Author Jhumpa Lahiri praised for rejecting NYC museum award over keffiyeh ban

Social media users around the world have showered praise on Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri after she declined to accept an award on Wednesday from a New York City museum that fired employees for wearing keffiyehs, the black-and-white chequered scarf that has become a symbol of Palestinian solidarity.

The author was due to receive the Noguchi Museum's prestigious 2024 Isamu Noguchi Award, which recognises highly accomplished individuals who share Japanese-American sculptor Isamu Noguchi’s spirit of innovation, imagination and commitment to creativity. 

However, a statement emailed by the museum on Wednesday said that “Jhumpa Lahiri has chosen to withdraw her acceptance of the 2024 Isamu Noguchi Award in response to our updated dress code policy. We respect her perspective and understand that this policy may or may not align with everyone’s views.”

In August, the Noguchi Museum, which was founded almost 40 years ago by the artist Isamu Noguchi and is in the borough of Queens, fired three employees and announced they could not wear clothing or symbols that express overt political messages, slogans or symbols during office hours.

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