Afghan-Born Dutch Author Forough Karimi Wins Dutch Booksellers Award for 2026
Forough Karimi, an Afghan-born Dutch author, has won the Dutch Booksellers Award for 2026.
Organizers announced on Thursday evening, February 19, 2026, that Karimi's novel "I Carry Clouds in My Eyes" was selected as the book of the year by a panel of booksellers. The jury described the work as "urgent, heartbreaking and with a measured structure," noting that Karimi gives voice to refugees and serves as a capable narrator.
The novel is Karimi's third work of fiction. It follows Behnaz Vida, a psychiatrist who fled Kabul for the Netherlands at age 15 and built a new life there.
The Dutch Booksellers Award is presented annually to an original Dutch-language book deemed worthy of a wider audience by booksellers. This year, it includes a promotional campaign, a special edition and, for the first time, 5,000 euros in cash.
Karimi was born in Kabul in 1971. She left Afghanistan in 1996 at age 25 due to the war and sought refuge in the Netherlands.
Know more about this story?
If you have additional information or believe something is inaccurate, let us know. Your tips help us stay accurate.
More in Culture
Deputy Minister of Information and Culture Urges Principled Operations for Tourism and Pilgrimage Companies
Afghanistan's National Buzkashi Team to Face Hungary in Kokpar 2026 Opener
Taliban Sports Administration Publishes Profile of Muay Thai Champion Mohammad Yusuf Jahangir
Afghanistan Gains Membership in World Street Sports Organization Kardu
ReliableDeputy Minister of Information and Culture Urges Principled Operations for Tourism and Pilgrimage Companies
Maulvi Qudratullah Jamal, Deputy for Tourism, Finance and Administration at Afghanistan's Ministry of Information and Culture, mandated licensed operations, renewals, and notifications for tourism and pilgrimage companies, with nationwide inspections and closures for violators. Haji Golab Sultan Zai, head of the companies, pledged compliance with I.E.A. principles.
ReliableAfghanistan's National Buzkashi Team to Face Hungary in Kokpar 2026 Opener
Afghanistan's national Buzkashi team faces Hungary at 2:30 p.m. Afghanistan time in its group stage opener at the Kokpar 2026 competitions in Turkistan, Kazakhstan. Mullah Ahmadullah Waseeq, head of Afghanistan's National Olympic Committee, confirmed the details via X.
ReliableTaliban Sports Administration Publishes Profile of Muay Thai Champion Mohammad Yusuf Jahangir
The Taliban Sports Administration profiled Muay Thai athlete Mohammad Yusuf Jahangir, who overcame poverty to win Afghanistan's first gold medal at the 1404 Islamic Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia. The piece highlights his balancing of work and training amid economic hardships.
ReliableAfghanistan Gains Membership in World Street Sports Organization Kardu
Afghanistan has joined the World Street Sports Organization Kardu for the first time, thanks to efforts by Salman Sultani, who has been named its ambassador in the country. The membership enables Afghan athletes to compete in international street sports events.