DAMMAM, 9 August 2006 — The popularity of education is something growing rapidly in the Eastern Province with local writers organizing various activities attended by a great number of academics, writers, journalists and artists.

The Noun Literature Forum in Safwa in Qatif arranged their third annual women-only meeting entitled “Marafee.” Nearly 300 women, including well-known writers such as Zainab Hafni, Zahra Al-Musa and Huda Al-Bakshi, attended the event.

Several activities including a short-story reading presented by the young Saudi writer Alaa Abu Taki were organized. Rabab Al-Haji delivered a presentation on prose, and poet Amal Al-Faraj read out a poem to the audience. Saudi writer Kumasha Al-Olaian also discussed her new novel.

To finish off, participants were entertained with a play named “Qais and Layla in 2006”. The president of Noun Forum congratulated writers Ameera Al-Mudhi and Fatima Fatehallah, who both recently published their first novels.

The Eastern Province Literature Club held another event in the area early this week. Members of the club discussed two stories written by the famous Saudi writer Hussain Al-Ali. The club is also preparing for the first prose festival.

In Seyhat, Qatif, a festival entitled Sanabel Al-Gair was held this summer. Among the activities held was a five-day play-writing workshop presented by Abass Al-Haik.

Dr. Ibrahim Al-Sahaf, who is a specialist in Chinese needle treatment and president of the Chinese Treatment Unit at Saad Specialized Hospital, gave a lecture about medication in the festival.