Statement on Naguib Mahfouz Prize Committee
October 4, 2025
Given the circulating information on numerous news websites, websites, and social media platforms regarding a member of the jury for the 2026 Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature, we would like to clarify the following:
Raphael Cohen is a British citizen and holds no other nationalities. Cohen has resided in Cairo since 2006.
Cohen is an activist for world peace and was a member of the International Solidarity Movement, a peaceful protest organization that supports the Palestinian cause. He has translated numerous literary texts and novels from and into Arabic; he also chaired the jury for last year's Banipal Prize for Arabic Novels Translated into English.
The judging panel, led by a designated head judge, brings together a mix of translators, academics, and literary critics, selected both for their expertise and for their commitment to devoting over a year to reading and reflection on the award submissions. The panel is renewed with every award, to ensure balance, freshness, and diversity in the judging process.
For more information about the members of the committee, please click here.