Jalal Barzanji’s desk is covered with scrap paper, notes
scribbled during the
years he spent in an Iraqi prison. “Writing let me
dream,” says Barzanji, Edmonton’s first Writer in Exile. “It
let me fly, go out of prison and have hope.”
In September 2007 with the start of his one-year
Writer-in-Exile term, Barzanji began transcribing his prison
notes, recreating those long, tortuous years when he lived
in a crowded cell, with 55 people in a space meant for 15.
Once the manuscript is complete, it will be translated into
English, and Barzanji is looking forward to having his
prison story available to an international audience.
“I wrote about my daily feelings,” he says. “When I wrote I
felt better. I had power.”
Several Edmonton organizations created The Writer in Exile
program to support exiled writers living in Canada PEN
Canada
ُ. The Writers Guild of Alberta hosts the program.
Sponsors and partners include the Edmonton Public Library,
University of Alberta (Faculty of Arts), Edmonton Community
Foundation, Canada Council, Edmonton Arts Council, Athabasca
University, MacEwan College, Edmonton Journal and
Edmonton LitFest.
In 1979, Barzanji published his first poetry collection,
Dance of Evening Snow ,it was well received by Kurdish
readers as a new work in a modern style and with a modern
vision . he continued writing to make world more beautiful
and more peaceful. The important part of writing for Jalal
has always been the freedom to write beyond rules and
regulation. That collection, along with his magazine
articles. In 1985 he published a second book ( Can’t Get
warm ) led to his arrest. After his release, Barzanji knew
the second arrest wouldn’t lead to jail time. “The next
time, they took me,” he says, “I would be killed.” So far
Barzanji has published five poetry books with great
difficulty
Barzanji fled to Turkey, where the Canadian Embassy declared
him a refugee and helped bring him and his family to
Edmonton. As Writer in Exile, Barzanji is completing both
his prison story and a new poetry collection. He is also
working with other immigrant writers.
“In the first yea, like any other new comers, we faced
barriers in adjusting to our new country .In 2ooo I
established the Canadian Kurdish Friendship Association, I
received (RISE AWARD) from Edmonton Mennonite centre For New
comers.
“Finally, I have freedom, space and time,” to write he says.
If you are interested in meeting with Jalal Barzanji, First
Writer –In- Exile calls 442-6310.
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