05. Oct 2019

ICORN at the Frankfurt Bookfair

ICORN wrtiers and artists performing at the Franfurt Book Fair. From top left: Manal Al Sheikh, Gunel Movlud, Ahmedur Rashid Chowdhury (Tutul), Fatemeh Ekhtesari. From middle left: Sahar Mousa, Khalid Albaih, Hamid Sakhizada, Ali Dorani aka Mr. Eaten Fish. From bottom left: Asli Erdogan, Mansur Rajih, Suzanne Ibrahim, Arya Aramnejad. Photo — ICORN wrtiers and artists performing at the Franfurt Book Fair. From top left: Manal Al Sheikh, Gunel Movlud, Ahmedur Rashid Chowdhury (Tutul), Fatemeh Ekhtesari. From middle left: Sahar Mousa, Khalid Albaih, Hamid Sakhizada, Ali Dorani aka Mr. Eaten Fish. From bottom left: Asli Erdogan, Mansur Rajih, Suzanne Ibrahim, Arya Aramnejad.

Under the heading Safe Not Silent, writers and artists in ICORN residency take the stage at the Frankfurt Book Fair in an international freedom of expression stand and stage in Hall 5.

- It is the dream we carry, that something wonderful will happen, that our hearts may open, that doors shall open, and that one morning we‘ll glide into a cove we didn’t know.

These lines by Norwegian poet Olav H Hauge headlines Norway's status as Guest of Honor at Frankfurt Book Fair 2019. ICORN was generously invited by Norway 2019 and the Book Fair to take part. In Hall 5.0 ICORN will have a 30m2 stand and a stage filled with a diverse row of events throughout the fair.

ICORN's dream, its strategic vision, is improved conditions for freedom of expression worldwide. Under the heading Safe not Silent, twelve ICORN writers and artists; Mansur Rajih, Asli Erdogan, Ali Dorani, Suzanne Ibrahim, Hamid Sakhizada, Manal Al-Sheikh, Tutul, Sahar Mousa, Arya Aramnejad, Gunel Movlud, Khalid Albaih, Fatemeh Ekhtesari, will share stage with a blend of partners, artists and experts in all together 25 events from Wednesday 16 to Sunday 20 October.

Safe Not Silent. Photo.

The ICORN stand will be officially opened by Mayor of Stavanger Christine Sagen Helgø and Norway's Minister of Culture Trine Skei Grande on Wednesday 16th, and on Thursday 17th ICORN artists Mansur Rajih, Khalid Albaih and Hamid Sakhizada are part of a debate at the Frankfurt pavilion, together with UN Special Rapporteur Karima Bennoune, Book Fair director Juergen Boos and Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs Ine Eriksen Søreide.

- This is a unique opportunity for ICORN to show to the world what our work really is about, says ICORN director Helge Lunde. This is made possible by a fantastic mobilization of creativity, resources and manpower from a large group of actors from the City of Stavanger," he continues: "Sølvberget Library and Cultural Centre Stavanger hosts the ICORN Secretariat and Stavanger's City of Refuge programme. This common effort displays the invaluable support they offer to our network."

Forbidden Voices book launch at the fair

We also look forward to the launch of the book Forbidden Voices. Two Norwegian journalists, Jan Zahl and Finn Våga, have met six ICORN residents in their cities of refuge, and visited their home countries in an attempt to find out why some people risk their lives for speaking up. The article series was first published in Norwegian newspapers in 2017. A new portrait has been added to the series this year, with Asli Erdogan and visits in Frankfurt and Turkey. The series is now translated into English and the books will be available in two versions, in Norwegian and in English.

Safe Not Silent ICORN Stand: Hall 5.0 Stand A 37

See full programme below and in the gallery top left column.