Salim Matar (born 1956) is a prominent Iraqi nationalist

Iraqi nationalism

Iraqi nationalism refers to a nationalism based on Iraqi identity. Iraqi nationalism in history was influential in Iraq's movement to independence from Ottoman and British occupation. Iraqi nationalism was an important aspect in the 1920 Revolution against British occupation, and the 1958...

, novelist, and historian.

Biography

Matar was born in Baghdad

Baghdad

Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...

 in 1956 to a family which originally migrated from Amarah

Amarah

Amarah , is a city in southeastern Iraq, located on a low ridge next to the Tigris River waterway south of Baghdad about 50 km from the border with Iran. It lies at the northern tip of the marshlands between the Tigris and Euphrates....

. During his youth he became involved with the Iraqi Communist Party

Iraqi Communist Party

Since its foundation in 1934, the Iraqi Communist Party has dominated the left in Iraqi politics. It played a fundamental role in shaping the political history of Iraq between its foundation and the 1970s. The Party was involved in many of the most important national uprisings and demonstrations...

 and was forced to flee the country in 1978 and he finally settled in Geneva

Geneva

Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...

 in 1981.

Works

Salim Matar published a number of literary works which revolved around his life experiences in Iraq. In his books he discusses the modern national identity of Iraq and its modern history. He also publishes a web magazine advocating Iraqi nationalism

Iraqi nationalism

Iraqi nationalism refers to a nationalism based on Iraqi identity. Iraqi nationalism in history was influential in Iraq's movement to independence from Ottoman and British occupation. Iraqi nationalism was an important aspect in the 1920 Revolution against British occupation, and the 1958...

.

Selected works

• Bottle Woman, ; , 1990.
• The Wounded Self, ; , 1997.
• The Lost Twin, ; , 2000.
• Question of Identities, ; , 2003.
• The Iraqi Family Album, ; , 2011.