A group of more than 400 cultural figures from across the political spectrum have called on British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer and Interior Secretary Yvette Cooper to suspend the ban on Palestinian actions on free speech reasons.
Novelist Alan Hollinghurst, author Leni Ed Lodge and musician Brian Eno are among those who signed the joint statement organized by Fossil Free Books. “It doesn’t matter whether we support Palestinian actions or not. What is at stake here is the principle of freedom of expression,” reads the statement.
Pankazi Mishra has signed a statement as well as the recent book, “The World,” which reacted to the effects of the war on Gaza, with journalists George Monbiot, Economist Vallowfakis, comedian Frankie Boyle, authors Aja Barber and Maxar Pore Hirsch.
In another letter hosted by Palestinian British artists, another group of well-known British cultural figures, including actor Tilda Swinton and musician Paul Weller, said, “The real threat to the lives of our nation comes not from Palestinian actions, but from Yvonne Cooper’s efforts to ban it.”