Jhumpa Lahiri refused the award

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri has turned down an award from New York City's Noguchi Museum. In 2020, he won the Pulitzer for his book Interpreter of the Maldives. The museum authorities fired three staff members for wearing keffiyeh scarves in solidarity with the Palestinians. In protest, Jhumpa Lahiri refused their award. Jhumpa Lahiri declined this year's Isamu Nguchi Award due to our updated dress code, the museum said in a statement on Wednesday. We respect his point of view and understand that not everyone's opinion may align with our policies. The museum, founded by Japanese-American sculptor Isamu Noguchi, changed its policy last month. It says that workers cannot wear any clothes that contain political messages, slogans or symbols. At this time, three workers were dismissed.