Da waren Tage

In her impressive debut novel Da waren Tage (Those Were Days), Syria-born Luna Ali tells the story of a young man named Aras, who is caught between hope, loss and the fight for freedom in the midst of the Syrian revolution. Aras, a law student, initially experiences the Syrian revolution from distant Germany. The ensuing Syrian civil war, with all its cruelty, infiltrates more and more into his everyday life, blurring Aras’ imagination and reality. With this work, published by S. Fischer, the author poses urgent questions about the importance of political action and collective will and paints a portrait of a generation forced to reinvent itself in the midst of upheaval and destruction.

Following the German-Arabic reading, accompanied by Syrian musician Wassim Mukdad, a panel discussion will delve into the topic of civil society in the Syrian diaspora and its role in Syria’s future. Leading figures in German-Syrian civil society will address the challenges and opportunities that will arise for the reconstruction process and political participation over the coming years. How can the Syrian diaspora and civil society on the ground work together to create a sustainable, democratic society and contribute to securing both human rights and opportunities for co-determination? And what role can be played by the cultural sector in Syrian civil society, in the diaspora and in the country itself?


A cooperation between the Heinrich Böll Stiftung and the Maxim Gorki Theatre.