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Arab News
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistani architect Yasmeen Lari turns down Israel's Wolf Prize over ‘genocide' in Gaza
KARACHI: Renowned Pakistani architect Yasmeen Lari has refused to accept the prestigious Wolf Prize 2025 in the field of architecture over the 'continuing genocide' of Palestinians in Gaza, she confirmed on Tuesday. The Wolf Prize is an international award granted in Israel since 1978 to living scientists and artists for their 'achievements in the interest of mankind and friendly relations among people.' It is awarded in six fields, including agriculture, chemistry, mathematics, medicine, physics, and an arts prize that rotates between architecture, music, painting and sculpture. Lari, who works in the intersection of architecture and social justice, wrote to Wolf Foundation that she was grateful for the honor, but could not accept it 'in view of the unfortunate continuing genocide in Gaza.' 'I declined the award because of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, a reason I explicitly stated in my response to them. Given the current situation in Gaza, accepting the award was out of the question,' she told Arab News. The development came as Israeli fire killed eight people in the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours, Palestinian officials said on Tuesday, even as a fragile ceasefire with Hamas has largely held. Israel last week suspended supplies of goods and electricity to the territory of more than 2 million Palestinians as it tries to pressure Hamas to accept an extension of the first phase of their ceasefire, which ended on March 1. Israel wants Hamas to release half of the remaining hostages in return for a promise to negotiate a lasting truce. Hamas instead wants to start negotiations on the ceasefire's more difficult second phase, which would see the release of remaining hostages from Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli forces and a lasting peace. Hamas is believed to have 24 living hostages and the bodies of 35 others. Israel's war on Gaza, which began after Oct. 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas, has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, a majority of them women and children. The 15-month Israeli military campaign has laid waste to the Gaza Strip, destroying hospitals, schools and entire residential neighborhoods. 'Declining the award was the very least I could do,' Lari told Arab News. Lari is known for her socially conscious works on humanitarian grounds and for catering to the spatial needs of Pakistan's most marginalized communities. She co-founded the Heritage Foundation of Pakistan with her husband, Suhail Zaheer Lari, in 1980, and has constructed over 50,000 sustainable self-built shelters and over 80,000 ecological cooking stoves using natural materials like mud, lime, and bamboo. The philanthropic architect, who advocates that traditional construction techniques can lead to low-impact carbon-neutral buildings, was awarded the prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects Royal Gold Medal in 2023 for her humanitarian work.
Express Tribune
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Pakistani architect Dr Yasmeen Lari refuses Israel's Wolf Prize over Gaza genocide
Lari's refusal follows escalating violence in Gaza, with Israeli fire killing eight Palestinians despite a fragile ceasefire. PHOTO: FILE Listen to article Renowned Pakistani architect Yasmeen Lari has turned down the prestigious Wolf Prize 2025 in the field of architecture, citing the "continuing genocide" of Palestinians in Gaza. Lari confirmed her decision on Tuesday, explaining that she could not accept the award due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Wolf Prize, granted annually in Israel since 1978, honors living scientists and artists for their achievements in various fields, including architecture. The award aims to promote "friendly relations among people" through recognition of contributions to humanity. In her letter to the Wolf Foundation, Lari expressed her gratitude for the honor but made it clear that accepting the award was "out of the question" given the situation in Gaza. Lari's refusal comes amid escalating violence in Gaza. In the past 24 hours, Israeli fire killed eight Palestinians, according to Palestinian officials, despite a fragile ceasefire with Hamas. The ongoing conflict has resulted in over 48,000 Palestinian deaths, many of them women and children. Israel's military campaign, which began after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, has led to widespread destruction, including hospitals, schools, and residential areas in the Gaza Strip. The acclaimed architect, known for her socially conscious work, has long advocated for socially responsible architecture, particularly for marginalized communities. She co-founded the Heritage Foundation of Pakistan in 1980, through which she has helped build sustainable shelters and ecological cooking stoves using natural materials. In 2023, Lari was awarded the prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects Royal Gold Medal for her humanitarian contributions. 'I declined the award because of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, a reason I explicitly stated in my response to them," Lari said in an interview with Arab News, adding that her decision to turn down the award was "the very least I could do."
