Regula Venske, once the revered President of Pen Center Germany and current Secretary General of Pen International, has decided to step down from her position. This shocking announcement came just days after Pen International released a statement regarding the ongoing Middle East conflict, a move that left Venske feeling disillusioned and disheartened.
Upon reading the statement, Venske was struck by a profound lack of empathy shown towards the Israeli victims of the Hamas massacre on October 7. This emotional disconnect deeply affected her, causing feelings of shock and depression. Finding herself with minimal influence over Pen International's press releases further added to her discontent.
What's more, the lengthy delay in the integration of Pen Israel into the wider association did not sit well with Venske. She believed that this lapse time was unacceptable and questioned the role of Pen International in shaping its public statements, thereby highlighting the association's potential biases.
In response to the ongoing conflict, Pen Germany released its own statement, condemning Hamas' violent attack on Israel, expressing sorrow for the war victims, and emphasizing the importance of fostering dialogue and unity. The organization played a pivotal role in promoting peace and understanding during troubled times.
Prior to her tenure with Pen International, Regula Venske served as the President of Pen Center Germany from 2017 to 2021. Faced with differing views on the Middle East conflict within Pen, she decided to part ways with the association, citing the aforementioned reasons as key motivators for her departure.
Though the specifics of Venske's resignation have not been fully disclosed, the lack of showcase for Israeli suffering and delays in Pen Israel's inclusion in the association likely played significant roles, potentially leading to internal dissent within Pen International.
