Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), participated in the 67th Beirut Arab International Book Fair, held under the patronage of Lebanese Prime Minister Dr. Nawaf Salam. During a panel discussion on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, Dr. Benarafa presented his novel, “The Night His Excellency Disappeared,” before an audience of writers, intellectuals and critics.

The event was held as part of the Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan Chair for Arabic and Islamic Studies program at the American University of Beirut, in cooperation with Dar Al Adab. The session was moderated by novelist Riwa Bouhamdan, who discussed with the author the novel’s key themes and issues, the context in which it was written, and Dr. Benarafa’s experience in gnostic literary writing. The session also featured a rich exchange between the author and the audience.

The ICESCO Deputy Director-General also attended the opening ceremony of the Fair, which runs from 9 to 18 October and brings together a prominent gathering of publishers, writers and intellectuals. Its diverse cultural program includes literary and intellectual seminars and panel discussions featuring 280 speakers, with 163 publishing houses participating.

ICESCO’s participation in this prominent cultural event reflects its commitment to strengthening relations with cultural and intellectual institutions across the Islamic world, expanding its presence at international cultural forums, and supporting books, publishing and reading as essential drivers of cultural development and intercultural dialogue.