Renowned Indian author and activist Arundhati Roy accepted the prestigious PEN Pinter Prize, using the platform to highlight the struggles of Kashmiris and Palestinians. At a ceremony held at the British Library in London, Roy honored the courage of Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah and expressed solidarity with oppressed communities worldwide, including those in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine. The award recognizes exceptional writers who uncover truths about society through their literary merit and intellectual determination. This year, Roy shared the honor with Egyptian-British activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah, who has been imprisoned in Egypt for his courageous stance against oppression. Abd el-Fattah’s case highlights the state of free speech in Egypt, resonating with Roy’s advocacy for the oppressed in India and Palestine. Roy’s acceptance speech was a powerful manifesto, speaking for Abd el-Fattah and countless political prisoners worldwide. She expressed solidarity with imprisoned Indian journalists, activists and intellectuals, naming Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam and Khurram Parvaiz. Roy’s voice conveyed pain and determination to keep their stories alive. “Greetings to you, my friends and comrades in prison in India—lawyers, academics, students, journalists,” she said, naming several Indian prisoners such as Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, and Khurram Parvaiz, among others. … Continue reading Arundhati Roy accepts PEN Pinter Prize for Palestinian, Kashmiri causes