EGX ends week mostly higher on Oct. 16    Egypt, Qatar sign MoU to boost cooperation in healthcare, food safety    Egypt, UK, Palestine explore financing options for Gaza reconstruction ahead of Cairo conference    Egyptian Amateur Open golf tournament relaunches after 15-year hiatus    Egypt's Kouchouk: IMF's combined reviews will give clearer picture of fiscal performance    Egypt will never relinquish historical Nile water rights, PM says    Oil prices rise on Thursday    Fragile Gaza ceasefire tested as humanitarian crisis deepens    Egypt explores cooperation with Chinese firms to advance robotic surgery    CBE, China's National Financial Regulatory sign MoU to strengthen joint cooperation    Avrio Gold to launch new jewellery, bullion factory in early 2026    AUC makes history as 1st global host of IMMAA 2025    Al Ismaelia launches award-winning 'TamaraHaus' in Downtown Cairo revival    Al-Sisi, Burhan discuss efforts to end Sudan war, address Nile Dam dispute in Cairo talks    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Al-Burhan renew opposition to Ethiopia's unilateral Blue Nile moves    Egypt's Cabinet hails Sharm El-Sheikh peace summit as turning point for Middle East peace    Gaza's fragile ceasefire tested as aid, reconstruction struggle to gain ground    Egypt's human rights committee reviews national strategy, UNHRC membership bid    Al-Sisi, world leaders meet in Sharm El-Sheikh to coordinate Gaza ceasefire implementation    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile actions, calls for global water cooperation    Egypt unearths one of largest New Kingdom Fortresses in North Sinai    Egypt unearths New Kingdom military fortress on Horus's Way in Sinai    Egypt Writes Calm Anew: How Cairo Engineered the Ceasefire in Gaza    Egypt's acting environment minister heads to Abu Dhabi for IUCN Global Nature Summit    Egyptian Open Amateur Golf Championship 2025 to see record participation    Cairo's Al-Fustat Hills Park nears completion as Middle East's largest green hub – PM    El-Sisi boosts teachers' pay, pushes for AI, digital learning overhaul in Egypt's schools    Egypt's Sisi congratulates Khaled El-Enany on landslide UNESCO director-general election win    Syria releases preliminary results of first post-Assad parliament vote    Karnak's hidden origins: Study reveals Egypt's great temple rose from ancient Nile island    Egypt resolves dispute between top African sports bodies ahead of 2027 African Games    Egypt reviews Nile water inflows as minister warns of impact of encroachments on Rosetta Branch    Egypt aims to reclaim global golf standing with new major tournaments: Omar Hisham    Egypt to host men's, juniors' and ladies' open golf championships in October    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







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Booker nominee Khalifa asks for support for Syrians in Cairo celebration
Khaled Khalifa friends celebrated his new book 'No Knives in this City's Kitchens' in the publishing house in Cairo, where Khalifa sends best wishes for 'Egypt's 2nd Revolution'
Published in Ahram Online on 25 - 06 - 2013

The group of Syrian artists, writers and intellectuals now living in Cairo assembled on Monday to celebrate Khaled Khalifa's latest release La Sakakin Fi Matabekh Hazihi Al Madina (No Knives in this City's Kitchens) at Dar Al-Ain Publishing House downtown.
Although Khalifa stayed in Damascus due to health problems, Syrian director, Nidal Al-Dibs, insisted on a celebration in Cairo where the book is being published and not in Lebanon, as Sayed Mahmoud, writer and journalist, explained.
The publisher, Fatma El-Boudy, announced that the book arrived on the same day in Syria and Lebanon, as Khalifa had hoped.
The book just published by Dar Al-Ain is Khalifa's second novel, following his renowned Arabic Booker nominee, In Praise of Hatred, written in 2006.
No Knives in this City's Kitchens traces a Syrian family for half a century, during which they struggle to cope with their lost dreams, their collapsing high social life and eventually have to deal with the problems associated with their mother's death, which becomes symbolic of their struggles.
Instead of videoconferencing with the audience, as suggested, Khalifa preferred to keep the hero of the event to be Syria - not himself.
Instead, Khalifa asked the audience in a message to toast, but not to his heroic act of remaining in Damascus, where millions are struggling more than he. He also said he doesn't consider it a sacrifice, or that he is paying even a small price to stay in his beloved country.
"It is as natural as drinking water, much like what you [Egyptians] are doing preparing for your next revolution against the powers of darkness ...I'd like this to be an occasion to express your support - not to me, but to Syrians. Not only through Facebook, but through every possible means," Khalifa beseeched, wishing Egyptians luck in the coming "second revolution," and relaying his appreciation for the warm love he feels from friends who setup the evening.
Al-Dibs recalled when his friendship began with Khalifa as they were preparing to film a movie in Damascus' tiny allies among street children.
Sayed Mahmoud then told the audience the story of Khalifa's first book, In Praise of Hatred, which none of the publishing houses wanted to take the risk to print and prompted the establishment of a new publishing house that only published this book and another by Munzir Masry. Just recently In Praise of Hatred went through its eighth language translation.
Alaa Kamal described this novel's writing style as more mature and concise, stemming from the very heart of Syria, following the same line Khaled started in his first book.
Syrian writer Salama Keila wished that the next meeting with Khalifa be in Damascus.
The attendees recalled bright memories of Syria and Khaled Khalifa, describing his love of life and passion for Syria and his preference to play the role of an observer at a time when those who remained in Syria were mainly fighting or trying to rescue.
Khalifa is a Syrian scenarist and writer from the '80s generation. His writings include a number of famous soap operas, such as Age of Fear and Relative Silence. In Praise of Hatred was banned in Syria. Khalifa is known for supporting the Syrian revolution from day one.
http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/74915.aspx


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