Kamila Shamsie should be awarded the Nelly Sachs prize. Because she is a follower of the critical of Israel boycott movement, BDS, and against the city called the honor. About 250 intellectuals protest now.
In an open letter, published in the “London Review of Books”, more than 250 renowned authors against the decision of the city of Dortmund, the writer Kamila Shamsie but not with the prize. The list of signatories, sounds like a “Who’s Who” of the current world literature.
Arundhati Roy, Michael Ondaatje, John Burnside, Teju Cole, and JM Coetzee are some of the prominent names on the list, including many authors from the Arabic-speaking world. From the German side, Alexander Kluge has signed. Also prominent members of the international writers ‘ Association P. E. N. are represented.
The Jury revised its decision to the detriment of Kamila Shamsie
The authors of the open letter directed against the decision of the Jury and the city, to not give Shamsie the Nelly-Sachs-prize. Originally, in 1973, in Karachi-born and, today, mainly in the UK, live writer should be every two years, the awards at 8. December get. The had decided to a Jury in September.
Nelly Sachs
The prize is awarded in memory of the by the Nazis into exile, displaced persons, German-Swedish writer Nelly Sachs and to go to personalities, the “outstanding creative achievements in the field of the literary and intellectual life, and in particular, to an improvement of the cultural relations between the peoples of the target.” Nelly Sachs was the winner in 1961, first prize. Five years later, she received the literature Nobel.
In addition, as stated in the articles of Association of the 15,000 Euro dope price, people should be honored that “the promotion of inter-state cultural work as a new connecting element between the Nations, which have proclaimed in your life and Work, the spiritual tolerance and reconciliation among the Nations, and pre-lives.” Previous winners include Bachtyar Ali, Marie NDiaye, Margaret Atwood, Milan Kundera, Christa Wolf, and Per Olov Enquist.
BDS sympathy was Shamsie fatal
A few days after the Jury decision, the panel had withdrawn its own decision. The reason given was: Kamila Shamsie support since 2014, the Israel critical of the BDS movement (“Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions”), which has set itself the goal to isolate the state of Israel economically, culturally and politically. The Jury regret the Situation which has arisen “in every respect”. Kamila Shamsies commitment was “in clear contradiction to the Statute of the award, and the spirit of the Nelly-Sachs-prize goals.”
In may, the German Parliament condemned the BDS movement
The movement of BDS was founded in 2005 by over 170 groups and associations, and calls for an end to the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, equality for Palestinian citizens and the right of return of Palestinian refugees.
The BDS is seen In Germany, are particularly critical
Whether the objectives and actions of the BDS are now only Israel-critical or even as anti-Semitic can be classified, in addition to intellectuals, publicists and politicians argue for a long time. In Germany, the Bundestag had a debate in may on the BDS and the majority decided that it as anti-Semitic to be classified. The Landtag in North Rhine-Westphalia had so decided. In the past, there had been cultural events in Germany already, on several occasions, discussion of artists who support the BDS, or are close to him.
The anti-Semitism Officer of the Federal government, Felix Klein, had positioned itself clearly in terms of BDS: “Whoever denies, such as BDS, the right of Israel to exist and Israeli policy with the Nazis, the same sets of exercises no legitimate criticism of Israel, but acts in the core anti-Semitic”, so Small.
Felix Klein
Kamila Shamsie looks at the current policy of Israel continues to be critical
The author see authors like Kamila Shamsie, of course, different. With reference to the current Situation in Israel after the recent elections, the writer has just emphasised once again: “In the just-concluded elections in Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to Annex in violation of the law of Nations up to a third of the West Bank.” Also his competitor for the office of the Prime Minister, Benny Gantz, is responsible for this policy. For you it was not, so Shamsie, to understand, “a Jury bows to the pressure and a writer, the making of his conscience and opinion, freedom of use, the price is beyond.”
Similar to the over 250 Intellectuals expressed in the open letter. We have learned with dismay of the price of redemption because of the commitment Shamsies for the BDS. “What literature means the price of the law, for human rights, the principles of freedom of conscience and freedom of opinion and freedom of criticism undermines?” ask the signatories in the letter. Without this right, art and culture would be “to meaningless luxury”.
Also P. E. N. President Jennifer Clement signed the open letter
A writer between the fronts: Kamila Shamsie
In contrast, many German publicists had welcomed the decision of the city of Dortmund, not to award the prize to Shamsie, explicitly. Shamsies literary is Can not be denied. But, the commentators, should not be allowed to go for a price that reminds one of the Nazis, displaced persons, Jewish author, a BDS supporter. Alan Posener criticized in the newspaper “The world”, in particular, Shamsies refusal to let their books into Hebrew, translate: “she has a right to their opinion. What Shamsie has no right, this is a prize that is named after Nelly Sachs,” says Posen.
For your previous work, Kamila Shamsie had been in the past, awarded several times. Her books revolve around the themes of homeland and loss, the clash of cultures, conflicts in a globalised world and the question of how humanity is to be preserved can. In Germany, five of her novels are available in Translation.
(jk/agencies/London Review of Books/the world/SZ/Nelly-Sachs-prize)