Writers Festival Canceled After 'Controversial' Statements on Mass Murder
Deutsche Welle reports that Perth's Literature and Ideas Festival has been called off, citing 'intractable differences' over statements made about the conflict in Gaza. It appears some participating writers found it difficult to ignore the ongoing slaughter of tens of thousands, including children, and the deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure. For some, criticizing a government that
has killed over 36,000 Palestinians (UN OCHA, May 2024) is apparently too 'political' for a literary event. One might wonder what exactly constitutes 'intractable differences' when the 'differences' involve the documented deaths of children and widespread starvation. Historically, writers have often been at the forefront of speaking truth to power. Now, simply echoing UN reports and human rights
organizations is enough to shut down a cultural festival. Perhaps the 'uncomfortable' part isn't the statements themselves, but the uncomfortable mirror they hold up to those who prefer their humanitarian crises neatly sanitized and out of sight.