Abdullah Bin Bakheet
Abdullah bin Bakheet is a Saudi journalist and novelist. He was born in Riyadh and studied at King Saud University. Upon graduation in 1978, he started working as a journalist for periodicals like Al Yamamah magazine and Al Riyadh and al-Jazirah newspapers. He still writes a regular column for Al Riyadh and is well known for his liberal views on topics such as women's rights and minority rights. He got into trouble with the Saudi morality police in 2005 when he was charged with spreading corruption and immorality through his writing.
Bakheet has also written widely outside journalism, including literary and critical works, and television scripts. His recent novel Street of Affections was longlisted for the 2010 Arabic Booker Prize.