Michael Ondaatje, Francine Prose and at least four other writers have withdrawn from next month’s PEN American Center gala, citing objections to the literary and human rights organisation’s honouring the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo .
Hebdo ’s portrayal PEN announced on Sunday 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 Sunday night. Ms. Prose said she was in favour 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 honouree’s work. “I couldn’t imagine being in the audience when they have a standing ovation for Charlie Hebdo ,” Ms. Prose said.
Week-long festival The gala is the highlight of PEN’s annual, week-long World Voices Festival and is intended as a celebration of artistic achievement and expression, with past award winners including Mr. Ondaatje, Salman Rushdie and Philip Roth.
