NCCAR Mourns the Death of a Leading Palestinian Icon, Edward Said.

Ottawa- The National Council on Canada Arab Relations (NCCAR) is mourning the death of Arab-American intellectual Edward Said. Dr. Said passed away this morning in New York following a long battle with leukemia.

Professor Said was born in 1935 in Jerusalem but spent most of his life in the United States. After studying at both Yale and Harvard, Said taught comparative literature at Columbia University. He has also lectured at more than one hundred universities worldwide.

Professor Said was a leading advocate for the Palestinian right to self-determination and a prominent member of the Palestinian parliament-in-exile until 1991.

His writings on politics, culture, music and literature have appeared in nineteen languages. His most prominent works include, Orientalism, A Question of Palestine and The End of the Peace Process.

NCCAR President, Mr. Hussein Amery states: "Professor Said's influence expands to generations around the world who believed in the message of tolerance, honesty and humanity. He was a Palestinian intellectual who surpassed all challenges, opposed hate, and maintained his call for coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians."

On behalf of the Canadian Arab community, we at NCCAR would like to express our profound sadness and extend our deepest sympathies and condolence to the Said family.