Dinaw Mengestu resigned as president of PEN America, citing a recent article by the free-expression group's CEO that highlighted post-October 7 prejudice against Jewish and Israeli writers and opposed cultural boycotts. The resignation marks the latest anti-Zionist uproar in literary circles, according to the Times of Israel report.
Dinaw Mengestu, the acclaimed Ethiopian-American novelist, has resigned as president of PEN America, the free-expression organization, over a recent article by its CEO. The piece highlighted post-October 7 prejudice against Jewish and Israeli writers and expressed opposition to cultural boycotts of Israel. The Times of Israel framed the resignation as the latest anti-Zionist uproar in literature, following similar controversies at other cultural institutions. PEN America has been a flashpoint in debates over free expression and Israel since October 7, with internal divisions over how to address the Hamas attack and the subsequent war in Gaza. Mengestu's departure suggests the rift remains unresolved. No further details on his replacement or the board's response were available in the initial report.
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