Translated with DeepL.
Original language: Deutsch
Roya Issa and daughter, Damascus/Syria (born 1973). The painter spent her early childhood in Algeria, graduated from the art academy in Damascus, lived and worked in Dubai as a freelance artist and worked as a film decorator for various TV and film productions. Since fleeing Damascus, she has lived with her daughter in Cairo. There she co-founded the UN-supported project for Syrian refugee women in Egypt. Her exhibition at the Cairo Opera House (Egypt) was awarded the "Lovers of Fine Arts Foundation" prize. Today Roya Issa lives with her daughter in Cologne.
Abdul Razzak Shaballout and wife, Damascus/Syria (born 1974). The painter specializes in hyperrealism and taught painting at the art academy in Damascus. Since his escape he has lived as a freelance artist in Beirut. In his paintings, he addresses the loss and displacement of his friends and family as a result of the war in Syria. Abdul Razzak Shaballout lives with his wife in Düren and Berlin.
Mohammad al-Attar, Syria (born 1980). The playwright and theater maker is one of Syria's best-known up-and-coming playwrights and a chronicler of a Syria torn apart by civil war. His plays are performed all over the world. His essays and commentaries appear in international daily newspapers, news channels and in the publication of the Heinrich Böll Foundation. Since June 2015, he has been living in Berlin as a fellow of the Heinrich Böll Haus Langenbroich.
Sura Alloush, Homs/Syria (born in 1980). The writer and translator has a bachelor's degree in English literature and a diploma in translation from Al-Baat University in Homs. She has published two volumes of poetry to date and works as a freelance journalist and literary translator for various magazines and websites, including the refugee magazine "Abwab", which is published in Germany.
Colette Bahna, Damascus/Syria (born 1961). The writer, journalist and scenarist has published three collections of her short stories since 1984. She has received major Syrian literary prizes. Translations of her short stories have been published internationally. She has written several film, television and theater scripts and is a jury member of the Nile Festival for documentary films and the Adoni Festival for Syrian TV dramas. As a journalist, she also writes for international media such as Associated Press, DPA Germany and France Press.
Jalal Alahmadi, Yemen (born 1987). The writer was born in Saudi Arabia. He became known for his poetry in Yemen and
in the Arab world. He has received several literary prizes, including the "Yemeni president's prize for poetry 2011" and the "Abdulaziz al-Maqalih's prize for poetry 2014". He has published four volumes of poetry to date. He is a participant in this year's 17th Berlin Poetry Festival "Kein schöner Land". Poetry talk: Writing after flight - words in hand luggage.
Mahmudul Haque Munshi, Bangladesh (born 1987). The blogger and online activist is a voice against religious fundamentalism and an activist for the rights of minorities and the indigenous population. He initiated the "Shahbag" movement to ban religiously determined political parties, called for a legal reappraisal of the three million people killed during the 1971 war of independence and a return to a secular Bangladesh. Five of his co-bloggers were brutally murdered on the streets by Islamist fanatics.
Contact:
Sigrun Reckhaus
reckhaus@boell.de