15 | Milad Khawam (Trumpet)Concert
19:15 – 19:30 | “Syria: A Cartography of Political Power Relations”
Input Talk – Yasmin Merei
Syria’s political landscape has been shaped for years by conflicts, power shifts, and regional spheres of influence. In this brief presentation, Yasmin Merei will provide a cartographic guide to better understand the current political divisions and power relations in Syria. The aim is to create a solid foundation of knowledge that will allow a more nuanced understanding of the complex dynamics within the country.
19:30 – 20:45 | “Eternity is Over, the Presence Begins Now”
Reading and Discussion
With Najat Abed Alsamad, Yassin al-Haj Saleh & Nisren Habib
Moderation: Yasmin Merei
Whether from the perspective of prose, poetry, or research, a special focus of the evening will be on the recent travels of our guests to Syria, their first visit in many years. What significance do these new impressions have for their writing and themes? Our guests will not only share their reflections and insights on the current situation, but also discuss how literature and research can contribute to the country’s reconstruction.
Writer Yassin al-Haj Saleh, one of the most significant voices of the Syrian opposition, has endured the harsh realities of imprisonment, resistance, and exile like few others. His unwavering commitment to a free Syrian society is reflected in his writing –the documentary “Our Terrible Country” (2014) offers a powerful portrayal of his journey. But what do the current developments mean for his work and perspective?
Feminist researcher Nisren Habib explores the significance of documenting Syrians’ experiences and memories through feminist research methodologies as a tool for justice. What is the importance of continuing this process after the fall of the Syrian regime? And what would this mean for Women Now today, especially those considering a return to Syria? Does their new reality align with the Syria of today?
The writer and gynecologist Najat Abed Alsamad also focuses on the role of women in Syria – especially in the context of the massive violence and destruction caused by the war. How does this alter entire family structures? And what impact will this have in light of the ongoing transformation?
The discussion will be moderated by journalist and literary scholar Yasmin Merei.
20:45 – 21:00 | Milad Khawam
Closing Concert
Guests
Najat Abed Alsamad (*1967 in Suwaida, Syria) is a writer, gynecologist and obstetrician of Syrianorigin. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Arabic language and literature from the University of Damascus. Najat Abed Alsamad is the author of several internationally acclaimed novels and collected stories, which have been published in Syria, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates since 1994. Her debut novelBilad al-Manafi(Nations of Exile) was published by Riyad al-Rayyes (al-Kawkab) in Lebanon in 2010. Najat Abed Alsamad’s articles, studies and research have appeared in numerous Arab newspapers, websites and think tanks. In 2018, she received the Katara Prize for Arabic novels for her novelLa Ma’a Yarwiha(No Water Quenches Her Thirst). Najat Abed Alsamad has been living in Germany since 2017.
Yassin al-Haj Saleh (*1961 in Raqqa, Syria) is a Syrian author, intellectual and former political prisoner. He studied medicine and was arrested in 1980 as a member of the Communist Party for his opposition to the Assad regime and spent 16 years in Syrian prisons. Since 2000, he has written about politics, society and culture for various Arabic newspapers and magazines outside Syria and is the author and editor of several books about Syria. In 2012, Yassin al-Haj Saleh was awarded the Prince Claus Prize, which he was unable to accept himself as he was in hiding in Damascus at the time. In 2013, his wife Samira was kidnapped in a suburb of Damascus and has remained missing to this day. Yassin al-Haj Saleh has been living in exile since 2013, currently in Berlin. He was a Fellow at the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin from 2017 to 2019 and subsequently an EUME Fellow of the Gerda Henkel Foundation at the Forum Transregionale Studien. In 2020, he published the book Freedom: Home, Prison, Exile and the World with Georges Khalil, and in 2023 his book ‘Darstellung des Schrecklichen. Versuch über das zerstörte Syrien’ (translation into German by Günther Orth).
Nisren Habib (she/her) is a feminist researcher and gender consultant. She currently leads the Feminist Research Unit at Women Now e.V., focusing on social and political justice from a feminist perspective in Syria. She earned her Bachelor's degree in IT Engineering from Damascus University in 2005 and obtained a diploma in Women's Studies from the Arab University of Beirut in 2016. Nisren continued her academic journey by completing a Gender Studies program at Humboldt University from 2017 to 2019. In 2022, she received her Master's degree in American Studies from Humboldt University, deepening her expertise in intersectional feminism and activism. She is currently pursuing a PhD, researching the intersection of national concepts and gender roles in Syria.
Milad Khawam, a musical storyteller, composer, producer and trumpet player Hailing from Damascus, Syria, and now based in Berlin. Blends the essence of classical and Arabic music with electronic elements creating a rich tapestry of sound. Embark on a journey through his albums "TO THE WEST" (2020) and "FUNERAL ON THE MOON" (2023), each a reflection of personal experience.
Yasmin Merei, born in Homs, Syria, in 1984, is a journalist, women’s rights advocate, and expert in communication, civic education, and leadership training, passionate about social equality and empowering marginalized groups. From 2013 to 2016, she was the editor-in-chief of Saiedet Souria, a women’s magazine, and co-founded the Forum for Knowledge and Freedom of Expression in Turkey, a landmark Syrian dialogue initiative in exile.
In 2015, she received the Feuchtwanger Fellowship at Villa Aurora, Los Angeles, and collaborated with Sasha Waltz & Guests until 2018 through support from Allianz Foundation.
Since 2020, Yasmin has focused on Women for Common Spaces, a Berlin-based project she founded to preserve the memory of female exiles and to train young refugee women in leadership. She also works as a media and advocacy consultant, holds degrees in Arabic Literature and Linguistics, and is pursuing a Master’s in International Relations at École supérieure de journalisme de Paris.
