Egypt’s culture min. mourns death of renowned poet, translator Rifaat Salam

CAIRO – 6 December 2020:  Egypt’s Minister of Culture Inas Abdel Dayem mourned the death of the renowned poet and translator Rifaat Salam, who passed away on December 6, at the age of 69, after a struggle with illness.

She said that the deceased left a great legacy of the Arab culture in poetry, translation and critical research during his long literary career and expressed condolences to his family, friends and loved ones.

It is noteworthy that the deceased was born in the city of Minya al-Qamh in the Governorate of Sharkia, in November 1951.

He studied journalism and graduated from Cairo University in 1973.

Salam translated many works and contributed to the publication of "Eda’a 77" magazine with some of his colleagues, then he established the "Kitabat" magazine, and issued his first poetry collection in 1987, entitled "The Beautiful Rose of Chaos".

He received the International Cavafy Prize for Poetry in 1993.