Saudi poet and statesman Ghazi Algosaibi

Ghazi Algosaibi, a Saudi Arabian statesman, public servant, and poet, died Saturday in Cairo. The poet often came under fire from various factions for the views he expressed in his poetry. Algosaibi, lauded abroad, was often criticized by his own country because of his liberal ideals that ran counter to the prevailing opinions, though he was also criticized outside of Saudi Arabia for his poem praising a Palestinian suicide bomber during the second intifada.

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Algosaibi was also a prolific novelist, poet and columnist. His writings were banned in Saudi Arabia because they frequently voiced criticism of ruling regimes in the region and often presented a satirical depiction of social and political mores. In his 1994 novel Freedom Apartment, he described the coming of age of a group of Arab university students living together in Cairo during turbulent political times in the 1960s. It was only in the last month that the Saudi Culture Ministry lifted the ban on his writings, citing his contributions to the kingdom.

Algosaibi also came under fire in 2002 when, as an ambassador to Britain, he wrote a poem praising Palestinian suicide bombers at the height of the second Palestinian uprising.

In the poem titled "The Martyrs," Algosaibi said the bombers "died to honor God's word." Under criticism from Jewish groups, Algosaibi defended his poem and accused Israel of committing war crimes . . .