Khaled Khalifa’s In praise of hatred is now out in English!

-Some analysts see a growing influence of fundamentalists in the revolution. Even radical Islamists can fight in Syria.
‘No one can speak of Islamist influence. There is a movement of the whole people which covers all currents and is trying to organize itself to continue the struggle… Syrians have already made the decision to continue the revolution, which began pacifically, but in response tp the barbarism of the regime some groups has taken weapons. Most go on the streets unarmed. Therein lies the secret of the Syrian revolution, in the value of its people.

The novel Khalifa took him 13 years of work. “I felt fear and terror… This probed me to turn that pain into a novel …” Khalifa is, however, a writer with no pretensions. “I write just for the pleasure of writing and cannot do anything else.”

The rumor this afternoon, May 26th, was that Khaled Khalifa was arrested in the morning while attending the funeral of a friend in Damascus. He was released with a broken arm and contusions to the head. On the phone, Khaled Khalifa said he was now alright. The LA Times gives the following details.

Khaled KHALIFA Two days ago, Khaled Khalifa sent me his address below in Arabic. He needed it to be translated into French and English for starters. His aim was for it to reach as many people as possible. Less than 48 hours later, I find his address on @arablit’s blog, and I receive an e-mail from Transworld, his publisher in the UK. I know the internet sometimes makes wonders. But I’m still amazed at his voice being heard!

This disappointing attitude of the regime characterized the scene of a strange Syrian surrealism.The observer has the feeling to read a long and repetitive novel in which are reproduced the same mechanical and foolish scenes and actions of the regime. On the other hand, instead, we find the thuwar (the revolutionaries, ed.) constituting the bright party, with songs and dances borrowed from the rich Syrian tradition. The Syrian people has fueled this revolution with a river of blood paid daily by flocks fallen, among the best sons of Syria, and continues to pay this high price, after waiting in vain for an international rescue.