“Arab Censorship and Freedom of Expression in the Arab World” Conference at the BA
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Alexandria— “Arab Censorship and Freedom of Expression in the Arab World” Conference was opened on Sunday, 12 July 2009 at the BA. The two- day Conference is co-organized by the BA and National Center for Translation.
The opening session was attended by Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Director of the Library of Alexandria, Dr. Khaled Azab, Director of the BA Media Department, Poet Helmy Salem, and Mr. Elias Farkouh, in addition to distinguished writers and intellectuals. Dr. Gaber Asfour, Director of the National Center for Translation and BA Special Advisor, regretfully could not attend the conference due to his illness.
Serageldin welcomed the audience at the BA, an open space for dialogue and exchange. He highlighted the importance of freedom of expression, without which seeking truth would be meaningless. He pointed out to the emergence of a trend that rejects renewal and adds a divine touch to the oldies. The general atmosphere of the society has thus become more severe than the power of the state and censorship. Serageldin called for reviewing our intellectual strategy, avoiding the mix between religion and worldly affairs, and having the will and awareness to do that.
Elias Farkouh spoke in the name of Arab participants in the Conference. He quoted Serageldin’s call to “use the power of the mind”, and wondered if we really do that. He also spoke of the relationship between the Arab intellectuals and their societies: living in ivory towers, Arab intellectuals seems to stand at different ends with their societies.
On behalf of Egyptian Participants, Poet Helmy Salem considered Serageldin’s speech the first testimony of freedom of expression in the Conference. He mentioned the alliance of three types of censorship: political authority, censorship in the name of religion, and the general atmosphere that is very much affected by traditional public opinion.
“Arab Censorship and Freedom of Expression in the Arab World” Conference is held at the BACC Delegates Hall for two days. It will feature testimonies of a number of writers and intellectuals around the topic.
Click here to view the Conference Program in Arabic.