Egyptian Goethe laureate returns medal over Germany’s support for Israel

Egyptian painter Mohamed Abla returned the German Goethe Medal awarded to him in 2022 for supporting Israel during its assault on Gaza, now in its sixth month

Egyptian painter Mohamed Able, the first Arab artist to receive the highest medal awarded to artists by Germany, has returned the German Goethe Medal.

Stating that he has been following Germany’s position on the Gaza war and that he is very saddened by it, Able said, “The demonstrations in Germany were not enough to change the conscience of the German government to change its position. Moreover, Berlin has been the second largest arms supplier to Israel in the Gaza war from the beginning,” Able said.

Noting the contradiction between the principles Germany stands for and the positions it takes, the Egyptian artist said: “I felt that Germany’s position is completely inconsistent with the principles of the medal, which stands for equality, justice, and working to consolidate relations between people and promote human values. With this position, the German government is saying that ‘Palestinians as human beings do not deserve to defend themselves for freedom.’ I felt there was a contradiction here.

That’s when I decided to return the medal. At the very least, I wanted to warn the German government about its contradictory position. How can it talk about humanity when it gives weapons to Israel that slaughter humanity?”

Able said he returned the Goethe Medal to the German Embassy in Cairo last week, adding that the German Foreign Ministry contacted him and explained the reasons for his insistence on returning the medal.

Able emphasized that it is necessary for artists and intellectuals to take a position that expresses their dissatisfaction and rejection of what is happening in Gaza.

Egyptian artist Able emphasized that the reasons for Israel’s actions in Gaza are due to the lack of a strong rejection against them.

Source: Newsroom