German Books Association retains Maha El Hissy as jury member

The Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels has decided to retain Maha El Hissy as a juror for the German Book Prize. This decision follows calls for her removal by Uwe Becker, the antisemitism commissioner for the state of Hesse.

Critics have targeted El Hissy due to her political writings, with allegations that her essays contain stereotypes that demonize Israel. The controversy has sparked debate regarding the intersection of political activism and literary judging within the German cultural sector.