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Jordanian Writers Association Holds Its First Conference on the Literature of Freedom
The Jordanian Writers Association held its first conference on the literature of freedom in the prisons of occupation on Wednesday and Thursday (April 16-17, 2025), coinciding with Palestinian Prisoners' Day. The event saw broad participation from writers, critics, academics, and former prisoners from Jordan, Palestine, Algeria, Lebanon, and Iraq, along with attendees interested in the issues of imprisonment and the literature of freedom.
The opening was managed by the storyteller Samia Al-Attar, the association's secretary, who began by inviting the attendees to stand for a moment of silence and recite Al-Fatiha in memory of the martyrs of Gaza. In her welcoming speech, she emphasized that she and the association stand with the resistance, and holding the conference under such circumstances is the greatest proof of that.
Dr. Muwafaq Muhadin, the association's president, followed her, affirming that the initiative "Prisoners Write" is a national liberation movement, where writing with fire coincided with writing with ink. He referred to the writings of Palestinian prisoners, which remind us of Arab and global literary works, and promised that the association would continue to support the writings of prisoners and work towards making the conference an annual event in another Arab country each year.
Next was writer Mohammad Abu Arideh, a member of the association and representative of the conference's preparatory committee. He highlighted the importance of holding the conference amidst the current tumult regarding Al-Aqsa and the prominence of the Palestinian cause on the global stage, noting that the creativity of prisoners in the occupation's prisons has become an expression of confrontation and resistance, serving as a cultural shield to protect the struggle.
The conference program included six sessions:
Session One:"Martyr Walid Daqa: Symbol and Icon" featuring Mr. Essa Qaraqe from Palestine, Dr. Azmi Mansour from Jordan, and poet Rami Yassin from Jordan, moderated by lawyer Hassan Abadi from Haifa, Palestine.
Session Two:"Studies in the Creative Works of Prisoners" with novelist Sara Al-Namas from Algeria, Dr. Mohammad Obaid Allah from Jordan, and writer Afif Kawouk from Lebanon, moderated by novelist Abd Al-Salam Saleh from Jordan.
Session Three: "Studies in the Creative Works of Prisoners: Short Stories, Poetry, Essays" featuring novelist Dima Al-Samman from Jerusalem, Mr. Mahdi Nasir from Jordan, storyteller Samia Al-Attar from Jordan, and moderated by Dr. Ismail Al-Qayyem from Jordan.
Session Four: "The Role of Arab and International Institutions in Supporting Prisoners," featuring Dr. Ali Abu Hilal from Palestine, lawyer Hassan Abadi from Palestine, novelist Abd Al-Salam Saleh from Jordan, and moderated by Mr. Mohammad Mahfouz Jaber from Jordan.
Session Five: "Studies in the Artistic Creativity of Prisoners," featuring artist Ghazi Inaem from Jordan, artist Saleh Hamdouni from Jordan (presented on his behalf by poet and translator Nizar Sartawi), and moderated by Dr. Dalal Anabtawi from Jordan.
Session Six:"Manifestations of Imprisonment in Women's Literature," featuring Ms. Aisha Ouda from Palestine, Ms. Nadia Al-Hayat from Palestine, Dr. Fatin Al-Hayani from Iraq (presented on her behalf by Ms. Mariam Ananzeh), and moderated by Ms. Rawda Al-Hudahd from Jordan.
The conference received positive feedback regarding interactions with the issue of prisoners and their writings, especially since it was held under sensitive circumstances surrounding the Palestinian cause.
