Peter Carey among writers to protest PEN honour for Charlie Hebdo

[Shah Nister Kabir]

Writers withdraw from literary and human rights organisation’s American Center gala, citing objection to award for the French satirical magazine
PEN announced on Sunday that the writers were upset by Charlie Hebdo’s portrayals of Muslims and “the disenfranchised generally”. The Paris-based magazine, at whose offices 12 people were killed in a January attack, is to receive a Freedom of Expression Courage award at the 5 May event in Manhattan. Much of the literary community rallied behind Charlie Hebdo after the shootings, but some have expressed unhappiness with its scathing cartoons of the prophet Muhammad and other Muslims.

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/books/michael-ondaatje