Maha Bayrakdar Al-Khal was a Syrian and Lebanese poet and artist.
20 Facts About Maha Bayrakdar
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In 1970 Maha Bayrakdar married the Lebanese-Syrian poet Yusuf al-Khal and had two children with him, Ward and Youssef, both of whom are acclaimed actors in the Middle East.
3.
Maha Bayrakdar published four poetry books and was a prolific painter.
4.
Maha Bayrakdar attended the Khadija al-Kubra school in Damascus before her family started moving during her formative years due to the nature of her father's work.
5.
Maha Bayrakdar expressed her wish to learn theater but her father forbade her.
6.
Maha Bayrakdar graduated in business administration from the University of Munich in Germany in 1969.
7.
Maha Bayrakdar won the Miss Syria beauty pageant in 1967, an experience she avoided talking about.
8.
Maha Bayrakdar went to Lebanon to print a poetry book at the An-Nahar publishing press.
9.
Maha Bayrakdar was instantly infatuated with him but was ired when Yusuf treated her with reserve and harshly criticized her work.
10.
Maha Bayrakdar challenged al-Khal to read her poetry, which led him to meet her again and to express his fondness of her.
11.
Maha Bayrakdar, who was born and raised a Sunni Muslim, converted to Christianity.
12.
Maha Bayrakdar wrote and illustrated children's books and wrote song lyrics.
13.
Maha Bayrakdar worked at National Syrian Radio and TV and in local Lebanese radio stations as a producer and presenter of cultural programs.
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Maha Bayrakdar was editor-in-chief of the arts and interior design magazine Iwan, and the editor-in-chief of the intellectual, cultural and artistic magazine Al-Jidar.
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Maha Bayrakdar did not ascribe to feminist literature and refused to put any labels on literary works.
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Maha Bayrakdar criticized Lebanese drama shows for their monotony and lack of creative diversity.
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Maha Bayrakdar held 15 solo exhibitions and 37 collective exhibitions and numerous poetry reading events in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and the Arabian Gulf countries.
18.
Maha Bayrakdar died on 22 February 2025, at the age of 77.
19.
On 11 June 2004, Maha Bayrakdar was decorated with the Order of Merit medal by Lebanese president Emile Lahoud.
20.
Maha Bayrakdar was awarded a recognition plaque from the Lebanese Army commandership.