RAMALLAH: Occupation websites and media outlets launched a massive campaign of incitement against the Palestinian detainee novelist Basem Khandakji`s book, “A Mask in the Color of the Sky,” written during the author’s ongoing Israeli prison sentence.
The book was nominated for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) last month.
The Palestinian prisoner society (PPS) said that the war on the Palestinian narrative that has shed light on the crimes of the Israeli occupation is a consistent approach for confronting the Palestinian presence.
PPS added that the creativity of Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons was a constant target for the occupation authorities, involving confiscating their works and imposing sanctions against detainees who left a clear impact on the level of literary production. One of the most prominent detainees who contributed to literary production was the detainee Basem Khandakji, who published several novels and different productions during the years of his detention.
PPS held the occupation fully responsible for the life of the detainee Khandakji, who is currently held in Ofer Prison, in light of the incitement operations that has recently lunched against him.
It is noteworthy that the detainee, Khandaqji, 40, who comes from Nablus, was arrested on November 2, 2004. Following his arrest, he was subjected to a harsh investigation and was later sentenced to three life imprisonments.
While in prison, Khandaqji completed his education, studying political science at Al-Quds University.
Khandaqji published two poetry collections, 250 articles, and several literary novels, including: ‘Narcissus of Solitude’ and ‘The Eclipse of Badr al-Din,’ in addition to his latest novel, ‘A Mask in the Color of the Sky.’ Some of his works were translated into French, and he is considered one of the Palestinian novelists in the Arab world.
Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA