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Muhummad Huwwar discusses prison literature in Arabic poetry at AKU-ISMC Seminar
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| (Left to right) Profs. Ziyad al-Zubi, Muhummad Huwwar and Moncef Ben Abdeljelil (AKU-ISMC). |
On the 25th of January, AKU-ISMC, in association with SOAS and the London Middle East Institute, held a cultural event with the prominent Jordanian author and literary critic Professor Muhammad Huwwar. During the seminar, Huwwar presented a reading from his latest book, Holding Fire (al-Qabd ‘ala al-Nar) and responded to questions from the audience. Huwwar’s reading was followed by a commentary and response by Professor Ziyad al-Zubi, a specialist in contemporary Arabic literature.
Originally from Jordan, Huwwar completed his undergraduate and Masters Degrees in Baghdad and obtained his PhD from Ein Shams University in 1977. Huwwar has recently published a book about the literature of imprisonment. Having himself been imprisoned in Gaza in 1977, his reflections on the literature of imprisonment are both critical and personal. The result has been his Al-Babteen prize-winning book Holding Fire (al-Qabd ‘ala al-Nar).
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| Huwwar spoke about his Al-Babteen prize-winning book, Holding Fire, which explores the literature of imprisonment. |
Following a reading from Holding Fire, Huwwar spoke about some of the themes within the book. The idea of the prison in Arabic poetry is very common, Huwwar explained, however the styles in which poets write about them vary according to the situation surrounding the incarceration of the poet. Huwwar said that although prison is a punishment condoned by society, it can often act as a symbol of injustice vis-à-vis the head of state. In this case, it is often more complicated when imprisonment is related to morals, values and religion, creating a situation where justice cannot be considered absolute.
Huwwar explained the importance of power within the psychology of imprisonment, stating that prisoners can only rebel when the situation allows. In the past, as well as within contemporary situations, poets have often been imprisoned due to their abilities of expression. A number of Arab poets have been imprisoned throughout the years, and the poetry of each is a story of how they endured.
In his response to Huwwar, al-Zubi focused on the central idea that runs throughout Holding Fire – namely the motives of the experience of prison in Arabic poetry. The experience of prison, al-Zubi said, is a universal phenomenon which brings together a number of experiences. Further to this, he noted that an important element of prison literature is the debate about authority and power relations, which applies strongly to Arab countries. Al-Zubi stated that this exposes a problem which can be explained by inequality in two areas – political power which is misused through violence, and opposition without any power.
Huwwar explained that the title of the book, al-Qabd ‘ala al-Nar (Holding Fire), expresses a condition which, when translated into English, means, “patience and endurance over pain, and suffering with the hope that in time a new future will shine.” According to Huwwar, through reading about the experience of prison in Arabic poetry, a number of dimensions are revealed.
“In looking at the experience of political power over individuals, there is a conflict between power and the colonisers, especially if violence is committed against society. The prisoner is not patient to fantastic proportions but can transfer into a hero of mythical proportions.”
The most important chapter in Holding Fire, Huwwar suggested, is the final one, in which he explores Palestinian resistance poetry. The Palestinian resistance is still a resistance that cannot defy the military or economic might of its occupiers.
In conclusion, Huwwar commented that the poetry of imprisonment is an important development in Arabic poetry which expresses a unique history. The important message of humanity defines the writing of his book, which expresses the resounding message that, “we don’t want to be oppressed because we don’t want to oppress anyone.”
The seminar, which was part of the AKU-ISMC Novel Eye series was held at the Khalili Lecture theatre at SOAS. It was presented in Arabic and was interpreted into English by SOAS Senior Lecturer in Arabic Literature Dr Wen-Ching Ouyang.
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