Who Fears the Queer Arab?
Peter Matthews talks to Edwin Nasr about his new book Fear Eats Ali.
Show Notes
“I hear that the aerial bombing of Berlin Neukölln is imminent. Can this be true?”
Since October 7th, Berlin’s Arab diaspora has faced a surge of violence and persecution. Life in Berlin has become dangerous, because regardless of personal history or individual perspective, they’re caught between Staatsräson, German memory culture, and accusations of imported antisemitism that have led to public backlash and humiliating legal attacks.
In a new book, Fear Eats Ali, curator and writer Edwin Nasr captures that reality in a work of what he calls hysterical fiction. Through the character of Ali - a queer new transplant in Berlin from Beirut navigating his own political ambivalence and family history - Nasr explores the surreal and painful reality of navigating the German legal system and life in the city.
In this episode, Nasr talks with HEIST founding editor Peter Matthews about the origin of the book and the idea of hysterical fiction; his own legal fight; sexual politics; and the overlapping histories of trauma shared by Berlin and Beirut.
Links & Resources:
- Buy Fear Eats Ali and support Wirklichkeit Books here.
- Sitt Marie Rose by Etel Adnan,
- City of Angels by Christa Wolf
- Keep up with HEIST on Instagram
- Help us keep HEIST independent and worker-owned! Become an accomplice at heistberlin.com.
Music and sound by Patrick Nininger.