Abu Dhabi: Palestinian writer Basim Khandaqji, who has been imprisoned by Israel for two decades, has been awarded the International Prize for Arabic Literature. The award was given to the novel ‘A Mask, The Color of the Sky’. Rana Idris, owner of Dar Al Adab, the publisher of the novel, accepted the award on behalf of Khandaqji. The announcement was made at a ceremony held in Abu Dhabi.
Khandaqji’s novel A Mask, The Color of the Sky is based on a blue identity card that Noor, an archaeologist living in a refugee camp in Ramallah, receives from an Israeli’s coat pocket. Noor uses this identification card to enter excavated sites in the occupied West Bank, pretending to be an Israeli citizen. The novel also discusses the psychological tensions Noor goes through in daily life as an Israeli citizen and a Palestinian citizen in the West Bank.
Juror Nabeel Sulaiman said the novel exposes the bitter reality of racism, genocide, displacement and broken family ties. 133 books competed for the Arab Literary Award.
Basim Khandaqji was born in 1983 in Nablus, Palestine. Studied Journalism and Media at Al-Najah National University, Nablus. He also wrote short stories during his studies. 20 years ago, 21-year-old Khandakhji was captured by the Israeli army. The action was alleged to be related to the bombing in Tel Aviv. He earned a degree in political science online from Al Quds University from inside the prison. He also wrote a dissertation on Israeli Studies. Khandaqji has written articles on literature, politics, and Palestinian women activists. After his imprisonment, he published novels and several poems. In 2023, he wrote the award-winning novel A Mask, The Color of Sky.
While announcing the list of books selected for the award in February, Board of Trustees Chair Professor Yasir Sulaiman said that it was the first time in history that the words written by an Israeli imprisoned writer had crossed the walls and reached outside readers.
After his imprisonment, Khandakhji also wrote poetry collections ‘Rituals of the First Time’ and ‘The Breath of a Nocturnal Poem’.
