On Friday January 29, EGIC has hosted the launch of the book “L’IO Arabo” written by the Syrian-Italian journalist and writer Houssam Mouazin.

“Is it still possible to live together?” This is the key question of this book which analyses the societal relationship between the West and the Arab world after 9/11, from the perspective of a Syrian intellectual who has been living in Italy for the past 20 years.

During the event, the question has been addressed repeatedly by unraveling the hardest issues that have made mutual understanding so much tougher. After a brief introduction and the reading of two of the most touching and thought-provoking chapters, the Author, Houssam Mouazin, explained to the audience why he felt the necessity to write this book, exposing his own issues of double-identity, and the many feelings resulting from finding himself in the middle of a inter-societal conflict. The discussion with the audience, which gathered more than 30 people from all backgrounds, quickly moved on addressing the nature of today’s Arab identity, that seems so fragmented and weakened in the face of national identities. However the Author highlighted how in his opinion a population which shares the same historical roots, the same language, the same religion, the same social costumes, will always be connected by an unbreakable bond, beyond conflicts generated by political and economic interests. Finally, the discussion shifted on how to improve the relations between Europe and the Arab world.

The Author underlined how he believes the most important thing is also the simplest: interacting on the basis of shared human values.