Samira al-Mana Obituary: Iraqi Author and Exile Dies at 91 2026

Samira al-Mana, the Iraqi author and exile, has died aged 91, leaving behind a legacy of novels and short stories that explored authoritarianism and displacement. Her work, written in Arabic, was blacklisted by the Iraqi state from 1979 to 2003, yet she continued to write from London, where she had moved in 1965.

Early Life and Education

Samira was born in Basrah to Abdel al-Mana, a customs officer, and his wife, Bahia Murad. After attending al-Ashshar secondary school, she studied Arabic literature at the University of Baghdad in 1956, where she met her future husband, the journalist and poet Salah Niazi. They married in 1959, and she taught Arabic in secondary schools before the deteriorating political situation in Iraq prompted them to move to London in 1965.

Literary Career

In London, Samira worked diligently at learning English, partly by reading the Guardian, and became an administrative assistant at an electrical company and then at the Libyan embassy. Her debut novel, Al-Sabiqun wal-lahiqun (The First and the Last), was published in 1972, followed by a collection of short stories, Al-Ghinaa (Singing), in 1976. That year she also obtained a diploma in librarianship from Ealing Technical College, after which she worked in libraries in Wembley and Ealing, and at the Iraqi Cultural Centre in central London.

There was a gap in her writing activity as she concentrated with Salah on running the quarterly Arabic magazine Al-Ightirab al-Adabi (Literature of the Exiled), which from 1985 to 2003 gave a voice to Arab writers living away from their homeland. Her next novel, Habl al-Surra (The Umbilical Cord), was published in 1990, tackling the pain of political exile and the longing for home.

Exile and Activism

Samira's work was consistently critical of authoritarian regimes, and her books were blacklisted by the Iraqi state from 1979 until 2003. They were also frequently blocked from official circulation in various Arab states. Despite this, she continued to write and publish, becoming a significant figure in Arabic literature in exile. Her co-founding of Al-Ightirab al-Adabi provided a platform for many displaced writers, fostering a community of literary expression outside the constraints of state censorship.

Legacy and Impact

Samira al-Mana's oeuvre includes five novels, two collections of short stories, and a play. Her themes of authoritarianism, exile, and the difficult choices faced by everyday citizens resonate with readers across the Arab world and beyond. Her work has been studied for its nuanced portrayal of life under oppressive systems and the psychological toll of displacement.

Key Takeaways

• Samira al-Mana was an Iraqi author who wrote extensively about authoritarianism and exile.
• Her books were banned in Iraq from 1979 to 2003, yet she continued to publish from London.
• She co-founded the magazine Al-Ightirab al-Adabi to support Arab writers in exile.
• Her work remains a vital part of Arabic literature, offering insight into the experience of displacement.

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