Palestinian Wordsmith Imprisoned in Israel Wins Leading Arabic Literary Honor
On Sunday, Basim Khandaqji received the prestigious award for his book, which came with $50,000 and support for an English translation.
The title of the book is symbolically represented by a blue identity card found by the main character, Nur, inside an old coat's pocket. This card serves as a "mask," and the story explores an intense and multilayered narrative about reclaiming parts of history and location through colorful and unforgettable characters.
The International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) revealed the winner during a special event in Abu Dhabi. The winning novel is published by Dar Al-Adab in Lebanon and examines themes of family breakdown, displacement, genocide, and racism.
Nabil Suleiman, a Syrian author who oversaw the prize, spoke about the book, saying, "The intricate strands of history, mythology, and the present age are elegantly interwoven in a narrative that brims with empathy amidst dehumanization and a craving for liberation, both for the individual and society."
Born in Nablus in 1983, Khandaqji is currently serving three life sentences following a deadly suicide attack at Tel Aviv's Camel Market in 2004 that took three lives and wounded many, as reported by The National from the UAE.
At the ceremony in Abu Dhabi's Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, his brother, Yousef Khandaqji, accepted the award on his behalf and stated, "He dedicates this victory to all the Palestinian people."
Yousef also shared, "I think about him every day, and he’s in our thoughts every day."
Khandaqji began writing "A Mask, the Color of the Sky" in 2021, and it took half a year to complete. However, the research itself required several years of work.
In prison, Khandaqji has also written poetry collections and three other novels, as explained by the IPAF.
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Source: edition.cnn.com
