Friends of the late Syrian novelist Khaled Khalifa held a ceremony in Damascus on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, to honour the winner of the Khaled Khalifa Prize for the Novel, coinciding with the second anniversary of his passing.

The award went to novelist Manahil Al Sahwi for her book “The Female Mantis”, which follows the story of “Carmen,” a young girl growing up amid family conflict, who struggles with the trauma of her mother’s murder during childhood. The loss triggers a deep inner conflict that ultimately drives her to renounce everything.

The evening began with readings from Khalifa’s works, followed by remarks from his close friend, Poulos Al Hallaq, who highlighted Khalifa’s literary, artistic, and social contributions. He stressed the organisers’ commitment to keeping the prize independent of political, cultural, or institutional affiliations, thereby preserving its credibility and authenticity.

Al Hallaq noted that the award is intended for voices long marginalised — the very focus of Khalifa’s literary project, reflected in the writing workshops he launched during his lifetime. He described the prize as a continuation of that legacy, offering new writers a platform to express themselves and grow.

The ceremony also featured a video address by literary critic Subhi Hadidi, who said Khalifa’s untimely death was a major loss for Syria and contemporary Arabic literature. The Gardinia Choir performed selections of Khalifa’s writings, followed by remarks from journalist and prize jury member Ya’rub Al Issa. He admitted that the judging process was particularly challenging, as the participating works were of high quality and all deserving of recognition, making the final decision to select a single winner extremely difficult.

Al Issa described the honour as befitting of Khaled Khalifa, whom he remembered as a man deeply passionate about life, people, and literature. He praised the dedication of Khalifa’s friends in establishing the award, which, he said, ensured the writer’s memory was properly celebrated. He expressed hope that the five shortlisted works would live on in readers’ memories.

The award was formally presented by actress Yara Sabri and novelist Khalil Sweileh to Manahil Al Sahwi, who could not attend due to exceptional circumstances. In a recorded video message, she thanked the jury and organisers for the recognition, expressing her joy at winning. She recalled telling Khalifa about her intention to write a novel and his enthusiasm and encouragement, noting that he was not only a novelist but also a true friend who turned his home into a haven for those around him.