As the international cultural scene witnesses a spate of writers cancelled surrounding both topics on Israel and Palestine, PEN America has stepped forward to address the matter.

Read: Frankfurt Book Fair: open letter supports cancelled Palestinian author Adania Shibli

The literary and cultural advocacy group has strongly urged communities to uphold the free exchange of ideas, emphasising that writers and civilians should not be held responsible for the views of their governing authorities. Among the events affected are a discussion with Viet Thanh Nguyen at 92NY, the removal of ads promoting Nathan Thrall’s book on NPR, and the decision by the Frankfurt Book Fair to revoke an award intended for Palestinian writer Adania Shibli. Events centred around Jewish culture in Sweden and Australia, as well as the Witness Palestine 2023 Festival in New York, were also impacted.

PEN America’s advocacy: the power of free expression

Speaking on the issue, a representative from PEN America stated, “PEN America objects to the cancellation of book and cultural events, awards and promotions because of viewpoints and narratives that have become contentious in the context of the war between the Israeli government and Hamas. There are grave and legitimate concerns about the human rights and humanitarian impact of the conflict on Israeli and Palestinian civilians.

“PEN America holds the deep conviction that the voices of writers and others should not be stilled or silenced, a commitment that is ever more important at times of deep strife. We believe it is a serious mistake to cancel events and shut down dialogue on the basis of a writer’s viewpoint,” it added.

Recognising that some writers were cancelled over genuine security worries in light of escalating violence over the Israel and Gaza war, PEN America appealed to local authorities to grant the necessary security measures to host organisations, enabling cultural activities to persist.

Literature as a bridge: overcoming differences amid conflict

Reflecting on its origins post-World War I, PEN America reminded the public of its founding principle: writers can be pivotal in averting wars. In times when nations are embroiled in disputes, the realm of literature offers solace, a means to empathise, and even strategies towards achieving mutual comprehension. The PEN Charter underscores that literature is boundless and must persist as a shared asset among people, notwithstanding political or global disturbances.

In a call to action, PEN America declared, “Amid this most polarizing moment, we hold fast to these transcendent ideas. For the community of writers, we hope that what unites us – love of books, faith in free expression, respect for dissent – can be used as a tool to communicate and connect across our differences. We reject efforts to hold writers, or indeed any civilians, culpable for the beliefs or actions of a governing authority. We reject approaches that deny and denigrate on the basis of nationality, ethnicity or religion.”

With a clear message against intolerance, PEN America champions the idea that literature’s real worth is in its ability to engage the human intellect, embracing nuances, intricacies, and debates.