Saida — 19 January 2026. The Ahmed & Jamila Al-Bizri Center at Al Moasat Association in Saida hosted a distinguished literary gathering organized by the Association’s Reading Club, dedicated to discussing “A Swiss Summer” by Iraqi author Inaam Kachachi, presented by Ms. Ruqayya Al-Bizri.

The meeting transcended conventional book discussion, becoming a space for profound dialogue on exile, identity, memory, and the ongoing human search for deferred healing. The event was attended by the Association’s President alongside Reading Club members, highlighting Al Moasat’s cultural role alongside its social and humanitarian mission.

The discussion shed light on the novel as a literary reflection on Iraqi collective memory and the wounds of exile, portrayed through four Iraqi characters living in Switzerland whose lives intersect between longing, belonging, and self-discovery in a seemingly calm summer overshadowed by unresolved pasts.

Participants examined the novel’s distinctive narrative style, which delves into the human psyche through internal monologue and overlapping timelines, revealing the contrast between the calm Swiss setting and the inner turmoil shaped by political, ideological, and personal loss.

The dialogue addressed key themes raised in the novel, including the possibility of healing after prolonged trauma, the fragmentation of identity between homeland and exile, and the impact of politics and ideology on individual destinies.

This cultural activity forms part of Al Moasat’s seventy-year journey of humanitarian, social, and educational work. During the evening, attendees received a special bookmark bearing the Association’s slogan: “Seventy Years… and Growing Younger”, symbolizing continuity, renewal, and enduring commitment.