Palestinian Author's Turbulent Journey to Freedom: A Descent into Darkness and Hope
Basim Khandakji, the 42-year-old Palestinian author who recently won the prestigious Arabic Booker Prize, has witnessed unimaginable horrors behind bars. His journey to freedom was marked by a series of events that would leave even the most hardened individuals shaken.
Khandakji's novel, A Mask, The Colour of the Sky, tells the story of Nur, a Palestinian archaeologist who assumes an Israeli identity to join an archaeological dig on an illegal settlement. But for Khandakji himself, the line between fiction and reality became blurred when he was arrested in 2004 at the age of 21.
Condemned to three life sentences, Khandakji spent 21 years behind bars, including 12 days in solitary confinement after his novel won the Arabic Booker Prize. The Israeli prison system's brutal response, he believes, was retaliation for embarrassing them with his book. Guards assaulted him, bound his hands and feet, and threatened him, leaving him feeling like he's still dreaming.
Upon release, Khandakji found himself exiled from his homeland, unable to return home to his family in Nablus. His family is now fighting desperately to reunite with him in Egypt, only to be repeatedly thwarted by Israel. The pain of separation is palpable, as Khandakji says, "Being exiled from your homeland is a burning, painful feeling... My first joy, first sorrow, and first dreams were all in my city, Nablus."
Khandakji's experience is not unique. At least 75 Palestinians have died in Israeli prisons since October 2023, and organisations like B'Tselem and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights have revealed systematic abuse. The author himself witnessed guards hanging up the bodies of dead prisoners in cells and leaving them there to decay.
Despite the trauma he endured, Khandakji's writing provided a refuge, a hiding place through which he could escape the brutality of the jail and reclaim his freedom, even if only in his imagination. His novel was shortlisted for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction and won a $50,000 prize, paving the way for a global readership.
Now free, Khandakji aims to publish another novel based on one of his closest friends, writer Walid Daqqa, who died of cancer after allegedly deliberate medical neglect by prison authorities. His only solace in jail was the friendships he made "that even death cannot erase."
As Khandakji continues to write and plan for a PhD, he remains hopeful that human justice will allow him to reunite with his mother, a sentiment he says is rooted deep within his Palestinian identity. "Palestinians, unlike others, do not live in their homeland – their homeland lives within them."
Basim Khandakji, the 42-year-old Palestinian author who recently won the prestigious Arabic Booker Prize, has witnessed unimaginable horrors behind bars. His journey to freedom was marked by a series of events that would leave even the most hardened individuals shaken.
Khandakji's novel, A Mask, The Colour of the Sky, tells the story of Nur, a Palestinian archaeologist who assumes an Israeli identity to join an archaeological dig on an illegal settlement. But for Khandakji himself, the line between fiction and reality became blurred when he was arrested in 2004 at the age of 21.
Condemned to three life sentences, Khandakji spent 21 years behind bars, including 12 days in solitary confinement after his novel won the Arabic Booker Prize. The Israeli prison system's brutal response, he believes, was retaliation for embarrassing them with his book. Guards assaulted him, bound his hands and feet, and threatened him, leaving him feeling like he's still dreaming.
Upon release, Khandakji found himself exiled from his homeland, unable to return home to his family in Nablus. His family is now fighting desperately to reunite with him in Egypt, only to be repeatedly thwarted by Israel. The pain of separation is palpable, as Khandakji says, "Being exiled from your homeland is a burning, painful feeling... My first joy, first sorrow, and first dreams were all in my city, Nablus."
Khandakji's experience is not unique. At least 75 Palestinians have died in Israeli prisons since October 2023, and organisations like B'Tselem and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights have revealed systematic abuse. The author himself witnessed guards hanging up the bodies of dead prisoners in cells and leaving them there to decay.
Despite the trauma he endured, Khandakji's writing provided a refuge, a hiding place through which he could escape the brutality of the jail and reclaim his freedom, even if only in his imagination. His novel was shortlisted for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction and won a $50,000 prize, paving the way for a global readership.
Now free, Khandakji aims to publish another novel based on one of his closest friends, writer Walid Daqqa, who died of cancer after allegedly deliberate medical neglect by prison authorities. His only solace in jail was the friendships he made "that even death cannot erase."
As Khandakji continues to write and plan for a PhD, he remains hopeful that human justice will allow him to reunite with his mother, a sentiment he says is rooted deep within his Palestinian identity. "Palestinians, unlike others, do not live in their homeland – their homeland lives within them."
... like 21 years in prison for writing a book? That's insane! 
I can only imagine how it must feel to be constantly reminded of your "crime" and have no control over your own freedom. And on top of that, his family is still trying to get him back home, but Israel keeps blocking their efforts 
... it's like, what even is the point of having a government if they're just gonna make life harder for people? 
... that takes a lot of courage, you know?
The fact that at least 75 Palestinians have died in Israeli prisons since October 2023 is just heartbreaking. Like, how many more people need to die before something gets done about this? 
It's time for some real change and accountability... 
His words are a testament to the power of literature to transcend even the darkest of circumstances. I can only imagine how hard it must be for Palestinians like him who've lost loved ones due to neglect or abuse... 
I'm so inspired by Basim Khandakji's story! 21 years in prison can't break a soul like his. He turned a dark chapter into a writing career and now he's using his voice to bring hope to those who've been oppressed. 
It's not just about the prize money or the recognition, it's about giving Palestinians a platform to share their stories and fight for freedom. I'm rooting for him and all the #FreePalestinianAuthors out there! 
. On top of that, Khandakji gets exiled from his homeland and can't even go back home to see his family 
. That's just heartbreaking.
. I'm so glad Khandakji has found solace in writing and is planning to keep fighting for justice with his next novel. Maybe we can all learn from his story and demand change from our governments 
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. And the fact that he was punished even after winning an award for his writing is just a slap in the face 
. I mean, what kind of country allows this kind of abuse? It's not like it's some kind of secret or hidden from the world 
. Khandakji's story is a testament to the human spirit and its ability to overcome even the darkest of circumstances 
. I'm just so tired of seeing people suffer like this and not being able to do anything about it 
and now he's exiled from his home 
. it's heartbreaking to think about him watching his family, including his mom 
it's just not right 
and his family is still fighting to get him back home 
. It's no wonder that his novel, A Mask, became a source of solace for him during those dark times 
. 
️. And I love how he says that Palestinians don't live in their homeland, but rather, their homeland lives within them 
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. But you gotta admire how he found solace in writing & is now using his platform to speak out. 