Literature - Pen-Berlin wants to differentiate further in the Middle East debate
Even after internal disputes over its position on current developments in the Middle East conflict, the Pen-Berlin authors' association wants to stick to its differentiated assessments. "When in doubt, we are always in favor of keeping spaces for debate open as far as possible," said the association's co-spokesperson Deniz Yücel on Saturday during the Pen Congress "Mit dem Kopf durch die Wände". "The freedom of the word also includes the freedom of the stupid word, the supposedly scandalous word, the disturbing word."
After the Hamas attack, individual members of the association accused the Pen-Berlin leadership of lacking solidarity with Israel. As a result, there were also resignations.
Pen-Berlin rejects "a blanket boycott of everything and everyone that is somehow labeled as being close to BDS. And that is precisely why we reject BDS". BDS stands for "Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions". The campaign calls for a boycott of the state of Israel and Israeli products because of its actions against Palestinians.
The association was not founded as a community of opinion, said Yücel. "Rather, from the very beginning we wanted an association that was not only diverse in terms of origin, gender, orientation, age and so on, but also diverse in political terms." They are united by their commitment to freedom of expression, freedom of the press and artistic freedom, as well as "support for colleagues from all over the world who are persecuted, arrested and tortured because they have made use of these very freedoms".
Info Pen-Berlin Info Congress
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- The controversy surrounding Pen-Berlin's stance on the Middle East conflict and antisemitism in Germany continues to fuel heated debates, with some critics labeling the association as insensitive towards Israel's plight.
- Deniz Yücel, the co-spokesperson of Pen-Berlin, has been vocal in his defense, emphasizing the importance of upholding freedom of speech amidst the polarizing Middle East conflict, even if the words expressed are controversial or upsetting.
- The Middle East debate has also sparked internal disputes within Pen-Berlin, with some members accusing the leadership of lack of solidarity with Israel following the Hamas attack.
- Despite these internal conflicts, Pen-Berlin remains adamant against implementing a blanket boycott of entities associated with BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions), which advocates for a boycott of the state of Israel and Israeli products over its actions against Palestinians in the Palestinian territories.
- In light of these conflicting perspectives, it is crucial to engage in more meaningful conversations about the Middle East conflict, with a focus on supporting freedom of expression, speech, and the press, as well as the artists and journalists who face persecution for their beliefs in Germany and the Middle East.
- Deniz Yücel, reflecting on the association's stance, emphasized that Pen-Berlin was built on the foundation of diversity, encompassing members with varying political beliefs and backgrounds, all united by their shared commitment to these crucial principles.
Source: www.stern.de
