Raja Shehadeh

Palestinian lawyer, writer and human rights activist (founder of the human rights organization, Al-Haq). Son of a distinguished lawyer, independence activist, delegate. Author of Palestinian Walks: six shattering reportages on the history of political disappointments and hopes for Palestine, written on the basis of the traditional Palestinian culture concept of journey, “sarha”. The book discusses also the problem of the vanishing biblical landscape changing into enclaves surrounded by walls. Shehadeh’s another book is: Strangers in the House, a story not only of Palestinian national aspirations, but of a fascinating relation between a father and a son as well. As the author himself states, “the role of a writer is to help his or her community imagine a better life for everyone, if only peace would be made”. For Palestinian Walks, in 2008, he received The Orwell Prize, a prestigious award granted to authors of books dealing with political subject matters. His oeuvre has been described as “distinctive and truly impressive” (The Economist).