Regula Ventskis unexpected departure from Pen International as Secretary General stirred headlines this week. The Hamburg-native stepped down due to a contentious disagreement with the writers' association's stance on the Middle East conflict.
The turning point came with a controversial statement from Pen's London Secretariat at the beginning of October, which Ventskis found profoundly disheartening and disturbing. "The lack of empathy towards the victims of the Hamas massacre left me both shocked and dejected," she shared.
In addition, Ventskis felt she had limited influence over Pen International's press releases, a role that carried significant importance in shaping the association's public narrative. What's more, she was dismayed by the prolonged delay in Pen Israel's inclusion process, a matter she believed required immediate attention.
Following her resignation, Ventskis was the President of Pen Center Germany from 2017 to 2021. She took on the position of Secretary General at Pen International in the fall of 2022.
Pen Germany subsequently issued a press release, emphasizing the devastating impact of Hamas' aggressive attack on Israel, acknowledging the victims, and reaffirming commitment towards fostering unity.
The profound disagreement over the Middle East conflict and its subsequent consequences ultimately led Ventskis to part ways with Pen International, leaving the writers' community to reflect on the significant implications of her departure.
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