Mazen Arafeh

The Syrian writer and researcher Mazen Arafeh was born in Damascus in 1955, and grew up in a cultural environment that shaped his early awareness of literature and thought. He pursued his undergraduate studies at the University of Damascus, where he earned a degree in French language in 1983. He then continued his academic path abroad, obtaining in 1990 a PhD in Library and Information Science from Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, Poland.

From the outset, Arafeh possessed a broad intellectual and linguistic background. In addition to Arabic, he is fluent in French, Polish, and German, which enabled him to engage with diverse literary and intellectual traditions that left a deep imprint on his style and themes.

Literary and Intellectual Journey

Mazen Arafeh is considered one of the prominent figures in the contemporary Syrian cultural scene, combining intellectual depth with solid artistic construction in his works. His writings address the issues of humanity and society, reflecting on the human condition from philosophical and existential perspectives, and employing an elevated language that blends precision with imagination.

His creative project is distinguished by its ability to bridge academic knowledge with literary imagination, making his work accessible to both the general reader and the specialist.

Arafeh’s literary thought revolves around questions of identity, as well as the social and cultural transformations in the Arab world. He also explores themes of knowledge, freedom, and memory. His style is marked by dense language, tight narrative structure, and a strong presence of symbolism and philosophical depth, which render his texts open to multiple interpretations.

Since 2017, he has been residing in Germany, where he continues his literary and critical production, dedicating his experience to observing cultural and existential transformations, while affirming the importance of the word as a tool for understanding the self and the surrounding world.

Cultural Presence

Mazen Arfa’s activity has not been limited to writing; he has also been present in numerous cultural forums and intellectual debates, contributing to literary and critical discourse. His translations and mastery of foreign languages have helped build bridges between Arab culture and its European counterparts.

This dual role—both as a researcher and a writer—has made him regarded as a cultural bridge and an encyclopedic intellectual capable of connecting different realms of human knowledge.

Arfa’s body of work represents a distinct contribution to the Arab intellectual and literary corpus, whether through his creative books or his academic studies. His experience is characterized by a unique balance between knowledge-based grounding and openness to modernity. His name continues to stand as a model of the intellectual who seeks to ensure that literature and thought play a vital role in questioning and transforming reality.