Following the Annulment of a Palestinian author's award, UAE publishers have withdrawn from the Frankfurt Book Fair

Controversy at Frankfurt Book Fair over Palestinian author's award withdrawal.

on Oct 16, 2023

Following the Annulment of a Palestinian Author's Award, UAE Publishers have withdrawn from the Frankfurt Book Fair | Frontlist

The award was supposed to go to Adania Shibli, whose work 'Minor Detail' recounts the 1949 rape and death of a Palestinian Bedouin girl by Israeli soldiers.

Following the withdrawal of a prize to a Palestinian author and statements by show organisers, the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) and the Emirates Publishers Association (EPA) have chosen to withdraw from the Frankfurt International Book show.

Adania Shibli was supposed to receive the LiBeraturpreis Literature Prize at the book fair in recognition of her novel Minor Detail. The novel depicts the rape and murder of a Palestinian Bedouin girl by Israeli forces in 1949.

The novel was translated from German to Arabic and released in 2022. A previous English translation was also nominated for a National Book Award in 2020 and the International Booker Prize in 2021.

The cancellation of the award came as tensions between Israel and Gaza rose. The award organisers, LitProm, first indicated that the decision to cancel the ceremony was taken in consultation with Adania Shibli. They eventually amended their stance, claiming that it was solely their decision.They stressed that the current environment is "not conducive to celebrations."

The EPA and SBA both published comments saying:

"In light of the recent announcement by the Frankfurt Book Fair organisers, we have decided to withdraw our participation this year." We advocate for the importance of culture and books in fostering intercultural dialogue and understanding. This position, we believe, is more crucial than ever."

"I strongly believe in the fundamental rights of civilians worldwide to live in safety, free from the dangers of armed conflict," stated Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, creator of EPA and chairperson of SBA, in a LinkedIn post. In times of crisis and conflict, I am a strong proponent of the importance of books, culture, authors, book fairs, intellectuals, and artists in encouraging togetherness, de-escalating tensions, and allowing diverse perspectives to be heard. We can improve the possibilities for peace and harmony by doing so."

Meanwhile, the head of the Frankfurt International Book Fair, Juergen Boos, has criticised recent Hamas attacks in Israel. Boos stated that they have decided to include additional stage moments at the expo to showcase Israeli and Jewish speakers.