Eminent Pakistani architect Yasmeen Lari has declined the prestigious Wolf Prize 2025, an award granted by Israel for outstanding achievements in science and the arts. Lari rejected the honor in protest of the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
After being nominated for the award, Lari expressed gratitude to the Wolf Foundation but firmly refused to accept it. In her letter to the foundation, she cited Israel’s atrocities in Gaza as the reason for her decision.
“The situation in Gaza made it impossible for me to accept the award,” Lari stated. “I explicitly mentioned this in my response to them.”
The Wolf Prize is an international accolade recognizing individuals in agriculture, chemistry, mathematics, medicine, physics, and the arts, including architecture, painting, music, and sculpture. It is awarded to those whose work contributes to “the interest of mankind and the promotion of friendly relations among people.”
Lari, a trailblazer in sustainable and humanitarian architecture, is widely celebrated for her work in disaster relief, heritage conservation, and social justice. Her rejection of the award underscores her commitment to humanitarian values, prioritizing the Palestinian struggle over personal recognition.
