Watan-The Bosnian writer Lana Bastasic stated that she believes it is her ethical duty to terminate her contract with her German publisher due to their silence on the Israeli war on Gaza.
In a post on Instagram, the author of the novel “Catch the Rabbit” stated that her decision comes despite the fact that the German translation of her book has provided her with many opportunities, readings, festivals, and writer residencies, according to the Middle East Eye newspaper.
Bastasic added that her publishers, S Fischer Verlag, exhibited examples of double standards. She wrote regarding the publisher’s announced concern about anti-Semitism: “It is ethically questionable as it seems blind and deaf to the suffering of the Palestinian people in the same region.”
She cited the publisher’s website page as an example, which aims to highlight the persistence of anti-Semitism in their books and expresses opposition to non-Semitic thinking and action after the October 7th attack on Israel.
The writer pointed out the publisher’s disregard for the Israeli bombing of Gaza, which resulted in the death of at least 24,000 people, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
In her statement, she wrote: “It is politically irresponsible because it only pours oil on the fire by equating every Jew with the current Israeli government, making this world more dangerous for those who claim to protect them.”
Bastasic also mentioned that her decision comes amid the silencing of Jewish artists, writers, and scholars in Germany since October 7th, where some have lost their jobs or faced harassment for speaking out about Gaza.
She added, “I cannot in good conscience continue to be published by a house that blatantly betrays German Jews while claiming to fight anti-Semitism.”
Departure Due to Persecution
Leaving due to persecution, Bastasic’s family left Croatia due to persecution in the 1940s, forcing them to move to northern Bosnia and Herzegovina.
She states that she witnessed the mistreatment of Muslims and their persecution by the Serbs here, while buildings were destroyed, and people were killed on a large scale.
She now says that there are many similarities with what is happening in Gaza.
In an article published by The Guardian in November, she stated that the comprehensive Israeli bombardment and collective punishment of civilians and children in Gaza led to a humanitarian crisis in the region. Nevertheless, any mention of this in Germany is described as anti-Semitic.