Michel Kilo (Arabic: ميشيل كيلو; 1940 – 19 April 2021) was a SyrianChristian[1] writer and human rights activist, who has been called "one of Syria's leading opposition thinkers."[2][3]
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 governmentedit
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]
Criticizing Kurdish federalism project in Syriaedit
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]
Deathedit
He died on 19 April 2021, at a hospital in Paris from COVID-19.[7]
^ abWright, Robin (2008), Dreams and Shadows: The Future of the Middle East, New York: Penguin Press, p. 232, ISBN978-1-59420-111-0.
^"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.
^ ab. 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 linksedit
Amnesty International profile
Further readingedit
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 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.
This Syria biography article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
michel, kilo, arabic, ميشيل, كيلو, 1940, april, 2021, syrian, christian, writer, human, rights, activist, been, called, syria, leading, opposition, thinkers, ميشيل, كيلوborn1940latakia, syriadied19, april, 2021, 2021, aged, paris, francenationalitysyrianoccupa. 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 كيلوBorn1940Latakia SyriaDied19 April 2021 2021 04 19 aged 80 81 Paris FranceNationalitySyrianOccupationWriterKnown forDemocracy activist political prisoner Contents 1 Career 2 Troubles with the government 3 Criticizing Kurdish federalism project in Syria 4 Death 5 References 6 External links 7 Further readingCareer editKilo 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 editKilo 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 editMichel 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 Death editHe died on 19 April 2021 at a hospital in Paris from COVID 19 7 References edit a b Kilo Pledges to Continue Struggle Institute for War amp Peace Reporting 29 May 2009 a b 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 a b 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 editAmnesty International profileFurther reading editMark 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 nbsp nbsp This Syria biography article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Michel Kilo amp oldid 1168234731, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
