“Paris, an Arab Capital” book that has been translated from French into Arabic by the writer and traveler Adnan Azzam, presents many facts and information about the secrets of the West’s colonial policy, plans and ambitions in the region.
Azzam added to the 125-page book, which was issued in Paris in 1995 by the French journalist Nicolas Beau, some studies and analyses for anyone who seeks to understand the relationship between East and West.
During the signing ceremony of the book hosted by the Palace of Culture in the city of Sweida , Azzam explained to SANA that the book reviewed an important stage in the history of France and its racist view towards Arab intellectuals who arrived at the Sorbonne University in Paris since 1826, led by Rifaa al-Tahtawi, as well as the millions of poor immigrants who were forcibly brought in from the occupied Maghreb countryside to contribute to rebuilding what was destroyed by the Second World War.
The book also revealed , according to the writer, the failure of Arab intellectuals to establish an effective Arab political, social, economic, cultural and humanitarian lobby in France amid the presence of the Zionist lobby.
The author stressed that reads of the book will realize that the Syrian crisis was plotted out in Paris and London years ago, referring to the importance of reading and understanding the implications of the book to realize the Western policy and confront its Orientalist project that aim at keeping control of the East.
Former Minister Rafea Abu Saad, a member of the Political Bureau of the Syrian Communist Party, who presented the book alongside Dr. Mahdi Dakhlallah, declared that the book disclosed Arab reality and relations with France, chronicled many noteworthy events, and revealed that some French politicians sought to control our region under the slogans of freedom, brotherhood and equality.
For his part, researcher Dr. Mansour Hadifi pointed out that the book is an investigation on the Arab presence in France, and it unveiled the secret relations between businessmen, politicians and extremists personalities with the French authorities.
He indicated that the book presented an adequate explanation of the French colonial history and the Arab policies of the former French president Charles de Gaulle which were confronted by the Zionist lobby.
Former head of the branch of the Arab Writers Union in Sweida researcher Fayez Ezz-Eddin , pointed out that the author of the book revealed the colonial situation overshadowed the French allegation that it is the country of civilization, culture and freedom based on hypocrisy , reviewing the history of interactive communication between France and the Arabs.
It is noteworthy that the traveler and writer Azzam, was born in Sweida , traveled around the world at the age of 24 on horseback within 1300 days. He obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Law from Damascus University and a Master’s degree in Journalism from the Higher School of Journalism in Paris.
Azzam is a member of the Arab Writers Union and published a number of books and translations. He produced and directed a number of documentaries, as well as he went on a journey entitled “Syria Al-Alam” on his horseback in 2019.
Rawaa Ghanam