An unflinching story about Arab masculinity and homoeroticism
Furat, a Syrian in his early 20s,visits Sibki Park in Damascus, one of the citys most popular cruising areas. There he learns about the hammams, secret meeting places for gay men located throughout the old city. Inside these public baths, the air is thick with the scent of bay laurel soap, and naked men hide in the steam. Furat faces sometimes violent disapproval from all levels of societyregime, religion, the man in the streetand yet he manages to find the love hes been seeking just before his world collapses and hes forced to flee. Selamlik is the story of Furats journey, along with that of other refugees. Its a journey in which they face physical and economic hardship, draconian migration laws, and the unwelcome grief, shame, and hatred theyve carried with them from their ever more distantpasts. Despite everything, Furat remains steadfast in his pursuit of passion, pleasure, and love.
