Palestinian Writer, Jailed in Israel, Wins International Prize for Arabic Fiction: Basim Khandaqji's 'A Mask, the Colour of the Sky'
Palestinian writer Basim Khandaqji, who is currently jailed in Israel, won the 2024 International Prize for Arabic Fiction for his novel "A Mask, the Colour of the Sky." Khandaqji, born in Nablus in the Israeli-occupied West Bank in 1983, was arrested in 2004 at the age of 21 and convicted on charges related to a deadly bombing in Tel Aviv.
He completed his university education while in prison via the internet.
Rana Idriss, owner of Dar al-Adab, the book's Lebanon-based publisher, accepted the award on Khandaqji's behalf at a ceremony in Abu Dhabi.
The title of the novel refers to a blue identity card found by Nur, an archaeologist living in a refugee camp in Ramallah, in an old Israeli's coat pocket.
Khandaqji's novel was selected from 133 submissions to a competition, and Nabil Suleiman, the jury chair, described it as exploring the complex and bitter themes of family fragmentation, displacement, genocide, and racism.
Khandaqji, the author, has written poetry collections such as "Rituals of the First Time" and "The Breath of a Nocturnal Poem" while in jail, and has also authored three earlier novels.
Rana Idriss, owner of Dar al-Adab, the book's Lebanon-based publisher, accepted the award on Khandaqji's behalf at a ceremony in Abu Dhabi.
The title of the novel refers to a blue identity card found by Nur, an archaeologist living in a refugee camp in Ramallah, in an old Israeli's coat pocket.
Khandaqji's novel was selected from 133 submissions to a competition, and Nabil Suleiman, the jury chair, described it as exploring the complex and bitter themes of family fragmentation, displacement, genocide, and racism.
Khandaqji, the author, has written poetry collections such as "Rituals of the First Time" and "The Breath of a Nocturnal Poem" while in jail, and has also authored three earlier novels.
Translation:
Translated by AI
