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RIYADH: Saudi author Faisal G. Binzagr is among the writers featured in the recently published “Arabian Nightmares,” billed as the first English-language anthology of horror shorts by Arab writers. The project — spearheaded by Lebanese author Daniel Habib and crowd-funded via Kickstarter — brings together a diverse mix of regional voices exploring fear and folklore from an Arab perspective. Binzagr learned about the anthology in 2023 from fellow Saudi author Maram Taibah. 

“Daniel wanted to create the first anthology of horror shorts written by Arab authors. Apparently that’s never been done before and he was shocked by that, so he was, like, ‘Let’s do it!’ It was a great opportunity and I was very happy to be a part of it,” Binzagr tells Arab News. 

His contribution, “The Great Work of Dr Quqazi; or, The Bell,” combines classic horror with distinctly Saudi textures and references — local rituals, internal conflict and the tensions that ripple through families. 

The synopsis on Kickstarter reads: “Smothered by his conservative parents, an aspirational young Saudi teeters on the brink of depression. He turns to his uncle — a man of wisdom and science — seeking treatment, but soon begins to suspect his methods lie at the intersection of science, alchemy… and the occult.” 

It draws some inspiration from Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein” and Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,” yet remains firmly rooted in the Saudi imagination. 

Binzagr grew up in a creative family in Jeddah; the late pioneering Saudi artist Safeya Binzagr was among his relatives. And even as a child, Binzagr experimented with stories that blurred the boundaries between imagination and reality. “I was born writing,” he says. “I think I was around two when I started drawing different stories on paper and having my mom write down what I would dictate to her.” 

His American mother, a teacher, encouraged him to think beyond sketches, and toward narrative. 

 “There is one pivotal moment in my writing journey that happened when I was around six or seven,” he says, recalling how the cover of Stephen King’s 1981 horror novel, “Cujo,” which features a rabid dog, prompted him to invent his own wild stories about dangerous animals. 

“I remember showing the (stories) to my mom. She was like, ‘No, you have to add narrative around this, some cause and effect, some characters.’ 

“In the moment, I was super defensive about it,” he continues, but after letting it “percolate” he realized she was right. “And from that point on, I paid more attention to character and theme — not theme explicitly … I was a kid, I didn’t know what ‘theme’ was — but sort of ‘What is the story behind the story?’” 

Binzagri wrote his first novel when he was 10 — a story about war, something he was proud to show his maternal grandfather, a US veteran who served in WWII. His entire family applauded his attempt and he hasn’t really stopped crafting stories since. 

Though not solely a horror writer, Binzagr’s work often leans into the eerie, the psychological, and the morally complex, meaning that many people associate him with the genre. “It’s funny to me that I have this reputation in the creative sphere here as being a horror writer, because, actually, this was my first horror story,” Binzagr says. 

“The Great Work of Dr Quqazi; or, The Bell” is another significant step in the author’s lifelong journey.  

“As a kid, I always believed I would be a writer. When I went to university (in the UK), and I started to appreciate the realities of the world, it became clear to me that success in writing is something very difficult to achieve,” he says. “Now my ambitions and strategy are more of a slow burn. I usually find time to write on the weekend or after work — right now it’s a lot slower with my day job, but I’m still chipping away at it.” 

To illustrate that “slow burn” approach, Binzagr cites a story he began in 2019 about the reconciliation of different cultural backgrounds, drawing inspiration from his own American and Saudi heritage. One section involving a character’s son served mainly as a plot device, rather than something drawn from experience. It wasn’t until a couple of years later that the story truly began to take shape and feel personal. 

“The minute my son was born, my whole perspective on that story changed because it became clear to me that this story, from beginning to end, could actually be about fatherhood,” he says. 

Becoming a parent has opened a new chapter in his life, too. Scenes that once explored speculative horror now carry the weight of care and responsibility. His son — now around 18 months old — has reshaped his storytelling lens. His writing style is still deliberate and provocative, but with a tinge of hope. 

“I’m very happy (in life) and I hope that my writing — despite the visceral, intense angles — can facilitate happiness in others, as well,” he says. 

LONDON: Pro-Palestine protesters in the UK who allegedly disrupted the production of a Gal Gadot movie have been ordered by a court to avoid film-shooting locations, The Times reported on Thursday.

The eight demonstrators were charged under trade union laws over their alleged disruption of “The Runner,” which features the Israeli actress, who served in the Israel Defense Forces.

At locations in London and outside the capital, protesters allegedly disrupted shooting over several days in May.

The eight individuals were charged under the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, and behaved “with a view to compelling another person to abstain from filming, which that person had a legal right to do.”

The act, originally designed to combat pickets during strikes, bans the obstruction of access to a workplace.

On Thursday, Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard that all the cases relating to the eight protesters were adjourned until Nov. 18.

All were released on bail on condition that they avoid entering an area within 200 meters of filming for Gadot’s movie.

Demonstrations against her have featured protesters wearing Palestinian keffiyehs in the capital holding placards saying “trash Gadot not welcome in London” and “stop starving Gaza.” Amid the protests against her, she reportedly considered leaving London.

In Los Angeles in May, Gadot’s name was engraved in a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It was later defaced by graffiti.

Katie McFadden, a solicitor with Hodge Jones & Allen, which is representing four of the alleged protesters, said: “My clients are alleged to have peacefully protested, in a public place, against a film production involving Gal Gadot.

“At all times, they acted entirely in accordance with their rights to freedom of assembly and expression, which are protected by UK law.

“We are disappointed that they have been charged with criminal offences and believe this is a disproportionate, unnecessary and unlawful interference with their rights. We will be defending these charges wholeheartedly.”