15. Oct 2020

The Dawit Isaak Library launched in Malmö - a library dedicated to free speech

The Malmö City Archives in Sweden opened the Dawit Isaak Libray 15 September 2020, a library of literature written by authors who, due to their vocation, have been subject to censorship, repression and/or forced into exile. Photo.
The Malmö City Archives in Sweden opened the Dawit Isaak Libray 15 September 2020, a library of literature written by authors who, due to their vocation, have been subject to censorship, repression and/or forced into exile.

On September 15, the Malmö City Archives in Sweden opened the Dawit Isaak Library - a library of literature written by authors who, due to their vocation, have been subject to censorship, repression and/or forced into exile.

In the Dawit Isaak Library, the public can find, read and borrow books that would normally not be available to a larger readership - if it was up to someone else. The library is open to the public and the books can be borrowed with a library card, both nationally and from abroad.

The opening of the Dawit Isaak Library has been widely reported in the Swedish media, since this is, to our knowledge, the first library in the world with banned or censored books that are available to the public. says project manager, Emelie Wieslander.  

ICORN is proud to be a partner in this project where the works of many of the writers and artists who are or have been in ICORN residency are represented.

At the opening of the Dawit Isaak Library in Malmö, Sweden 15 September 2020. With three current and former ICORN resident, Yasmine El Baramny, Jude Dibia and Mukhtar Wafayee with Mayor of Malmö CIty, Katrin Stjernfeldt Jammeh. Photo.

The Swedish Minister of Culture and Leisure Amanda Lind says: 

The Dawit Isaak Library as an important tool for artistic freedom and freedom of expression since the library raises awareness about of the limitations of artistic freedom in the world.

The Dawit Isaak-library continuously buys books – both contemporary and older – and are grateful for help or tips on what books the library should contain. Titles are bought in original language as well as English, Swedish, Norwegian or Danish. Contact and more information: malmo.se/dawitisaaklibrary, dawitisaakbiblioteket@malmo.se.

The Dawit Isaak Library is a collaboration between the Malmö City Archives, Swedish PEN and ICORN.

The Dawit Isaak Library fIlm

Dawit Isaak 

Dawit Isaak (PEN Case photo). Photo.

Dawit Isaak is a Swedish-Eritrean journalist and author who has been incarcerated in Eritrea since 2001 without trial for publishing criticism of the Eritrea regime.