Pro-Israel author name removed from Karachi Literature Festival following Feminist Collective protest

The Feminist Collective, a group supporting women’s rights, wrote a letter expressing their disagreement with the Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) inviting pro-Israel author Ronya Othmann as a guest speaker. The festival organizers have now removed Othmann’s name from the list of speakers on their website.

Othmann, based in Germany and associated with Mari Petroleum Company Ltd, was initially invited for two talks on February 17 and 18, for her book “The Summers” and a poetry reading titled “Beyond the Seas.” The Feminist Collective, including prominent figures like actors Sarwat Gillani and Rasti Farooq, raised concerns about Othmann’s history of making problematic comments against Islam and Palestine.

The Collective pointed out instances where Othmann, during a panel discussion by the German newspaper TAZ, labeled Muslim immigrants, including Palestinians, as “jihadists” and “terrorists.” They also highlighted her criticism of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which aims to oppose Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.

Othmann’s tweets on her X (formerly Twitter) account were mentioned, where she equated support for the Palestinian resistance to anti-semitism. The Collective accused her of perpetuating Israeli narratives, including the claim that Hamas uses Gazans as human shields, and sharing Islamophobic content.

Expressing their dissatisfaction, the Collective demanded the immediate cancellation of Othmann’s participation in the event, along with a public apology to the Palestinian people and all conscientious Pakistanis. They urged KLF to refrain from engaging in ‘two-siderism’ and stop giving legitimacy to Zionist discourse.

The Feminist Collective warned of a boycott of the festival if their demands were not met. In response to the controversy, KLF updated its website, confirming that Ronya Othmann would not be attending and that her sessions had been canceled.