source: getty images

 

Reacting to the Frankfurt International Book Fair's decision to postpone an award presentation for Palestinian author Adania Shibli and to the fair's endorsement of Israel, a number of prominent Arab publishing houses declared their withdrawal from the event in 2023.

The German book fair, which took place from October 18 to 22, declared that it was postponing the ceremony where Palestinian writer Adania Shibli was supposed to win the LiBeraturpreis literature award for her work "Minor Details."

The ceremony was to be held on Friday, 20 October.

According to Frankfurt Book Fair director Juergen Boos, the fair would strive to "make Jewish and Israeli voices more conspicuous" because it is in "full solidarity with Israel.

Boos went to the extent of declaring that on October 21, the event will feature "renowned Israeli authors." 

The Arab Publishers Association, situated in Cairo, declared in a statement that it would not be attending this edition of the exhibition, citing the show's unfair and biased stance about the tragic events that are currently occurring in the region.

"Having such a tunnel vision of the Palestinian issue and accepting the injustice the Palestinian people have been subjected to for decades is a dreadful mistake," the Association stated in its statement. "We certainly condemn any attack on any civilian, regardless of nationality."

On Saturday, the Sharjah Book Authority also announced its decision to withdraw from the Frankfurt Book Fair in protest over the fair's support for Israel and its cancellation of Palestinian author Adania Shibli’s prize-giving ceremony.  

LitProm, the organisers of the LiBeraturpreis award ceremony, said the ceremony was cancelled in agreement with Shibli, describing what it called the “current climate” as “unconducive to celebrations."Adania Shibli won the award for the German translation of her 2017 novel “Minor Details” 

“Minor Details” revolves around an incident involving the rape, killing, and burial of a young Palestinian Bedouin by a group of Israeli soldiers in the Negev desert in 1949. 

The novel, which was translated into several languages, was highly praised and received positive reviews. It was also one of the novels that made the long list for the 2021 International Booker Prize and the finalist books for the translated literature category of the 2020 US-National Novel Awards. 

The LiBeraturpeis Award recognises female authors from the Global South for a recently released German work. Prominent Arab authors denounced the fair's bias towards Israel and its people. The renowned Algerian novelist Said Khatibi cancelled his attendance at the fair this year. It was also one of the novels that made the long list for the 2021 International Booker Prize and the finalist books for the translated literature category of the 2020 US-National Novel Awards. The LiBeraturpeis Award recognises female authors from the Global South for a recently released German work. Prominent Arab authors denounced the fair's bias towards Israel and its people. The renowned Algerian novelist Said Khatibi cancelled his attendance at the fair this year.

Aseer Al-Kotob, a publishing house based in Saudi Arabia, declared on Saturday that it was leaving the show because it supported "Israeli occupation in its war against Gaza. “The publishing house proclaimed that it fully supports the just cause of the Palestinian people. The publishing firm claimed that author Adania Shibli's rights had been "infringed," but the statement also emphasized its unwavering support for her and stated that readers' affection is the one prize that "no one can withhold."

- salma waleed