Salman Rushdie Receives Prestigious German Peace Prize

June 20, 2023

Salman Rushdie, the renowned British-American author, has been awarded the prestigious German peace prize for his outstanding contributions. The Peace Prize of the German Book Trade jury recognized Rushdie as a passionate defender of freedom of thought and expression. This honor comes about a year after the harrowing attack he experienced.

Margaret Atwood Joins the Campaign

During a campaign in May 2017, Margaret Atwood, the Canadian author, joined Salman Rushdie to draw attention to persecuted authors facing censorship. Atwood, known for her dystopian novel “The Handmaid’s Tale,” was herself awarded the peace prize in 2017. She was recognized for her keen political intuition and profound perceptions in sensing dangerous developments.

Institution and Tradition

The peace prize was instituted five years after the Second World War with the intention of honoring those who oppose anything that endangers peace, understanding, and equality among nations. The suggestion to establish a foundation for the peace prize came from Hans Schwarz, an author who was impressed by the work of Max Tau and jokingly remarked that Tau deserved a peace prize. The first-ever peace prize was indeed awarded to Max Tau.

Frankfurt’s St. Pauls Church: The Venue

Traditionally, the peace prize is awarded at Frankfurt’s St. Pauls Church, a place of historical significance in Germany. This church hosted the Frankfurt National Assembly, the first freely elected parliament for all German states, in 1848.

Recent Awardees

In 2021, amidst the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the peace prize was awarded to Serhiy Zhadan, a renowned Ukrainian writer and musician. Zhadan’s humanitarian stance and his efforts to help those affected by the war were highly appreciated.

In 2020, the peace prize went to Tsitsi Dangarembga, a Zimbabwean novelist and filmmaker. Dangarembga’s trilogy of novels highlighted the struggle for dignity and self-determination among women in Zimbabwe.

The 2019 peace prize was conferred upon Amartya Sen, an economist and philosopher. Sen was honored for his groundbreaking work on combating social inequality and promoting global justice.

These distinguished individuals have left an indelible mark on their respective fields, using their voices and works to champion peace, justice, and freedom of expression. Their contributions serve as an inspiration to many and remind us of the importance of upholding these values in our world today.

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