2023-10-01 09:38:17
Yesterday evening, Saturday, the Syrian novelist, writer, and poet who won Arab and international awards, Khaled Khalifa, died at the age of 59, following a sudden heart attack, according to confirmation from sources, including those close to his family and the Mamdouh Adwan Publishing and Distribution House.
His friend, journalist Yaarub Al-Issa – who accompanied him during the last days – said, “He died inside his house alone in Damascus (…) We called him a lot and he did not answer, and we came to his house and found him dead on the couch.”
Doctors at the Abbasid Hospital in Damascus said the death was diagnosed as a heart attack.
Khalifa was born in Aleppo in 1964, graduated from the Faculty of Law in 1988, and was a member of the university’s literary forum. He wrote television dramas, some documentaries, and short and long films.
About Dar Athar… Who knows anything regarding my poetry, knows what it means to publish three volumes of it? pic.twitter.com/mj52Uc1Iwk
— Monzer Masri (@Moonsunson) September 27, 2023
Khalifa – who hails from the town of Maryamin in the Afrin countryside (north of Aleppo) – was known in Syrian cultural circles following several Syrian series he wrote in the early 1990s, which became widely popular.
He became famous following writing his novel “Praise of Hatred,” which was translated into 6 languages. It attracted attention and was shortlisted for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction in its first session in 2008.
In 2013, the novel “No Knives in the Kitchens of This City” won the Naguib Mahfouz Prize for Novel – one of the most prominent Arab literary honors – and was shortlisted for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction.
Among his well-known novels are “No One Prayed for Them” in 2019, “Death is Hard Work” in 2016, “The Notebooks of the Qarbat” in 2000, and “The Deception Guardian” in 1993.
Among the most famous series he wrote are “Rainbow,” “Biography of Al Jalali,” which conveyed the social and cultural details of the city of Aleppo, “The Godfather,” “Relative Calm,” “Shadow of a Woman,” and others.
Syrian and Arab artists, intellectuals, and journalists mourned Khalifa on social media, along with political activists inside and outside Syria.
Khalifa was known for his opposition to the authorities and his criticism of their policies in his articles and media interviews.
Syrian writer and academic Salam Kawakibi mourned him with the words, “Goodbye, good man.” Novelist Khalil Sweileh wrote, “What a tragedy we are. We will bear his difficult death alone.”
Egyptian director Khairy Bishara mourned him in a blog post on the X website, saying, “The news falls like a thunderbolt. Khaled Khalifa was one of the most beautiful friends. The troubles of life separated us, as did distance and war. A short time ago, I was very happy when we started exchanging our sweet memories, hoping to renew the relationship and revive the old friendship. May he rest in peace. Peace be upon you, most beautiful beings.
Kuwaiti writer Talib Al-Rifai also mourned him, saying, “It is as if death chooses its loved ones. Shocking news, my dear friend Khaled Khalifa. There is no consolation in the arena of the Arabic novel. May your pure soul have wide forgiveness and wide mercy.”
Khalifa is scheduled to be buried in Damascus later today, Sunday, without specifying the rest of the details of the funeral and funeral.
Death missed the Syrian writer and novelist Khaled Khalifa (1964 – 2023)
He studied law in 1988 at the University of Aleppo. He wrote poetry and was a member of the literary forum at the university.
Khalifa wrote television dramas, some documentaries, and short and feature films.Mercy and peace to his soul and patience to his family and lovers.. pic.twitter.com/gwxLcdSTCx
– Mamdouh Adwan Publishing House (@AdwanPH) September 30, 2023
There are no knives in the kitchens of this city
All knives are stuck in our heads, and with the recovery of any memory, the knife moves enough to remind us that it is still stuck and stops before it finishes us off… and so on.
How many memories will we recall today with your passing, Khaled, who made us love hatred as much as we abhor it
May God have mercy on you and have mercy on us#Khaled_Khalifa– Ghassan Yassin Ghassan yassin (@ghassanyasin) September 30, 2023
What a tragedy,
Our brightest and most beautiful friend, Khaled Khalifa, suddenly leaves us.
A pang in the heart
We have no consolation for your loss, my dear. pic.twitter.com/7rJLv221Yb– Ali Al Muqri Ali Al-Muqri (@AliAlMuqri) September 30, 2023
It is as if death chooses its loved ones;
Shocking news, my dear friend #Khaled_Khalifa
There is no consolation for the arena of the Arabic novel.
May your pure soul have wide forgiveness and wide mercy
death; Random kidnapping!!! pic.twitter.com/dwX5H0hPth– Talib Al-Rifai (@talrefai1) September 30, 2023
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the late novelist, poet, screenwriter, and literary writer, Khaled Khalifa, and to all the Syrian people.
Khalifa died on September 30, 2023 following a heart attack, may his soul have mercy, forgiveness and peace.
“He was born on January 1, 1964 in the city of Aleppo, Syria. He studied at the University of Aleppo and obtained a… pic.twitter.com/zWUDZe3BdM
— Hadi Albahra (@hadialbahra) September 30, 2023
Khaled Khalifa read and wrote regarding Syrian death in all its manifestations
But between one narrative and another… and without everyone’s attention, the Imam of the Lovers arrived at a point where his own death was revealed.He died immortally… and his successor wrote his books, texts, and scenarios, how he depicted his Syria in the shadow of a woman.
The city saves the breath of lovers, Khaled, as you said in “He did not pray for them… pic.twitter.com/Z80glXjBj4
– Homam Kadar Homam Kadar (@homamkadar1) October 1, 2023
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