According to IRAF News Agency, the 18th Jalal Al-Ahmad Literary Award has announced its final shortlist.
Among the nominees, three Afghan authors are represented across various categories, reflecting the growing influence of migration literature in contemporary Persian writing.
Mohammad Asif Soltanzadeh with the “The Trial”
In the novel and long story category, Mohammad Asif Soltanzadeh’s “The Trial”, published by Nashr-e Ney in 2024, has been nominated. The book explores the complex and bitter experiences of an Afghan refugee in Europe, providing a critical perspective on the administrative and human aspects of asylum and offering a deep portrayal of migrant dislocation.
Esmat Altaf with “Wounded Walls”
In the first-novel category for novels, Esmat Altaf’s Wounded Walls, published by Nashr-e Amo, has made the final list. Centered on a suicide attack at the Kaj educational center in Kabul, the book delivers a poignant account of the suffering of the Hazara community and the devastating impact of violence on young lives.
Abbas Azimi with “Sometimes Look at the Graves”
In the short story (first-novel) category, Abbas Azimi’s collection “Sometimes Look at the Graves”, published by Nashr-e Cheshmeh, has been nominated. The stories focus on the lives of Afghan migrants in Iran, portraying displacement, fear, hope, and the struggle to rebuild life through a humanistic and realistic lens.
Significance for Persian Literature
The simultaneous nomination of three Afghan writers for one of Iran’s most prestigious literary awards highlights the rising prominence of migration literature and the influential role of Afghan authors in shaping contemporary Persian literature.
This recognition may encourage cultural institutions to pay greater attention to new narratives and
