Writing Masterclass: ‘Rooted in Words: Writing in Your Mother Tongue While in Exile’ with queer Syrian author Khaled Alesmael

In this masterclass, Khaled Alesmael draws on his own experiences of writing his much-acclaimed queer works Selamlik (2018) and Gateway to the Sea (2020) in his native Arabic while exiled in Sweden and the United Kingdom. In so doing, this session will explore the profound emotional, cultural, and intellectual connections writers maintain with their mother tongue while in exile. Khaled asks:

How might writing in our native language serve as a bridge to our homeland, a preservation of our identity, and an act of resistance against erasure?

Khaled Alesmael proudly writes in his mother tongue, Arabic. However, his works have not yet been published in Arabic-speaking countries due to widespread disapproval of homosexuality and restrictive censorship in non-democratic regimes. However, his work has garnered significant success through its translation into Swedish, German, Danish, and English.

The masterclass will also explore the complexities of navigating the publishing industry and the intricate art of translation. Khaled will discuss the joys and challenges of sharing his work across linguistic and cultural borders. Attendees will be invited to reflect on key questions, including:

How can we preserve the essence of our work when it crosses linguistic and cultural borders?
What are the unique dynamics of publishing such literature in our globalised world?

This session offers an invaluable opportunity to learn from a writer whose work challenges boundaries and celebrates the resilience of identity through language.