Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri refuses award from Noguchi Museum in New York City
Washington: Jhumpa Lahiri, the author of The Pulitzer Prize, turned down an award from the Noguchi Museum in New York City after it dismissed three staff members for adhering to an updated dress code and wearing Keffiyeh head scarves, a symbol of Palestinian solidarity.
The museum released a statement on Wednesday saying, “Jhumpa Lahiri has chosen to withdraw her acceptance of the 2024 Isamu Noguchi Award in response to our updated dress code policy.”
“We respect her perspective and understand that this policy may or may not align with everyone’s views.” In 2000, Lahiri won the Pulitzer Prize for her work “Interpreter of Maladies.”
Protesters worldwide have been wearing the black-and-white keffiyeh head scarf, a symbol of Palestinian self-determination, to express their desire for an end to Israel’s assault in Gaza.
opposition to apartheid Nelson Mandela, the leader of South Africa, was also often seen wearing the scarf.
Supporters of Israel, meanwhile, argue that it implies endorsing radicalism.
Three Palestinian-American students in Vermont were shot during an assault in November. The keffiyeh was worn by two people.
Tens of thousands have been slain and almost all of Gaza’s population has been displaced by Israel’s continuous onslaught. It came after Palestinian Hamas terrorists killed seven people attacking Israel on October 7.
Isamu Noguchi, a Japanese American artist, created the art museum, which last month issued a policy banning staff members from donning anything with “political messages, slogans, or symbols.” Three workers lost their jobs.
Due to their opinions on the Israel-Gaza conflict, some Americans have also lost their employment.
A Palestinian American nurse was dismissed by a New York City hospital in May after she referred to Israel’s conduct in Gaza as “genocide” in an award presentation speech. Israel disputes accusations of genocide made to the World Court by South Africa.
