Sufi Poetry Transforms the Reader

[From the French language press]:

Du 17 au 24 avril 2008, Fès abritera la 2ème édition du Festival de la culture soufie.

Par Ilham Khalifi, "Faouzi Skali : «Remettre au goût du jour la culture soufie»" - Aujourd'hui Le Maroc - Casablanca, Maroc - vendredi, 4 avril 2008

Fez will host the 2nd edition of the Fez Festival of Sufi Culture, from the 17th to the 24th of April.

The article is an interview to the President of the Festival, Mr. Faouzi Skali, on the place of Sufism in today's society, its role in our globalised world, its much needed spiritual dimension.

This second edition of the Fez Festival of Sufi Culture coincides with the celebration of twelve centuries of the foundation of Fez.

"The site of the event, the Madrasa Bouânania, the Batha Museum… they assert our cultural and historical heritage" Mr. Skali said.

"The choice of the theme "East-West" will create a link with diversity. This is a way to banish this caricature image that is given of Islam" he said.

"We are a culture, a religion of sharing, tolerance, love, mutual help… For this new edition we call new artists, thinkers, scientists, from other continents, other cultural backgrounds" said Mr. Skali.

"The Festival is a tribute to the human being, a tribute to the wisdom that is at the heart of the Islamic civilization" he added.

About the role of the classical Sufi poetry, Mr. Faouzi Skali said: "Sufi poetry transforms those who read it in depth. It is a symbolic form of the human spiritual adventure.

Like all the great works of humanity, this way of thinking is just as vital in today's world than it was in the thirteenth century".

[Visit the Fez Festival's website here: http://www.par-chemins.org/].