Documentation of the debate referring to the publication of Joachim Helfer and Rachid al-Daif

In December 2005, Rachid al-Daif published a book in Beirut, in Arabic, under the title: »The German comes back to his senses«. He describes his encounter with the German writer Joachim Helfer (Berlin). Key themes are the differences in gender relationships between Germany and Lebanon, and the way Joachim Helfer lives his homosexuality. The German translation was published by Suhrkamp in October 2006 and includes commentaries by Joachim Helfer, inserted into al-Daif’s text. This publication (under the German title: »Die Verschwulung der Welt« – »The gayification of the world«) triggered an intense and controversial reaction in both German and Arabic media.

In the section »Debatte zu Helfer/al-Daif«, this website includes 24 reviews, which were published by the German media, and in German language. The following texts are available for downloads in English and/or Arabic language:

1. Three texts from the Arab world in English language >> Download (pdf file, 80k)
   – two reviews from Arab newspapers (English translation):
      by Samir Grees in Al-Hayat (London/Beirut) and by Abbas Beydoun in As-Safir (Beirut)
   – one lecture (English) by Ken Seigneurie, Assistant Professor for literature in Beirut,
      about the text by Rachid al-Daif. The author explains the text in its context,
      and refers to the readers in the Arab world and al-Daif’s literary style.
   
   
2. Four reviews in Arabic (original version):
   These are texts by Samir Grees, Abbas Beydoun, Gamal al-Ghitani and Hussain El-Mozany
   >> Download (pdf file, 206 K)
   
   
3. Arabic translations of three German texts >> Download (pdf file, 188 K)
   - Volker Weidermann’s review from »Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung« of 12 November 2006
   - Michael Kleeberg’s review from »tageszeitung« of 29 December 2006
   - Joachim Helfer answers to the review of Samir Grees