TEHRAN – Afghan writer Ahmad Modaqeq will be honored at the 11th Jalal Al-e Ahmad Literary Awards for his novel “Russian Songs”.

“In our policy to promote the Persian language and to reinforce the cultural ties among the Persian-speaking nations, we plan to honor Ahmad Modaqeq whose book has been published by Shahrestan Adab,” Mehdi Qezeli, the director of the literary awards, said in a press release on Thursday.

The story of “Russian Songs” is set during the 1980s when Afghan people fought against the Soviet invaders.

Qezeli said that they planned to celebrate works created by Tajik writers over the past ten years in a program titled “Ten Years of Fiction in Tajikistan” during the previous edition of the Jalal literary awards, Iran’s most lucrative literary prize.

However, the program was cancelled following the imposition of travel restrictions on Tajik writers by Tajikistan’s government. 

Winners of the 11th edition of the Jalal Al-e Ahmad Literary Awards will be honored during a special ceremony at the National Library and Archives of Iran tomorrow.

“Re He Sheen”, Reza Amirkhani’s novel on the consequences of urban development, and “The Promised”, Siamak Isari’s story in praise of hope, are among the nominations in the novel section.

“Wonderland” by Jafar Modarres-Sadeqi and “Alut” by Amir Khodaverdi, and “Crows Have Ice Creams Too” are among the nominees in the category.

Photo: This combination photo shows Afghan writer Ahmad Modaqeq and the front cover of his novel “Russian Songs”.

MMS/YAW