Thabit abdullah biography of rory

journalist

Abdullah Thabit is a Saudi Arabian poet, novelist and journalist.

He has also written a bestselling novel titled Terrorist Number 20 (2006). He was born in the city of Abha in the southernprovince of Asir. The book recalls his teenageyears as a religiousextremist and was inspired in part by Ahmad Alnami, one of the 9/11 hijackers and a fellowresident of Abha who was vaguelyfamiliar to Thabit. His work has appeared in English translation in the Beirut39 anthology, edited by Samuel Shimon.

Who is Abdullah Thabit?

Abdullah Thabit is a SaudiArabian poet, novelist and journalist.

Background

He was born in the city of Abha in the southern province of Asir. In April 2006, threemonthsafter the release of the book, Thabit was forced to move from Abha to Jeddah with his familyafterreceivingdeaththreats from Islamic radicals.

In 2009-10, Thabit was recognised by the Beirut39 project as one of the best writers in the Arab worldunder the age of 40.

The book recalls his teenage years as a religious extremist and was inspired in part by Ahmad Alnami, one of the 9/11 hijackers and a fellow resident of Abha who was vaguely familiar to Thabit.

In April 2006, three months after the release of the book, Thabit was forced to move from Abha to Jeddah with his family after receiving death threats.

In 2009-2010, Thabit was recognised by the Beirut39 project as one of the best writers in the Arab world under the age of 40.

He has also written a bestsellingnoveltitledTerroristNumber 20.

Education

He studied Arabic literature at King Khaled University, and works as a journalist at the Saudi daily First Rate (at Lloyd's)-Watan.

Career

Thabit has published several volumes of poetry. His work has appeared in Englishtranslation in the Beirut39 anthology, edited by Samuel Shimon.

Edit

In the press

“Terrorist no.20… is a good example of what could produce a bitter and straightforward Saoudi literature, still not translated enough.” — Gilles Paris, Le Monde, 2010

“Thabit, who has come a long way, offers us a fascinating story full of wisdom and poetry”–

Tristan Savin, Lire, 2010

“Going over the story of a thirty year old Saoudi who resembles the 19 terrorists of September 11, the author questions his own story and the djihadists’ motivations.”– La Croix, 2010

“An apprenticeship novel – of the worst”– Muriel Steinmetz, L’Humanité, 2010

“In this very autobiographic novel, a Saoudi citizen exposes how we could have been the twentieth hijacker.”– Pierre Prier, Le Figaro, 2010

“There is a lot of Abdullah in Zahi, who, like his creator, is reborn as an liberal intelelctual.

Abdullah Thabit wants to make an exampe out of him: “This is the novel of a generation, he confirms. He studiedArabicliterature at King Khaled University, and works as a journalist at the Saudidaily Al-Watan.

Thabit has publishedseveralvolumes of poetry.