Syrian Scholar and Translator Qassem Al-Miqdad Dies at 75
Syrian linguist, translator, and man of letters Qassem Al-Miqdad passed away on Friday at the age of 75, following a long battle with illness. The late academic was a prominent cultural figure who left a significant mark on the Syrian and Arab intellectual landscape through his extensive work in linguistics, translation, and literature.
Born in 1951 in the village of Ghasm, in the Daraa Governorate, Al-Miqdad pursued a distinguished academic path. In 1986, he earned a doctorate in linguistics from the Sorbonne University in France. He dedicated his life to the advancement of language and literature, serving as a professor at the Faculty of Arts at Damascus University. During his tenure, he also headed the French department, mentoring generations of students who benefited from his expertise.
Beyond his academic contributions, Al-Miqdad held several key administrative cultural positions. He served as the Director of Publishing and Translation at the Syrian Ministry of Culture and managed the Syrian Cultural Center in France, where he played a pivotal role in building bridges of cultural and intellectual exchange between the Arab and French worlds.
Al-Miqdad left behind a rich legacy of translations that have enriched the Arabic library, particularly in the fields of philosophy and linguistics. Notable among his works is the translation of “Mythologies” by philosopher Roland Barthes, and “The Vices of Knowledge: A Study of Intellectual Moral Judgments” by Pascal Engel. The latter received widespread acclaim and reached the shortlist of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award in its 16th edition in 2022.
In his professional and union activities, Al-Miqdad was an active member of the Arab Writers Union and the Society for Studies and Criticism. He was also a founding member of the Arab Translators Union and served on the editorial board of the “Al-Mawkif Al-Adabi” journal. A significant turning point in his career occurred in June 2012, when he resigned from the executive office of the Arab Writers Union, alongside fellow writers Ibrahim Al-Jaradi and Ghazi Hussein Al-Ali, in protest against the Union’s stance on the political developments in Syria at the time.
The Arab Writers Union issued an official statement mourning the late scholar, praising his scientific, literary, and translation contributions that enriched the Arab cultural scene. The Union emphasized that Al-Miqdad left a profound impact on the memory of his colleagues and students and maintained a distinguished presence in academic life. His passing marks the end of a long, dedicated career characterized by rigorous research, teaching, and translation.
