By Muhammad Nadeem
SRINAGAR: Hundreds of prominent authors have signed an open letter pledging to boycott Israeli cultural institutions, condemning them as complicit in the ongoing oppression of Palestinians. Authors including Mirza Waheed, Sally Rooney, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Naomi Klein, Hari Kunzru, and Jhumpa Lahiri are among those who have committed to disengaging from cultural entities tied to Israel.
The letter, one of the most significant statements of condemnation from the global literary community, describes Israel’s actions in Gaza as a genocide. It claims that cultural institutions are instrumental in “artwashing” the displacement and suffering of Palestinians, aligning them with the state in normalising these injustices.
Signatories to the letter include Pulitzer, Booker, and National Book Award winners, many of whom have previously condemned apartheid in South Africa. They urge fellow writers, publishers, and literary professionals to join their pledge, underscoring a shared moral responsibility to stand with Palestinians.
The letter closes with a call to action: “To work with these institutions is to harm Palestinians, and we call on our fellow writers, translators, illustrators, and book workers to join us in this pledge.”
The open letter, first published on Literary Hub, is garnering significant support, reflecting a growing movement in the cultural sector to question its engagement with states accused of violating human rights.
