I had been looking forward to this conversation for months. When Melbourne Writers Festival asked if I would moderate a talk with Tareq, I jumped at the opportunity.
And the conversation met expectations.
We weaved through our personal journeys, explored the contest between queer and cultural identities and discussed why he believes the Palestinian struggle is feminist.
Tareq shares how the trauma of ethnic cleansing manifested differently within his household. We question whether Israel is succeeding in its decades-long quest to colonise the Levant.
We close the discussion by revisiting faith, and appreciating the role it has played in sustaining the Palestinian and Lebanese people as they endure unimaginable suffering.
His memoir, Fire in Every Direction, is available online and in bookstores.
