# Ariana Harwicz exclusion from Granada festival > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/ariana-harwicz-exclusion-from-granada-festival > Updated: 2026-09-25T16:06:00.000Z. Sources: 34. Developments: 3. Argentine author Ariana Harwicz was removed from the Cultur-ALH International Festival of Art, Literature, and Humanities in Granada, Spain, following pressure from pro-Palestinian activist groups, specifically the Red Universitaria por Palestina (RUxP). Organizers, including directors Patricia Escalona and Ana Gallego, cited concerns for Harwicz’s safety and the potential for protests to disrupt her scheduled talk, ‘Oponerse al mundo’. The pressure stemmed from Harwicz’s refusal to support a cultural boycott of Israel. Harwicz rejected accusations from activists that she supported the extermination of the Palestinian people, calling such claims a fallacy based on “decontextualized words.” She criticized the festival organizers for having “yielded to the pressure of militants” and “yielded to terror,” describing the event as a victim of “mechanisms of harassment and extortion.” She further suggested her Jewish identity played a role in her exclusion, alleging religious and ethnic persecution. The controversy has intensified as opposing factions of the literary community mobilize. While over 350 intellectuals previously signed a manifesto defending Harwicz and calling for a defense of pluralism, a new, larger group of more than 500 cultural figures has signed a counter-manifesto titled ‘Posicionamiento colectivo por Palestina: el negacionismo fuera de los espacios literarios’. Promoted by Mexican writer Dahlia de la Cerda, this document includes signatories such as Cristina Rivera Garza, Alejandro Zambra, and Paul B. Preciado. These supporters argue that the boycott is not censorship but a form of collective action, maintaining that cultural workers have the right to refuse to share spaces with positions they deem to be “denialist or justificatory of violence against the Palestinian people.” University of Granada authorities and festival organizers have maintained that the decision was based on ideological grounds and a perceived lack of coherence with human rights, rather than antisemitism. ## Claims - The organizers of the CULTUR∴ALH festival in Granada boycotted Argentine writer Ariana Harwicz. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Ariana Harwicz's alleged support for the Israeli genocide in Gaza was decontextualized and manipulated. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Bob Dylan's 1983 song 'Neighborhood Bully' from the album Infidels is a defense of the state of Israel. (corroborated by 5 sources) - Ariana Harwicz claims she was excluded from the festival due to her Jewish heritage and political stances. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The University of Granada stated the exclusion was based on ideological reasons and human rights concerns, not antisemitism. (single source) - Organizers informed Harwicz they could not guarantee her safety at the event. (single source) - Harwicz supports the Netanyahu government's policies regarding Gaza and the West Bank. (single source) - A group of writers issued a letter supporting the right of institutions to exclude those who exceed limits of free expression. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-25: Ariana Harwicz excluded from Granada literary festival Argentine author Ariana Harwicz was excluded from a Granada literary festival due to her views on Israel and Gaza, sparking a global debate between supporters of the boycott and defenders of free speech. 16 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ariana-harwicz-boycotted-by-granada-festival-over-gaza-controversy ### 2026-09-23: Ariana Harwicz exclusion from Granada festival sparks international outcry Argentine novelist Ariana Harwicz was removed from a Spanish literary festival following pressure from pro-Palestinian groups, prompting a solidarity boycott by author John Banville and a manifesto from 350+ de 11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ariana-harwicz-excluded-from-granada-festival-following-activist-pressure ### 2026-09-19: Ariana Harwicz removed from Granada festival following pressure Argentine writer Ariana Harwicz was removed from a literary festival in Granada, Spain, following pressure from pro-Palestinian groups regarding her stance on the cultural boycott of Israel. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ariana-harwicz-removed-from-granada-festival-following-pressure --- Cite as: Ariana Harwicz exclusion from Granada festival. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/ariana-harwicz-exclusion-from-granada-festival