Responsibility

The title of this blog is a link to an article featured in the New York Times Magazine, "Where Alaa Al Aswany is Writing From," by Pankaj Mishra. Mishra speaks with Al Aswany, who happens to be the founding member of the political movement Kefaya. The topics covered in the article vary from Al Aswany's international success as a writer through his second novel, The Yacoubian Building, his involvement in Egyptian politics, and his responsibility as a writer and an Egyptian.

The Yacoubian Building was translated into English from Arabic in 2006. The novel depicts modern Egypt with all its imperfections. The novel was so successful it was made into a television series and a movie.

Al Aswany's movement, Kefaya (or Enough in Arabic), aims to end President Hosni Mubarak hold on Egypt and potential plans to pass the presidency to his son, Gemal. Kefaya is compared to the Solidarity Movement of Poland and it's supporters range in political perspective. The writer of the article likens the group to an NGO umbrella for several political groups.

The article goes on to discuss Al Aswany's views of Egypt as it stands today and America's relationship with Egypt and President Mubarak. The writer makes a distinction between the U.S. government's policies and the people. He even criticizes the Muslim Brotherhood and their manipulation of Islam.

“A writer,” he told me, “is never neutral, and he is always more than a writer. He is also a citizen with responsibility toward the society he lives in.” (New York Times Magazine, P.Mishra)

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