NEW DELHI: Renowned Indian novelist and activist Arundhati Roy has announced she will not attend the Berlin International Film Festival, citing strong objections to comments made by the festival’s jury president, Wim Wenders.

Roy said that her decision was prompted by Wenders’ remarks concerning the situation in Gaza. She argued that such statements discourage open discussion about crimes against humanity.

In her statement, Roy said that artists, writers, and filmmakers have a responsibility to speak out against injustices happening “before our eyes.”

She accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians and argued that support from countries such as the United States and Germany makes them complicit in the conflict.

Wenders had previously responded to a question about Germany’s support for Israel by stating that filmmakers should remain separate from politics. He suggested that once filmmakers begin making political films, they effectively enter the political arena.

The controversy has sparked debate within cultural circles about the role of artists in addressing global political issues, particularly at major international platforms such as the Berlin International Film Festival.