Award-winning Palestinian author's event cancelled at Frankfurt Book Fair; open letter condemns move
Minor Detail, which highlights the alleged atrocity committed by Israeli military personnel against a Bedouin girl in 1949. Track latest updates of Israel-Palestine war The decision to celebrate Shibli, and to hold panel discussions featuring her, was cancelled by Litprom following the October 7 attack by Hamas fighters at locations in southern Israel. Also, the author's work has also drawn “anti-Semitism" allegations from some corners.
Exciting news! Mint is now on WhatsApp Channels. Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest financial insights! Click here! “While Shibli’s ‘Minor Detail’ has been smeared as being anti-Semitic by two journalists and literary editors, other serious literary critics have clearly refuted this in the German press and elsewhere," LA Times quoted the letter as stating. It has been reportedly signed by personalities like Wallace Shawn, Colm Tóibín, Eileen Myles, Hari Kunzru, Sapphire and Rachel Kushner, among others.
“The Frankfurt Book Fair has a responsibility, as a major international book fair, to be creating spaces for Palestinian writers to share their thoughts, feelings, reflections on literature through these terrible, cruel times, not shutting them down," the letter added. Meanwhile, Litprom, in a statement, also dismissed the anti-Semitism charges levelled against the author. “Due to the war started by Hamas, under which millions of people in Israel and Palestine are suffering, the organiser Litprom e.V.
decided to not hold the award ceremony of the LiBeraturpreis at the Frankfurt Book Fair. Litprom is looking for a suitable format and setting for the event at a later point. Awarding the prize to Adania Shibli was never in question.
Read more on livemint.com
