Ayman Otoom

Otoom was born in Jerash, in northern Jordan. He went to high in the United Arab Emirates, then returned to Jordan and got a degree in civil engineering from Jordan University of Science and Technology, in 1997, then shifted careers toward language and literature. He received a BA in Arabic from Yarmouk University in 1997, and then a Master's and PhD in Arabic from the University of Jordan, in 2007, and teaches in Amman.[1]

As of 2013, he had published three novels.[1] He is a teacher in Amman. His novel O my two companions of the prison (2012) reflects the personal experience of the writer in Jordanian prisons during 1996 and 1997 as a political prisoner.[7] His novel The Story of the Soldiers is a retelling of a protest in 1986 at Yarmouk University, which was suppressed by Jordanian security forces.[8] Otoom was fined 5000 Dinar because the book "foment[ed] religious and racial discord", and was detained for eight months following the verdict.[9][10]

In 2016, he was arrested for two days. He was released on bail. He was accused of blasphemy according to his lawyer.[11][12]

He has written poetry as well, including Take me to the Al-Aqsa Mosque (2013).[1][13][14] In 2013 he was invited to participate in the nadwa organized for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction, a masterclass in writing.[15][16][17][18][19]

Ayman Otoom's literature is known for its Islamic character.[9]

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