Iraqi poet and musician Umar Abdul–Nasser has been offered temporary shelter in the southwestern city of Wrocław, a member of the International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN).

Mosul-born, 32-year-old Abdul-Nasser specializes in spoken poetry, delivering his verse to his own musical accompaniment.

He went into hiding in September 2014 after Islamic State militants threatened his life and said that his creative work violated Islamic law.

Wrocław Mayor Rafał Dutkiewicz said his city is one of freedom which remembers the dark days of communism and the repressions of local artists who were committed to the struggle for freedom.

”Hence our commitment to ICORN and the help offered to persecuted writers from around the world. We shall give them security and good conditions for life and work”, he said.

The International Cities of Refuge Network (ICORN) is an independent organisation of cities and regions offering shelter to writers and artists who are especially vulnerable to censorship, harassment, imprisonment and even death.

Associated cities have hosted more than 130 persecuted writers and artists since 2005. Wrocław joined the organization at the end of 2015. (mk/vb)