Tahar Ben Jelloun
Franco-Moroccan author and journalist Tahar Ben Jelloun has lived in Paris since 1971. Shortly after his arrival in France, he began his career working for Le Monde, and he is now a regular contributor to La Repubblica, L’Espresso, La Vanguardia and Aftonbladet. Tahar Ben Jelloun has written 40 works – novels, essays, and collections of poetry – including The Sacred Night (1987), which won the prestigious Prix Goncourt, and Racism Explained to My Daughter (1997). He is also the most widely translated author writing in French.
Updated: 14 June 2010
Confronted by economic crisis, European governments and citizens are increasingly succumbing to the temptations of nationalism, selfishness and mistrust of foreigners — a trend deplored by writer Tahar Ben Jelloun, who emphasises the integral role played by immigrants in modern Europe, and modern European identity.