Challenges Facing Writers of Middle Eastern Origin

—The Groundwork for the Day After

Sunday, April 27th, 2025, 2:30 pm ET

Part of the 2025 Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival

Writers of Middle Eastern origin living and working in the West face many challenges. One is supporting freedom struggles they believe in then being accused of supporting rogue factions or terrorism.  Another can be speaking their mind on local community issues that the mainstream audience does not connect with, or, staying silent to preserve their acceptance with readers and their relationship with publishing houses. Another struggle can be when publishers encourage them to portray exotic subjects and characters in unreal or artificial ways. Another struggle for some is the urge to write in their mother tongue, where market is limited, or in the languages of the land, which may not be the language they think in. 

A discussion between three writers on their works, their origins and the various degrees of connection between the two.

Participants: Yara El-Ghadban, Dimitri Nasrallah, Rachad Antonius

Moderator: Ehab Lotayef