Dar Al Jadeed Publishing House is 2021 IPA Prix Voltaire laureate

The International Publishers Association’s Freedom to Publish Committee has awarded Lebanese publishing house Dar Al Jadeed to receive the 2021 IPA Prix Voltaire. The Beirut-based company was chosen from a shortlist of five nominees, who have all been recognized for their exemplary courage in upholding the freedom to publish and enabling others to exercise their right to freedom of expression.

Dar Al Jadeed Publishing House was cofounded in Beirut, Lebanon, in 2000 by Lokman Slim and his sister, Rasha al Ameer, to publish cultural works free from ideological conflict or partisanship. In February 2021, Lokman Slim was murdered after a campaign of threats and intimidation over his efforts to bring greater freedom of expression and open dialogue to Lebanon. Bodour Al Qasimi, President of IPA, said, “This year’s Prix Voltaire laureate paid the ultimate price standing up for freedom of expression as an enabler of tolerance and conflict resolution in Lebanon. His loss is a loss to the entire international publishing community.”

The IPA has also announced a Special Award for Chinese author Li Liqun (pen name Li Huizi), an Independent Chinese PEN Center member who took his own life on 23 July 2021.