Mohammed Mahdi Al-Jawahiri

Monument to renowned Iraqi poet unveiled in Prague

NEWSROOM – A stone monument honoring Mohammed Mahdi Al-Jawahiri, a distinguished Iraqi and Arab poet of the 20th century, was unveiled on June 26 in the Petriny neighborhood. Representatives of the Iraqi embassy in the Czech Republic and the mayor of Municipal District 6 attended the ceremony. The costs were covered by the Iraqi government.

Mohammed Mahdi Al-Jawahiri is regarded as one of the greatest Arab poets of the modern era, noted for his adherence to classical poetic forms, unlike many other poets of his time.

Born in 1899, Al-Jawahiri grew up in Najaf in a family deeply engaged in scholarly and literary pursuits. At an early age, he memorized a significant amount of classical Arabic poetry. He passed away in Damascus in 1997 at the age of 98.

After Iraq’s monarchy was overthrown in a violent coup on July 14, 1958, Al-Jawahiri became a fervent supporter of the new republic. During this period, he was dubbed the “Poet of the Republic” and became the first president of the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate in 1959.

However, tensions soon arose between Al-Jawahiri and the coup’s leader, Abd al-Karim Qasim, leading to Al-Jawahiri’s departure from Iraq. In a letter requesting political asylum in Prague, Al-Jawahiri detailed the events that forced him to leave his homeland and live in Czechoslovakia, where he did not know the language.

Al-Jawahiri chose to leave Iraq to avoid arrest, imprisonment, and potential danger. He cited harassment, his release from detention on bail, and the fear of being tried by military courts as reasons for seeking asylum. He also expressed concerns for his family’s safety due to harassment. The seizure of his newspaper, Al-Rai Al-Aam (Public Opinion), was a further blow. An assault in which he was hit with a rock further heightened his fears for his life due to the actions of security forces.

The memorial plaque stands in front of Al-Jawahiri’s former home, where he lived for 30 years between 1961 and 1991. The installation followed municipal communications with the current residents to secure agreement for the monument. The monument features Al-Jawahiri’s name in capital letters in English and Arabic, along with an excerpt of a poem he dedicated to Prague. An English translation of the inscribed poem reads:

“On Prague’s heights standstill gazing to the valley
And with visitors and locals you wish to understand:
Is it you who has spread out on immense beauty
or has that immense beauty spread upon you?
And as you ask the Creator himself,
If after you His work means anything at all.”

Another place in Prague commemorates Al-Jawahiri: Kavarna Slavia Café, located opposite the Czech National Theatre. Al-Jawahiri frequently visited the café, where he drank coffee and wrote poems. A photo of him now hangs where he used to sit, alongside other writers who frequented the café.

Al-Jawahiri’s first collection of poetry, “Hulbat al-Adab,” was released in 1923 and featured responses to prominent poets of his time and earlier poets as well. He later published “Bayn al-Shu’ur wa al-Aatifah” in 1928 and “Diwan al-Jawahiri” in 1935, with additional parts released between 1949 and 1953.

Al-Jawahiri’s poetry is characterized by its rich texture, clarity, and expansiveness, especially when addressing the masses. His work does not reflect European literary influences and primarily focuses on political events and personal experiences.

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