Wiesenthal Centre to Geneva Book Fair President: "It is Sad That, So Near to UN Headquarters' Debate on Racism, This Exhibit is Promoting Hate Literature"

Geneva, 

In a letter to Geneva Book Fair Organization President, Pierre-Marcel Favre (Fondation Orgexpo), the Simon Wiesenthal Centre's Director for International Relations, Dr. Shimon Samuels, explained his annual cooperation "with the authorities of the Frankfurt Book Fair to ensure the removal of hate literature that violates exhibitors' contracts and European provisions on incitement."

The letter noted that Samuels, "while participating in the Preparatory Commission for the United Nations Durban Review Conference on Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, took the opportunity to attend the opening of the Geneva Book Fair."

He expessed astonishment "to find, among the speakers, a reported Holocaust revisionist, chief-editor of the Egyptian daily Al-Ahram, Mohammed Salmawy," adding that "as Egypt is the Book Fair's Guest of Honour, I visited the official Egyptian stand (Flaubert 1), where I was confronted with a Star of David covered volume entitled "Israel: its Actions and Words?" by Dr. Nahmet Ahmed Fouad, published by Nahdet Misr (Revolutionary Egypt), Cairo. The book claims to expose the conspiracy and provide advice for a solution."

The letter continued, "on the same stand, was displayed "The Jews in the Opinion of their Critics" by Dr. Abdelwahid Al-Masiri, published by El-Ain, Cairo, 2008. This is a collection of distorted Jewish views and Arab stereotypes." (See photo below)

Samuels pointed to the "Alternative Village" section of the Book Fair, where, at the Collectif Urgence Palestine (stand 2.10), he purchased a guidebook entitled "Palestine et Palestiniens" in French (with English and Spanish versions also available), published by Groupe de Tourisme Alternatif, Ramallah, 2007. (See photo below)

He stressed "this detailed handbook includes chapters on Tel-Aviv, Haifa, the Galilee and the Negev desert as territories ostensibly under Palestinian sovereignty. This Hamas-worldview book is a truly self-fulfilling prophecy for Iranian President Ahmedinejad's genocidal plan to 'wipe Israel off the map'."

The Centre urged "the confiscation of the abovementioned books and, after investigation, cancel your contract with their respective publishers, if they are, indeed, in violation of Swiss policy favouring a two-State solution to the Middle East conflict. They also, apparently, contravene Swiss obligations to the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe regarding incitement to antisemitism."

"It is sad that, so near to the United Nations' Headquarters, where a debate on combating racism is proceeding, the Geneva Book Fair is – even by omission – promoting it," concluded Samuels.

For further information, contact Shimon Samuels at +33 6 09770158

For further information, contact Shimon Samuels at +33 6 09770158