Pakistani architect Yasmeen Lari rejects Israel’s Wolf Prize
AP :
Prominent Pakistani architect Yasmeen Lari has rejected the prestigious 2025 Wolf Prize in architecture, citing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza as her reason.
The Wolf Prize, awarded in Israel since 1978, honors outstanding contributions in science and the arts, aiming to promote global achievements and international goodwill. It is presented in six categories: agriculture, chemistry, mathematics, medicine, physics, and an arts award that alternates among architecture, music, painting, and sculpture.
Lari, known for her work at the intersection of architecture and social justice, expressed her gratitude for the recognition but declined it due to what she described as the “continuing genocide in Gaza.”
“I made it clear in my response to them that I could not accept the award given the situation in Gaza,” she told Arab News.
Her decision comes amid continued Israeli attacks in Gaza, which have killed eight people in the past 24 hours, according to Palestinian officials. Despite a fragile ceasefire, Israel has suspended essential supplies to the territory, pressing Hamas to extend the truce. While Israel demands the release of half the remaining hostages in exchange for further negotiations, Hamas insists on addressing issues like the withdrawal of Israeli forces and a lasting peace agreement.
The conflict, which erupted after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, has claimed over 48,000 Palestinian lives, mostly women and children, and left Gaza’s infrastructure in ruins.
Lari, a champion of sustainable and humanitarian architecture, has dedicated her career to addressing the needs of marginalized communities. She co-founded the Heritage Foundation of Pakistan in 1980 with her husband, Suhail Zaheer Lari, and has since contributed to constructing over 50,000 self-built shelters and 80,000 eco-friendly stoves using natural materials. Her commitment to sustainable, low-carbon architecture earned her the Royal Institute of British Architects’ Royal Gold Medal in 2023.
“Declining the award was the least I could do,” Lari said, emphasizing her stance on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.