The Muslim Writers Awards
The Muslim Writers Awards were founded to harness creative talent and nurture aspiring writers within the Muslim community and were first awarded in 2008.
The Awards are supported by international relife organisation Muslim Hands and the publisher Penguin Books, along with a number of other private and public sector companies.
The organisers also work closely with a number of literary agents and publishers who have expressed an interest in seeing new writing from unpublished Muslim writers.
Currently, the following prizes are awarded:
- Published Novel Prize
- Published Children's Book Prize
- Published Non-Fiction: People and Places
- Published Non-Fiction: Culture
- Published Non-Fiction: History and Politics-Unpublished Novel Prize
- Unpublished Short Story Prize
- Unpublished Poetry Prize
- Unpublished Children's Story Prize
- Stage and Screen Play Prize
- Young Journalist Prize (16-25)
The judges for the 2011 Published Novel Award included Foyles' Web Editor, Jonathan Ruppin. The winner was Censoring an Iranian Love Story by Shariah Mandanipour. The judges said of their choice, "By exploring what society may seek to control or even forbid, in love and in storytelling, Censoring an Iranian Love Story reveals that both are fundamental human instincts that will always find a way to flourish."
You can find out more about the Muslim Writers Awards, including winners for categories not listed below and how unpublished writers can submit their work, at the official website.
2011 Published Novel Prize shortlist
Shahriar Mandanipour An ingenious story of forbidden love, told in two ways: the version the censors will permit and how the writer would like Sara and Dara's love to play out. | Roopa Farooki Running away is easy. It's coming home that's hard. Delivery: To home, business or free to our stores. Click for more info. | £5.59 | 30% |  Despatched in 1 business day. |   Add to Basket | Click & Collect:Order now to collect from 2pm today. In stock items only. Click for more info. | £6.79 | 15% |  Currently out of stock in all stores. | Stores - out of stock | New & Used:Our marketplace sellers will deliver to your chosen address. Click for more info. | | | Currently unavailable | Currently unavailable |
|
Bahaa Taher; Humphrey Davies A story of people out of place; winner of the inaugural International Prize for Arabic Fiction. | Aamer Hussein Interwoven with the poetry of love, loss and longing, The Cloud Messenger is a study of the search for a home in the world and of the redeeming power of... Delivery:To home, business or free to our stores. Click for more info. | £5.59 | 30% | Despatched in 1 business day. | Add to Basket | Click & Collect:Order now to collect from 2pm today. In stock items only. Click for more info. | £6.79 | 15% | Currently out of stock in all stores. | Stores - out of stock | New & Used:Our marketplace sellers will deliver to your chosen address. Click for more info. | | | Currently unavailable | Currently unavailable |
|
Farahad Zama * A new and fast-moving storyline full of surprises, combine with a leap in the author's writing, and the invigorating ingredients that made The Marriage Bureau for Rich People a... | |
2011 Published Children's Book shortlist
Na'ima B. Robert A powerful novel illuminating Zimbabwe's tragic history, from the acclaimed author of From Somalia With Love Delivery:To home, business or free to our stores. Click for more info. | £4.89 | 30% | Despatched in 1 business day. | Add to Basket | Click & Collect:Order now to collect from 2pm today. In stock items only. Click for more info. | £5.94 | 15% | Currently out of stock in all stores. | Stores - out of stock | New & Used:Our marketplace sellers will deliver to your chosen address. Click for more info. | | | Currently unavailable | Currently unavailable |
| Rukhsana Khan Jameela lives with her mother and father in Afghanistan. Despite the fact that there is no school in their poor, war-torn village, and though Jameela lives with a birth defect... |
Irfan Master An atmospheric, quirky and moving debut novel, set in India. Shortlisted for the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize and nominated for the 2011 Branford Boase Award | Anna Perera Khalid, a 15-year-old Muslim boy from Rochdale, is abducted from Pakistan while on holiday with his family. He is taken to Guantanamo Bay and held without charge. An innocent denied... |
Selected previous winners
2011
Published Fiction Censoring an Iranian Love Story by Shariah Mandanipour
Published Children's Book Far from Home by Na'ima B Robert
2009
Published Fiction Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie
Published Non-Fiction Love in a Headscarf by Shelina Zahra Janmohamed
Best International Entry In Other Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin
2008
Published Writer Enemy Combatant: The Terrifying True Story of a Briton in Guantanamo
by Moazzem Begg