My wife thought I deserved it, but I always thought the Nobel a Western prize.

One effect that the Nobel Prize seems to have had is that more Arabic literary works have been translated into other languages.

The Nobel Prize has given me, for the first time in my life, the feeling that my literature could be appreciated on an international level.

No blasphemy harms Islam and Muslims so much as the call for murdering a writer

We used the Western style to express our own themes and stories. But don't forget that our heritage includes The Thousand and One Nights.

The Arab world also won the Nobel with me. I believe that international doors have opened, and that from now on, literate people will consider Arab literature also. We deserve that recognition.