The case of arson at the Al-Jouf Literary Club comes in for more condemnation in the Saudi media, here Saudi Gazette/Okaz. Societies in transition are always fraught with frictions. When those frictions result in violence—as this arson and accompanying death threats—police measures need to be taken.

Al-Jouf Literary Club attacks a ‘return to the dark ages’
Ahmad Al-Muhaisan

AL-JOUF – The recent arson attack on Al-Jouf Literary Club and the text message death threat received by its chairman have received rotund condemnation from various figures from the region’s literary scene.

Former president of the literary club Eid Al-Sahu described the relations between the club and society at large as “excellent”, saying that the club provides for a variety of services required by the public and serves to encourage a “cultural and literary spirit”.

“The arson attack was an odious act of hateful behavior which has a bad effect on the cultural movement, and whoever did it is misrepresenting the region and its level of culture,” Al-Sahu said.
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The Riyadh International Book Fair, now underway, has been the target for religious conservatives/extremists in the past. So far this year, the event seems to be going off without interruption. The unavailability of a novel, ‘She Throws Sparks’, by an award-winning Saudi author raised concerns that it had been pulled from the exhibition. Officials there say that in fact, it’s unavailable because all copies had been sold.

Khal’s novel sold out, not withdrawn