Argentine Embassy in Spain demands redress for writer Ariana Harwicz

The Argentine Embassy in Spain has taken a firm stance in the controversy concerning Argentine writer Ariana Harwicz being excluded from the CULTUR-ALH International Festival of Art, Literature and Humanities in Granada. The embassy has called upon the University of Granada to address the situation and rectify the discrimination faced by Harwicz. In their letter to the university's rector, the embassy emphasized the gravity of the incident and expressed their desire for mechanisms to be established to resolve the issue.

Harwicz, a writer from Argentina currently residing in France, was originally scheduled to participate in a dialogue titled "Opposing the World" with writer Jesús Ortega in Granada. However, following pressure from the University Network for Palestine of Granada and one of the participating book clubs, she was uninvited from the festival program.

Harwicz believes that her exclusion was due to her Jewish identity, stating that she was "unprogrammed at the last minute" and that she faced discrimination as a Jew in contemporary society.

In response, the Network issued a statement defending their actions, asserting that "we pose no danger to anyone" and that "protesting is a right and, in the face of genocide, an obligation." They quoted a post from Harwicz, where she claimed that "there is no genocide" in Gaza. The seven writers participating in the festival, including Rita Laura Segato, Lina Meruane, and María Fernanda Ampuero, supported the Network's statement, stating that they were criticizing Harwicz's public statements rather than her Jewish identity.

Despite their criticism of Harwicz's political views and her denial of the Palestinian genocide, the writers emphasized that they value her literary work and its exploration of human complexity. They accused the festival organizers of unethical behavior for inviting Harwicz and then canceling her appearance after the invitation had been confirmed. The writers also rejected the festival's explanation for the cancellation, arguing that the ethical grounds for the decision should have been made transparent.

The University of Granada has denied any involvement in the decision to exclude Harwicz, stating that it was an exclusive decision made by the festival organizers. They have distanced themselves from the situation and emphasized that they do not share the decision made by the organizers.