A renowned philosopher of Germany, Juergen Habermas was named ‘Cultural Personality of the Year’ 2021 on the website of the United Arab Emirates’ so-called prestigious Zayed Book Award. However, the award in recognition to the Habermas’ career extending for over half a century was rejected by him. Reversing his previous decision, the 91-year-old said that he will not accept the award over political concerns.
Named after the Emirates’ first president, Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Zayed Book Award is a literary honor given to some extraordinary intellectual, writers and publishers. Habermas’ award fell in a high-priced category of over $272,000 (1 million dirhams), which is more that rest eight categories with a cash prize of $204,200 (750,000 dirhams).
The 2021 award ceremony was arranged online by the organizers, where the winners were to be awarded later in May. On May 2, Habermas stated through a news site Spiegel Online, “I declared my willingness to accept this year’s Sheikh Zayed Book Award. That was a wrong decision, which I correct hereby.”
German’s prominent contemporary philosopher, Juergen Habermas is an advocate of critical social theory, popular for his writings on topics that are completely opposite to what the UAE follows. His papers on democracy, morality and, in particular, human rights have been influential enough to stir debates beyond the boundaries of Germany.
As he shunned the award, Habermas said, “I didn’t sufficiently make clear to myself the very close connection of the institution, which awards these prizes in Abu Dhabi, with the existing political system there.”
Emirati organizers expressed their regret on the rejection that came as a blow to their efforts of portraying the country as tolerant. The UAE has been under a self-imposed pressure to be globally influential and sustain economically. For past few years, it has been taking up a number of initiatives to present itself as a progressive nation on an international stage.
However, the Emirates’ reality has frequently brought it back to zero. The country is known for detaining and torturing dissidents and human rights defenders; ill-treating the migrant workers; its sportswash and mediawash attempts; and for being a hub of corruption and money laundering.
