18 - Aḥmad ‘Abd Al - Malik : Al-Aqni‘a (Masks)

Summary

Disappointment, prohibitions and breaking down of the social order are often the reasons behind an individual’s choice of escape, be it into another country or into one’s inner world. In this way, the individual wants to relieve the pain and open up the space and resources that allow him or her to think about what to do in the future. It is undeniable that this often requires sacrifice and humbleness. Furthermore, it leads to the realization that you cannot put the blame on others for the state of affairs that has set you on the path towards this inner discovery in the first place – there comes a time when you need to get involved in the struggle for change yourself and take responsibility for the way things are. Being away from homeland causes overwhelming grief, yet it also allows a more objective assessment of the broader situation and coming to terms with the fact that the world in which one lives is not perfect. Abroad, one gains the experience and the courage to try to change something, implement an idea that will become the meaning of one’s life – in the end, it is always the fight for freedom. Aḥmad ‘Abd al-Malik does not give definitive answers as to what will happen next, as he cannot clearly determine the future of the Gulf countries, which will sooner or later also undergo revolutionary movements.

Aḥmad ‘Abd al-Malik in the novel Al-Aqni‘a (Masks) presents Arabs who go to London and lead a life there that is definitely different from that in their homeland. These people feel that they are free, unobserved by society and censorship. They trade in arms, their lives are full of casual sex and their milieu is full of conspiracies.

The novel was constructed in such a way that two books can be found in it. The main character, Ḫālid, is himself an author who writes his own novel on the pages of Masks. The title depicts the life of a group of heroes who live in a luxury hotel in London. Each of them has his own story and everyone came to the capital of Great Britain to experience freedom and pleasure banned in their homeland.