Culture & Arts
Palestinian novel examines interrogation through sleep deprivation's psychological weight
Image credit: ArabLit
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ArabLit reported on "The Sleep Thief," a novel by Ibtisam Azem translated by Sinan Antoon, which centers on Palestinian protagonist Gharib Haifawi. In the opening pages, Haifawi recounts his experience during imprisonment, describing how interrogators labeled him the "sleep thief"—a designation rooted in the deprivation tactics used against him.
The novel employs sleep as a central metaphor to explore detention's corrosive psychological effects. Through Haifawi's narrative, Azem examines how interrogation systematically strips away basic human necessities, with sleeplessness serving as both a physical ordeal and a symbol of broader suffering under captivity.
