Minister of State and QNL President H E Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kawari with officials and guests at a book signing event held at QNL.
Qatar National Library (QNL) has announced a plan to inaugurate a distinguished monthly “Cultural Salon” later this year as it aims to lead cultural projects in Qatar.
This was announced by H E Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kawari, State Minister and QNL President, at a book signing and discussion on Smedra, the debut novel by Dr. Abdulrahman bin Salem Al Kuwari, former Minister of Health, on July 6.
The event was attended by some of Qatar’s leading cultural, literature and media leaders including Saad bin Mohammed Al Rumaihi, Chairman of the Qatar Press Center; Mubarak bin Jaham Al Kuwari, former CEO of Qatar Media Corporation; Ibrahim Al Bouhachem Al Sayed, Director General of Dar Al Watad Book and Publications House; and Maryam Yassin Al Hammadi, Director of Culture and Arts at the Ministry of Culture, who moderated the session with the author.
Dr. Hamad Al Kawari said: “The launch of the ‘Cultural Salon’ is consistent with the initiatives of the Library in supporting writers, authors and cultural opportunities. Cultural salons originated earlier in the country and the Library’s ’Cultural Salon’ will focus on raising contemporary issues and discussing them with educated elites in Qatar, the region and the world.”
Dr. Abdulrahman Al Kuwari’s novel, Smedra, perfectly blends reality with imagination, addressing and tracking a range of social, political and intellectual issues related to human rights, based on the principles of freedom, justice and equality among people.
At the opening of the event, Dr. Al Kawari gave a welcome speech and congratulated Dr. Al Kuwari on his novel.
He also emphasised the role of the Library in embracing writers, authors and publishers, as well as supporting them with events to showcase their outstanding work, which enriches cultural mobility in Qatar. He also said that events such as these are part of the Library’s role in pioneering Qatar’s cultural movement.
Meanwhile, Al Rumaihi expressed his praise for Dr. Al Kuwari’s novel and his other literary contributions to poetry and short stories.
He further thanked the Library’s role in embracing such important events.
In the context of discussions on the novel, Al Bohashem Al Sayed spoke of the honour of printing and distributing the novel Smedra and stated that its translation into Turkish was nearing completion.
He concluded by thanking the Library for supporting literature, authors and publishers by holding such important events.
