Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri has withdrawn her acceptance of the 2024 Isamu Noguchi Award after New York City’s Noguchi Museum dismissed three employees for wearing keffiyeh headscarves, a symbol of Palestinian solidarity, in response to its newly updated dress code.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the museum confirmed that Lahiri decided to decline the award due to its dress code policy, which bans the display of political messages, slogans, or symbols. The keffiyeh has been widely recognized as a symbol of Palestinian self-determination, worn by many during global protests against Israel’s war in Gaza. However, supporters of Israel argue that the scarf can also be interpreted as a sign of support for extremism.
The museum, founded by Japanese American sculptor Isamu Noguchi, faced criticism for its policy, which led to the firing of the three employees. Lahiri, known for her Pulitzer Prize-winning book Interpreter of Maladies, joins a growing list of individuals taking a stand against actions seen as suppressing Palestinian solidarity.
This incident comes amid rising global tensions over the Israel-Gaza conflict, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced nearly all of Gaza’s population following a deadly attack by Palestinian Hamas militants on Israel in October.
Other institutions in the United States have also faced backlash for actions related to the conflict. In May, a New York hospital dismissed a Palestinian American nurse after she referred to Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide during an acceptance speech.
The controversy continues to spark debates on the balance between workplace policies and political expression, as well as the broader implications of solidarity with Palestine.
