London Venue Backs Out of Hosting LRB Lecture Series Over Pankaj Mishra's Talk on Gaza

 Barbican had agreed to host the event until LRB circulated a poster on Mishra's talk, titled 'The Shoah after Gaza', scheduled for February 28.

New Delhi: 

An event venue in London, Barbican, has reportedly backed out of hosting a series of lectures organised by the London Review of Books because of a planned lecture by author Pankaj Mishra, talking about the Holocaust and allegations that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

According to The Guardian, Barbican had agreed to host the event until LRB circulated a poster on Mishra’s talk, titled ‘The Shoah after Gaza’, scheduled for February 28. The description of the talk states: “A powerful Western narrative holds the Shoah to be the incomparable crime of the modern era. But we find our moral and political consciousness profoundly altered when Israel, a country founded as a haven for the victims of genocidal racism, is itself charged with genocide. What is the fate of universal values after Israel’s collapse into violent nationalism?”

Barbican has said it had not officially finalised the decision to host the series, and LRB’s poster circulation meant it did not have time to “do the careful preparation needed for this sensitive content”.

“We carefully consider the content of all screenings, performances, talks and exhibitions hosted by the Barbican before agreeing to host them,” it said.

LRB has said it is “disappointed” by Barbican’s decision. “We were disappointed that the Barbican withdrew from hosting the lectures at a late stage but are glad that this important series is going ahead at St James church, Clerkenwell,” The Guardian quoted an LRB statement as saying.

Mishra has voiced his opposition to Barbican’s decision, saying it has “become clear that war crimes have been committed on a daily basis and powerful people who have supported the Israeli regime are doubling down on their untenable position”.

“That breeds a pervasive sense of fear and panic that infects even cultural institutions,” he continued.

In June last year, Barbican had been forced to apologise after asking a Palestinian speaker to avoid discussing “free Palestine” during an event

https://thewire.in/world/london-venue-backs-out-of-hosting-lrb-lecture-series-over-pankaj-mishras-talk-on-gaza