A numerous audience of invited guests from London and many corners of Europe defied the rather frosty weather conditions of the UK capital and joined the celebration of ICORN becoming an independent, international organisation at the Free Word Centre on Thursday 7 January.
Following the inaugural speech by ICORN chair of board Peter Ripken, the ICORN guest writers Pegah Ahmadi (Iran/Frankfurt) and Mansur Rajih (Yemen/Stavanger) presented a strong and moving performance of their poetry. Tunisian writer and journalist Sihem Bensedrine (upcoming ICORN guest writer in Barcelona) gave forth an updated and personal account of the human rights accord in her home country, while vice president of International PEN and dedicated friend of ICORN Moris Farhi closed off the event with performing a selection of his poems. The event was co-organised by Shahrazad Norwich.
Mansur Rajih
Sihem Bensedrine
Moris Farhi
On the consecutive day, ICORN chair of board Peter Ripken and director of Sølvberget, Stavanger Cultural Centre Marit Egaas, signed the agreement confirming the administrational head quarter of the new ICORN organisation being hosted by the City of Stavanger, Norway.
Marit Egaas and Peter Ripken
