Yemeni writer wins BBC story prize
The Source: Yemen Observer - 12/06/2007
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Yemeni writer Zahra Rahmat Allah, who is also working as a journalist in the Yemeni News Agency, Saba, has won a short story contest held by the British Broadcasting Corporation.
The winning stories are to be broadcast on air from the Arabic section of the BBC every Thursday, as part of the BBC Extra program. Rahmat Allah’s story, titled al-Serr, (The Secret), was chosen from among hundreds of other stories as one of the best ones in this competition.
The judges found it impressive in its focus on the feelings of awe and fear. Three other short stories from women authors in Egypt, Palestine, and Algeria were also winners in the competition.
As part of the cooperation and coordination between the BBC and the al-Arabi magazine issued by the Ministry of Information in Kuwait, al-Arabi republished the four winning stories in its issue No. 582 issued in the last May.
Most of the stories focused on life in the home countries of their authors. The writers used the stories to express their thoughts on their nation and the world. Those who did not win often made the mistake of writing opinion pieces instead of fiction stories, said the BBC editors.
A Day in the Life of Saber is the title of the story written by Buthaina Mahmoud of Egypt, which addresses human issues and humanity’s weaknesses. Rahmat Allah’s story discussed vanishing and fear.
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