Writer, artist, and activist Jannatun Nayeem Prity from Bangladesh is the new ICORN resident in Paris, France.
In a ceremony held on July 12th, 2022, Prity was officially welcomed by the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo and her deputy Jean-Luc Romero-Michel. Since her arrival in the French capital, the 25-year-old writer, artist and activist has taken residence at the Cité Internationale des Arts where she continues her work in safety. Prity is currently working on a new book- a memoir of her journey as a writer and a freedom of expression activist as well as on artwork focusing on issues surrounding LGBTQ+ rights.
The Deputy Mayor of Paris Jean-Luc Romero-Michel expressed his delight in welcoming and hosting Jannatun Nayeem Prity in France’s capital and posted a tweet of the official reception. The International Department of the City of Paris have also published a short press release regarding Jannatun Nayeem Prity’s residency in the city. You can read it here.
An award-winning writer, Prity has already authored and published nine literary works, including novels, short stories, an autobiography, and children’s books. Her written work focuses on issues such as women’s rights and gender-based discrimination and inequality. As an artist, she has been just as accomplished and has received numerous awards, including National Child Award (2003-2005), the Surf Excel Painting Carnival Award (2003), and the Faber Castell International Art Competition (2006). Jannatun Nayeem Prity’s activism has been equally as important, campaigning not only on issues reflected in her written and artistic work, but also frequently highlighting government corruption and the resulting endemic social problems in Bangladesh.
Paris has been an ICORN City of Refuge since 2011 and has hosted six ICORN residents, including Syrian writer Najati Tayara, Yemeni photojournalist Amira Al-Sharif, and Iranian journalist Mana Neyestani. The City of Paris runs its ICORN residencies in partnership with Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris Biblilothèques, Reporters Sans Frontières and Maison des Journalistes among other organisations.