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Polish city Kraków offers refuge to Libyan writer

PR dla Zagranicy
Grzegorz Siwicki 21.09.2017 12:30
The southern Polish city of Kraków has offered temporary shelter to Libyan writer, linguist and philosopher Monem Mahjoub.
Photo: bykst/pixabay.com/CC0 Creative Commons.jpgPhoto: bykst/pixabay.com/CC0 Creative Commons.jpg

Mahjoub has been a victim of intimidation by the Muslim Brotherhood for his books containing criticism of radical Islam. He left his homeland fearing for his life.

The Polish city has offered him political asylum, accommodation and a grant.

Mahjoub told Polish Radio: “After five years of wandering through North Africa, my stay in Kraków is a kind of convalescence and rest for me. I am looking forward to meeting many nice people here.”

Mahjoub’s book Manifesto against Islamic Priesthood, published in Tunisia in 2016, has generated controversy in the Middle East.

He is also the author of poetry volumes including The Book of Illusion and Recital. In Kraków, he is planning to work on a book on the relationship between atheism and theism.

Kraków is a member of the International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN). It joined the organisation in 2011 and has since hosted persecuted writers and human rights activists from North Ossetia, Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Congo and Belarus.

Two other Polish cities, Wrocław and Gdańsk, are also members of ICORN, which is an independent organisation of cities and regions providing assistance to writers and artists who are especially vulnerable to censorship, harassment, imprisonment and even death.

ICORN cities have hosted more than 130 persecuted writers and artists since 2005. (mk/gs/pk)

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