Khoja wrote on his Facebook wall that it is inappropriate not to stock Al-Gosaibi’s intellectual writings in the Kingdom’s libraries.
Al-Gosaibi’s books have been banned for several years but available in neighboring Arab countries such as Bahrain, Lebanon and Egypt. The minister of labor is currently receiving medical treatment at King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh. Among his controversial works is a collection of poetry called “A Battle Without a Flag” and a novel called “The Apartment of Freedom,” which tells the story of a group of young intellectuals who share an apartment in Cairo while at university.
Abdo Khal, author of “Spewing Sparks," which won the international prize for Arabic fiction but is banned in the Kingdom, said he hopes the lifting of the ban on Al-Gosaibi’s books will pave the way for the writings of other authors to be allowed into the Kingdom.
Khal said he has been asked many times about his banned book and that he always gives the same answer. “Banning in our country is not restricted to Abdo Khal but includes tens of other writers as well; they include the minister of information and the minister of labor. Banning books in our country does not follow a system and we just don’t know who does it,” he said.
“My books and all other banned books are like migrating birds. These books are written for a local audience but are being offered on the side streets of other countries,” he said.
Khal also wondered why the minister of information’s books are still banned. “This is strange and indicative of a hidden war. Many officials have tried removing the ban on Al-Gosaibi’s books but couldn’t. This gives the message that there are some people who control the bans. However, these people are even stronger than him (the minister). Is it the religious groups?” he said.
Khoja recently said there is no ban on creative works that do not harm the Kingdom. Asked if his book is harmful to the Kingdom, Khal said, “What the minister has said is a diplomatic answer to the media to satisfy people standing behind the banning. My question is: Do the books of Al-Gosaibi or Khoja touch any taboo subjects?
“I am not worried about the ban on my works. Readers will get them anyway and they can get many more things. It is a shame not to have the novel that has won an international prize. If it continues like this, then we will have to wait for 30 years or more to see our books and novels here in the Kingdom.”
