Petra Stienen
(Roermond, NL, 1965) studied Arabic and Middle East studies. Her second book was published in 2012: Het andere Arabische geluid (The Other Arab Voice), about voices of humanity and hope during the hectic transition period in the new Middle East. Her first book Dromen van een Arabische lente (Dreaming of an Arab Spring, 2008) was about the life and work of a human-rights diplomat in the Arab world. In both books she goes in search of the kind of stories that get little attention in Western media. Currently, Stienen is a publicist and independent consutant. She writes for NRC Handelsblad and De Volkskrant newspapers, has a column in the women's monthly magazine Opzij, and reguarly appears as a commentator on radio and television programmes and in debates at home and abroad.
Past events
Let's talk about Sex
Linda Christanty and Gary Barker speak about sex and violence. Both wrote about it in their literary work. Christanty in Indonsia, Barker in Congo and Latin America. Interview by Petra Stienen. In English. Gary Barker replaces the Chinese Geling Yan, who for health reasons not perfom today. She will be peforming on Saturday night.
Hassnae Bouazza's film choice: Watching Arabs
Arabist Petra Stienen interviews writer and journalist Hassnae Bouazza. We look at film fragments Hassnae chose for us to watch, with a view to the publication of her latest book Watching Arabs, the Undistinguished Revolution. In Dutch.
Arab Demons
January 2011 proved a turning point in the Arab region: people raised their voices and succeeded in chasing away some of their dictators. But what about the demons? Is the real struggle lying yet ahead? Dutch Arabist Petra Stienen discusses the current state of the Arab world with writers and bloggers from the region: Mohamed Magani (Algeria), Samar Yazbek (Syria) and Sami Ben Gharbia (Tunesia). In English
Wet Dreams on a Winter's Night
Marion Bloem, Bernice Chauly, Astrid Theunissen and Joumana Haddad: liberated women talk to Petra Stienen about the joys of shamelessness. In English.
