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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE LIFE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF MOHAMMAD RIAD HUSSAIN ISMAT
WHEREAS, Riad Ismat, former Syrian Minister of Culture, succumbed to Covid-19 on May13, 2020. Riad was a playwright, cultural critic, Shakespearean scholar, director and ultimately minister of culture. He was a figure not unlike the late Vaclav Havel, playwright and former president of the Czech Republic. His death set off an outpouring of grief among Syrian exiles and diplomats, as well as academics and students at a variety of educational institutions including Northwestern University, Columbia College, and North Central College in Naperville; and
WHEREAS, born in Damascus, Syria, Riad earned his degree in English literature at Damascus University. He then earned a postgraduate diploma in theater directing at Dardiff University, U.K. and subsequently received a certificate in television production and direction from the BBC. From 2013-2014, he served as a visiting professor at Northwestern University's Buffet Center for International and Comparative Studies. From 2014-2015, he was a scholar-in-residence at the North Central College in Naperville, where he taught playwright, acting and directing as well as lectured on Syrian and Arabic literature and drama; and
WHEREAS, Riad came to Evanston as part of Scholars at Risk, an international group dedicated to human rights and academic freedoms, known for finding homes for people speaking out against oppression. As Syria became embroiled in conflict Riad found himself trying to stake out a humanist position distinct from both warring sides. Although he supported the people's movement, he stood firm against terrorism. He took positions against Bashar al-Assad's authoritarian actions and against the so-called military/security solution, which used force instead of engaging in a political dialogue in response to the demands of demonstrators for tangible and quick reform; and
WHEREAS, Riad was prolific - he penned 35 books an...
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