Michel Kilo
Michel Kilo (Arabic: ميشيل كيلو; 1940 – 19 April 2021) was a Syrian Christian[1] writer and human rights activist, who has been called "one of Syria's leading opposition thinkers."[2][3]
Michel Kilo ميشيل كيلو | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1940 Latakia, Syria |
| Died | 19 April 2021 (aged 80–81) Paris, France |
| Nationality | Syrian |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Known for | Democracy activist, political prisoner |
Career
Kilo was born in the Syrian Mediterranean coastal city and province of Latakia in 1940.
He studied journalism in Egypt and Germany. He has translated many political and economics books from German to English. As a columnist he wrote opinion pieces for two Arabic papers, the Lebanese daily Annahar and the London-based Al-Quds Al-Arabi. In 2011 he wrote several articles about the Syrian uprising for the As-Safir Lebanese daily newspaper.[4]
Troubles with the government
Kilo was first arrested by the government in the early 1980s,[1] following this arrest he moved to France but came back to Syria in 1991. Following the Damascus Spring movement, Kilo was a central figure in the Damascus Declaration of 2005 and called for "peaceful, gradual," reform "founded on accord, and based on dialogue and recognition of the other."[2]
On 12 May 2006, the Beirut-Damascus Declaration, calling for normalising Lebanese-Syrian relations after decades of domination by Syria of its smaller neighbour Lebanon, was published with Kilo as one of its signatories. He was arrested yet again and a year later was sentenced to three years in prison on charges of "weakening national sentiment and encouraging sectarian strife." On 19 May 2009, he was released after completing all of his sentence.[5]
In May 2013, Kilo declined to become a member of the Syrian National Coalition of Revolution and Opposition Forces after his group was offered only 5 seats on the said coalition.
Criticizing Kurdish federalism project in Syria
Michel Kilo told Madar Daily in April 2016 that the Kurdish Democratic Union Party’s project for federalism is a project to divide Syria. "We refuse it, even when the US support it and there is no historical proof for the existence of a Kurdistan region in Syria. This isn’t a second Israel, they cannot snatch a Kurdistan from Syria, if they try to divide Syria, we will break their backs."[6] These remarks were across political camps in Syrian-Kurdish society rejected as both racist and denying the reality of the Federation of Northern Syria - Rojava.[6]
References
- "Kilo Pledges to Continue Struggle". Institute for War & Peace Reporting. 29 May 2009.
- Wright, Robin (2008), Dreams and Shadows: The Future of the Middle East, New York: Penguin Press, p. 232, ISBN 978-1-59420-111-0.
- "Minutes of US envoy meeting with Syrian opposition: Report". al Alam. 21 January 2014.
- Michel Kilo (3 September 2011). "As Safir Newspaper Archives" أيها السوريون.. ماذا أنتم فاعلون؟ [You Syrians What Will You Do?]. As-Safir (in Arabic)..
- "Dissident writer Michel Kilo freed in Syria", BBC News, 20 May 2009.
- "Syrian Kurdish parties reject opposition leader's comments that Kurds want a second Israel". Ara News. 26 June 2016. Archived from the original on 27 June 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2016.
- "Veteran Syria opposition figure Michel Kilo dies of COVID-19". The Washington Post. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
External links
Further reading
- Mark MacKinnon (3 January 2007). "No verbal zigzagging for this Syrian gadfly [Interview with Michael Kilo]". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- Michel Kilo Profile Archived 4 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine The Alliance for Essential Liberties in the Middle East's profile of Michel Kilo
- Oweis, Khaled Yacoub (27 May 2013). "Syrian opposition shake-up falters ahead of peace conference [On the SNC and Kilo's liberal bloc)". Reuters. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- "Who's who: Michel Kilo". The Syrian Observer. 27 September 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
