We must not be distant from Arab issues

Algerian poet Omar Tarafi Algiers - Khaled Alloush Algerian poet Omar Tarafi, in an exclusive interview with Arab Today, criticised his country’s intellectuals and writers whom he deemed ?distant from the issues facing the Arab world. Tarafi also defended the legitimacy of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, saying those who ousted former president Mohammed Morsi, are responsible for a coup against the will of the people and for a potential civil war. Tarafi called on fellow Algerian writers and intellectuals to show more interest towards the issues facing the region and to speak out against what is wrong like the “coup” in Egypt. He also called on the Egyptian people to unite and to denounce those that are “trying to create division.” “The Egyptian Brotherhood understands the Western dangers Egypt is facing,” Tarafi said. “Morsi’s government restored relative peace to the Arab region, which scared the Zionists and the West;” he added. He asked the Egyptians to hand back power to the Brotherhood since the majority of the people voted for Morsi a year ago. Tarafi also discussed his collection of poems titled Ajras al Shajan (Bells of Sorrow) which he described as “a poetic experience that cultivates sorrow, dreams, visions and commitment.” He added that he was very proud of being able to publish the collection despite a lack of funds and the low literacy rates in Algeria. He said the poems were “the sorrow of a poet that reflects the worries of his ?nation intertwined with fragments of happiness which is the key to better future.”? Tarafi revealed to Arab Today that that he will soon publish his second collection. Concluding his interview, the Algerian poet dedicated a few verses to the ?Egyptian people, saying he hopes for a return of calm to Egypt: “What happened to Egypt? There came a great strife and the people became divided, what happened to ?them? They tripped. Didn’t you choose a president a year ago? There will be challenges and there is the legacy of ? traitors. He was still showing an effort and the job wasn’t done so that he could be judged. Enough mess, O you bloody elite. You let desire rule you and you have deceived God’s law.” On the ousting of the Muslim Brotherhood from power, Tarafi said: ? “O you Egyptian, what happened? Your hands became dirty for ousting a pure gentleman. May your right hand be paralysed if you show secularism and deny what is right. May Allah not bless the enemies you are blessing as hidden hands have shown cunning curses.”