Iman Al-Ghafari granted scholarship for exceptional literary exertion

Iman Al-Ghafari is a doctor in literature and gender studies, a poet and academic writer. Her PhD thesis focused on identity in the poetry of Sylvia Plath, and in her MA, she studied expressionism and alienation in the poetry of T.S. Eliot. Her main interests lay within gender and sexuality, particularly in the Arab culture. For over ten years, Iman Al-Ghafari has written and taught at universities in her home country. She has also held post-doctoral research positions at universities in Sweden and The Netherlands. She came to Sweden in 2016 with the ICORN residency programme because of harrassment and difficulties in continuing her academic career in Syria. 

Sigtuna joined ICORN in 2012, and Iman Al-Ghafari is the city’s second ICORN writer-in-residence. The Sigtuna Foundation manages the every day running of the ICORN programme in Sigtuna. Their principle aim is to inspire human thought and reflection as well as to stimulate and facilitate dialogues, encounters and bridge building relations. As such, the foundation is a great location for the hosted ICORN writers to continue their work. Prior to Al-Ghafari’s residency, Sigtuna hosted the Turkish publisher and journalist, Ragip Zarakolu, a nobel nominee and a veteran in the battle for freedom of expression in Turkey.

Natur & Kultur foundation

Natur & Kultur is a Swedish foundation and a major publisher working to support tolerance, humanism and democracy through support, inspiration, education and training. This year, Natur & Kultur granted scholarships to Iman Al-Ghafari, Lars Andersson, Alva Dahl, Anita Goldman, Jesper Högström, Jasim Mohamed, Rose-Marie Nielsen, Matilda Ruta och Klas Östergren.