Sawsan al-Sha'er

Sawsan al-Sha'er (Arabic: سوسن الشاعر, born July 12, 1956) is widely regarded as Bahrain's most influential liberal intellectual. A journalist and author, she is a columnist with Al-Watan newspaper, having joined the staff there from the pro-government Al-Ayam.

Sawsan al-Sha'er
سوسن الشاعر
Sawsan al-Sha'ir talks to Bahrain TV, 9 May 2018
Born (1956-07-15) July 15, 1956
NationalityBahrain
EducationBachelor of Arts
Alma materBeirut Arab University Department of History
Occupation(s)journalist, TV presenter
OrganizationAl Muntada
Known forcolumn and TV show كلمة أخيرة ("One Last Word")
SpouseIsmail Akbari[1]
ChildrenBassam Al-Benhamed

Ms. al-Sha'er is well known for her liberal opinions and has been an outspoken critic of religious "extremism". Unlike many Arab liberals, Ms. al-Sha'er has not been afraid to debate with religious clerics and criticize their opinions. This has brought her into confrontation with many of Bahrain's Islamist politicians, such as Ali Salman and Adel Mouwda. She has accused "extremists" backing suicide bombers in Iraq of trying to ‘lead Bahrain to hell’.

While a leading supporter of King Hamad's political liberalization, Ms. al-Sha'er has criticised the government whenever it has failed to meet its reform commitments and over the performance of individual ministers. On 26 February 2006, in Al-Watan, she was scathing about the Minister of Housing, Fahmi al-Jowder, over his "ludicrous praise reminiscent of the Saddam Hussain coterie" .

Education

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Literature from Beirut Arab University's Department of History.

Career

From 1989 to 2005, she worked for Al-Ayam, but since 2005 she has worked for Al-Watan. Her column there is كلمة أخيرة (“One Last Word”). She has also worked for several other Gulf, including Al-Watan (Kuwait), Al Yaum in Saudi Arabia, and Al-Watan (Qatar).

In 2005, she began hosting a TV show based on the column, likewise entitled “One Last Word.”

She volunteers for several local organizations, including the Bahraini Society for Child Development, the Mercy Center for the Care of People with Severe Mental Retardation, the Consumer Protection Association, the Bahrain Journalists’ Association, and the Bahrain Society Forum.

The Bahraini government ordered a Bahraini Al-Watan article she wrote to be withdrawn over allegations she made that the Iranian Shia lobby controlled the state of Kuwait.[2]

In 2015, a dispute with the Minister of Information of Bahrain led “One Last Word” to be suspended, but this was overridden by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa ordering immediate resumption of its broadcast.[3]

Awards

Publications
  • البحرين قصة الصراع السياسي 1904 – 1956 (“Bahrain: History of Political Conflict 1904—1956”), co-written with Muhammad Abdulqadir al-Jassim (2000)
  • كلمة اخيرة (“One Last Word”), collected articles (2007)

References
  1. "مكافأةً لشوزن الشارع ( أم بسام ) ... ولدها عضو في الشوربه". Fajr Bahrain Forum. December 9, 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  2. "تفاعلا مع افتتاحية "الرأي العام"". AlRay AlAam. August 18, 2015. Archived from the original on January 30, 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  3. "سوسن الشاعر: الملك أعاد برنامجي بعد أن أوقفه وزير الإعلام". Bahrain Mirror. September 7, 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.