*** Information Minister mourns Bahraini writer | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Information Minister mourns Bahraini writer

Information, Shura and Representatives Councils Minister Isa Abdulrahman Al Hammadi mourned the demise of Bahraini writer Khalid Hamad Sulaiman Al Bassam, who passed away yesterday.

Al Hammadi described the Bahraini writer as one of the top novelists and journalists in Bahrain, who was a cofounder and chief editor of many publishing houses. He had also contributed to the renaissance of Bahraini literature and defended its causes through his writings.

The Minister noted that Al Bassam’s numerous writings contributed to raising interest in the cultural affairs inside and outside Bahrain.

His works included cultural, literary, media and press, as well as historical areas. His books (Bay of Tales) published in 1993 and (Shock of Friction) published in 1998 were two of the most popular books in the United Kingdom, according to Arab newspapers in London. 

He started his career as a journalist in 1981. It is worth mentioning that he was conferred with the GCC Creativity Award in the middle of last month in Doha, Qatar.

He was also honoured in 2014 by Al Khoja Cultural Foundation in Saudi Arabia. Bahraini newspaper Al Wassat honoured him in November 2007 for his writings in history and journalism fields.

Al Bassam won the first place in a referendum held for Bahrain’s favourite columnists in July 1999, and was selected as a Jury member of the Arab Journalism Award in Dubai in 2008.