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Writers withdraw from PEN gala, cite honor for Charlie Hebdo

By FinalCall.com News | Last updated: May 7, 2015 - 8:12:43 PM

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NEW YORK—Michael Ondaatje, Francine Prose and at least four other writers have withdrawn from May’s PEN American Center gala, citing objections to the literary and human rights organization’s honoring the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

PEN announced April 26 that the writers were upset by Charlie Hebdo’s portrayals of Muslims and “the disenfranchised generally.” The Paris-based magazine, where 12 people were killed in a January attack at its offices, is to receive a Freedom of Expression Courage Award at the May 5 event in Manhattan. Much of the literary community rallied behind Charlie Hebdo after the shootings, but some have expressed unhappiness with its scathing cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad and other Muslims.

“I was quite upset as soon as I heard about (the award),” Ms. Prose, a former PEN American president, told The Associated Press during a telephone interview April 26. Ms. Prose said she was in favor of “freedom of speech without limitations” and that she “deplored” the January shootings, but added that giving an award signified “admiration and respect” for the honoree’s work.

“I couldn’t imagine being in the audience when they have a standing ovation for Charlie Hebdo,” Ms. Prose said.

Mr. Prose and Ms. Ondaatje were among more than 60 writers scheduled to serve as hosts. According to PEN, the other hosts who decided not to attend were Teju Cole, Rachel Kushner, Taiye Selasi and Peter Carey.

In a letter sent to PEN trustees, current PEN American president Andrew Solomon acknowledged that several people were offended by some of Charlie Hebdo’s cartoons, but added that PEN believed strongly in the “appropriateness” of the award.

“But, based on their own statements, we believe that Charlie Hebdo’s intent was not to ostracize or insult Muslims, but rather to reject forcefully the efforts of a small minority to place broad categories of speech off limits, no matter the purpose, intent or import of the expression,” he said.