Author Selma Dabbagh to be a Virtual Majlis guest

Palestinian-born British writer Selma is confirmed for a Virtual Majlis session with Gaza.

On Monday the 13th February, Selma will be holding a book signing, and we hope to later offer some signed copies to win in an online competition!

The following evening Selma will be participating in a question and answer session hosted by Professor Wasserman at the Student Centre in Education City, where the Qatar Al Fakhoora team is based.

The discussion with Al Fakhoora students and our international friends, will centre on her processes of writing, and how the students might explore their own written expressions of their experiences best….but who knows where the discussion will lead to!

The open forum style of Virtual Majlis means that the meeting will be unforgettable and fascinating for all involved, as such a range of personalities and cultures come together.

Selma’s new book ‘Out of It’, was published late last year and was chosen by the Qatar Guardian newspaper as a favorite novel of journalist and literary critic Ahdaf Soueif.

The perspectives transcend geographical borders, moving from Gaza, to London, to the Gulf and takes in perspectives from the different members of an estranged family unit.

The story centers around 27 year old unemployed Rashid, who observes the bombing of Gaza through a doped haze as he smokes grass, before awaking to the news that he has been awarded a scholarship to London.

This humorous and wry story looks closely at the ‘frustrations and energies’ of the younger Palestinian generation, and showcases Selma’s ability to understand and connect with her younger readers and the themes that interest them.

We are very excited to meet Selma and look forward to reporting back on her visit to Qatar!