| You will remain an example (To Gandhi) “I will walk with all walking people And no I will not stand still Just to watch the passers by This is my Homeland In which I have A palm tree A drop in a cloud And a grave to protect me This is more beautiful Than all cities of fog And cities which Do not recognise me My master: I would like to have power Even for one day To build the “republic of feelings.” Poem is © Tal Al-Mallouhi , imprisoned in Syria, translated from the Arabic by Ghias Aljundi. |
“The Writers in Prison Committee of PEN International condemns the five year sentence handed down on 14 February 2011 to blogger, poet and high school student Tal Al-Mallouhi on the charge of “divulging information to a foreign state”. No evidence has been provided for the charge against her, and PEN International believes that Al-Mallouhi is sentenced for her online writings and poems. This violates right to freedom of expression as guaranteed by Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Syria is a party. PEN calls for her immediate and unconditional release.”
