The Frankfurt Book Fair has canceled an award ceremony that was intended to honor a novel by Palestinian author Adania Shibli, titled “Minor Detail” in English. The cancellation was attributed to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, as announced by Litprom, the German literary association responsible for the prize. Shibli’s novel recounts the true story of the 1949 rape and murder of a Palestinian Bedouin girl by Israeli soldiers. This decision has sparked controversy and debates surrounding the novel in Germany.
The Novel’s Background
“Minor Detail” was originally written in Arabic and published in a German-language version in 2022. A previous English translation of the novel received nominations for prestigious literary awards, including the National Book Award in 2020 and the International Booker Prize in 2021. The 2023 LiBeraturpreis, a German literature prize awarded annually to authors from Africa, Asia, Latin America, or the Arab world, was set to celebrate Shibli’s novel at the Frankfurt Book Fair.
Controversy and Debate
Controversy surrounding the novel emerged earlier this year when a member of the Litprom jury resigned over the decision to award the literature prize to Shibli’s work. A literary critic from the left-leaning German newspaper, Die Tageszeitung, recently reignited the debate by accusing the novel of portraying “the State of Israel as a murder machine.” However, other German critics have praised the novel, highlighting its literary merits.
The Impact of the Israel-Hamas Conflict on Cultural Institutions
The Israel-Hamas war has exacerbated existing divisions within Germany’s cultural institutions, particularly regarding their stance on Israel. In 2020, numerous cultural groups in Germany expressed concerns that their associations with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (B.D.S.) movement against Israel could lead to accusations of antisemitism. Germany’s Parliament has officially designated B.D.S. as antisemitic and has called on states in the country to withhold subsidies from groups or individuals actively supporting the campaign.
The Frankfurt Book Fair’s Response
Juergen Boos, the director of the Frankfurt Book Fair, strongly condemned “Hamas’s barbaric terror against Israel” and expressed his sympathies for the victims and their families. Organizers have decided to include “additional stage moments for Israeli voices” during the fair as a response to the cancellation of the award ceremony. Litprom has stated that it is exploring alternative formats and settings to hold the award ceremony after the conclusion of the book fair, scheduled from October 18 to 22.
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Source: The New York Times
