Author Jhumpa Lahiri rejects Noguchi Museum award in protest of keffiyeh ban in NYC | Coverage of Israel-Palestine conflict

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri has declined to accept an award from New York City’s Noguchi Museum after it fired three employees for wearing keffiyeh head scarves, an emblem of Palestinian solidarity. The museum’s dress code policy prohibited employees from wearing clothing or accessories with political messages, slogans, or symbols.
Lahiri withdrew her acceptance of the 2024 Isamu Noguchi Award in response to the museum’s updated policy, stating that it did not align with her views. The museum expressed respect for her decision, acknowledging that the policy may not align with everyone’s perspective.
The controversy surrounding the keffiyeh head scarf has intensified, with supporters seeing it as a symbol of Palestinian self-determination while critics label it as a sign of extremism. Recent incidents, such as the shooting of three students in Vermont and the firing of a Palestinian-American nurse in New York City, have highlighted the divisive nature of the scarf.
Lahiri and Korean-born artist Lee Ufan were scheduled to receive the Isamu Noguchi Award at the museum’s upcoming gala, but Lahiri’s refusal to accept the award has sparked a discussion on freedom of expression and political symbols in the arts. The museum has stated that Ufan is still set to receive the award, despite the controversy surrounding its dress code policy.

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