Jhumpa Lahiri Rejects Noguchi Museum Award Over Keffiyeh Ban Controversy

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author declined the award after the museum fired employees for wearing keffiyehs, citing a new dress code policy.

Jhumpa Lahiri declined the 2024 Isamu Noguchi Award in protest of the museum's ban on keffiyehs, a symbol of Palestinian solidarity.
The Noguchi Museum's dress code policy, introduced in August, prohibits employees from wearing clothing or accessories with political messages.
Three museum employees were terminated for violating the ban, leading to protests and accusations of censorship and discrimination.
The museum defends the policy as a measure to prevent alienation of its diverse visitorship and maintain focus on Isamu Noguchi's art and legacy.
Lahiri's decision has intensified the debate over the museum's policy, highlighting broader tensions around expressions of solidarity with Palestinians.