An emotional and unflinching story about Arab masculinity and homoeroticism

Following a sold out a launch event at Gay’s the Word, we’re excited to host Khaled Alesmael for an evening discussing his new book ‘Selamlik‘. Khaled will be in conversation with Diego García Rodríguez.

The Book

Furat, a Syrian in his early 20s, visits Sibki Park in Damascus, which serves as a gathering
place for gay men from all over the city. He learns about the Hammams, secret meeting
places for gays located throughout the old city. Inside these public baths, the air is thick
with the scent of bay laurel soap, and naked men hide in the steam. Despite society,
religion and regime disapproval, Furat finds the love he seeks just before being forced to
flee as his world changes. Later on, Furat wakes up in a cold sweat at an asylum in the
Swedish forest recalling a terrifying dream in which he was blindfolded and bound.
Having seen the horrific clips of what extremists do to gays circulating on the internet,
he begins to write about his experience while locked in the toilet. This is the story of
Furat’s journey, along with that of other refugees, as they struggle against physical and
economic challenges, migration laws, and deep-seated fears of loss, shame, and hatred.
However, amid these difficulties also lie moments of passion and pleasure. Despite
everything, Furat remains steadfast in his pursuit of love.

Selamlik is a searing indictment of the human cost of war and a testament to the power of love and solidarity in the face of adversity. Through Furat’s journey, Alesmael shines a light on the struggles of LGBTQ individuals in the Middle East, while also bearing witness to the resilience of the human spirit in the most challenging of circumstances.

The Author

KHALED ALESMAEL is a writer and journalist from Syria, where he was co-founder of a major music radio station. Now based in London, his writings on sex, LGBTQ+, and migration—in both English and Arabic—have a dedicated international readership. His debut novel Selamlik has been widely acclaimed and was shortlisted for the 2021 German SKOUTZ Award.

LERI PRICE is an award-winning literary translator of contemporary Arabic fiction. Her translation of Planet of Clay by Samar Yazbek, also published by World Editions, was a Finalist for the 2021 National Book Award for
Translated Literature.

DIEGO GARCIA will be in conversaation with Khaled for this event. He is a Leverhulme Early Career Fellow at the University of Nottingham. His current research explores the experiences of LGBTIQ+ refugees and people seeking asylum in the United Kingdom.

The Publisher

QISETNA preserves the cultural and oral heritage of communities affected by conflict and displacement, one story at a time