Frankfurter Buchmesse 2006 leider auch dieses Jahr nicht frei von Antisemitismus

TEIL 1 – Presseerklärung des Simon Wiesenthal Centers…  
 

1. SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTER – Wiesenthal Centre Works with Frankfurt Book Fair to Identify Exhibitors Who Incite to Hate and Violence
   Frankfurt, 6 October 2006 – Newly appointed Frankfurt Book Fair Director, Jürgen Boos, met with the Simon Wiesenthal Centre last Spring to cooperate in expelling hate from this year’s Fair.
   In a letter of 19 September, Boos assured the Centre’s Director for International Relations, Dr. Shimon Samuels, that he had „coordinated in good time with the Public Prosecutor’s office and the Security Commissioner’s Department (Staatschutzkommissariat) in order to ensure that no works identified as containing incitement to violence, or as defamatory, are exhibited at the Frankfurt Book Fair“.
   Samuels personally monitored the first two days of the Fair (4 and 5
   October) and congratulated Boos, stating that „in comparison with the 2004 Fair that honoured the Arab World, and 2005’s Iranian display of antisemitic texts – indeed, 2006 registers a considerable decrease in hate on the shelves.“
   Samuels reported to the Fair’s Director, emphasizing that „This makes those cases of abuse of your regulations even more glaring, for hate has, unfortunately, not been completely eliminated.  I attach photos that I have taken of the following offensive texts:

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     At Stand 5.0.A908 of the Arab Institute for Research and Publishing of Beirut, Lebanon, a book entitled, ‚American Israeli or Israeli American?‘, by Housni Ayish, 2006, the cover depicting the Statue of Liberty holding a Jewish ritual candelabrum.
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     At Stand 5.0.B908 of the General Egyptian Book Organization of Cairo, a book entitled, ‚Jews in Nineteenth Century English Literature‘, 2006, the cover depicting a top hat in a Star of David. This seemingly anodyne literary study is replete with antisemitic stereotypes, taken from period authors, with the clear intent to demonize the Jews of today.  The same Stand also exhibits ‚The Influence of Globalization upon Our Lives‘, by Mohammed Nawar, 2006. The cover illustrates the planet gripped by American hands with the United States devouring other continents.
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     At Stand 5.1E953, The Association of Press and Publicity of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey exhibits three antisemitic conspiracy theory editions based upon the notorious Tzarist forgery, ‚The Protocols of the Elders of Zion,‘ often described as ‚a warrant for genocide.‘  These are:
     
     • ‚Buyuk Israil Stratejisi‘ (The Greater Israel Strategy) by Hikmet
       Erdoglu, published by IQ Kulturçanat Yayicçik, Istanbul 2005.  Portraying hostile stereotypes, the text is a saga of Jewish plots against Turkey.
     • ‚Israil in Sifresi‘ (The Password of Israel) by Hakan Yilmaz Çebi,
       published by Pegasus Yayinlari, Istanbul 2006.  It is argued that the Torah reveals, through the alphabetic code, how the Mossad is preparing a Third World War.  The countries that will supposedly be destroyed by Israel include Turkey.
     • ‚JudaSofya: Hidden Intrigues Behind the Aya Sofya and the
       Patriarch‘ also by Hakan Yilmaz Çebi and published by Pegasus Yayinlari, Istanbul 2006.  How the Jews are manipulating the return of the Aya Sofya Mosque of Istanbul to Greek control.

     This case is most troubling in that this is a Turkish government sponsored display, when Turkey has just been selected to be the 2008 Honouree of the Frankfurt Book Fair.

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     Perhaps more insidious yet are children’s storybooks ubiquitously depicting Stars of David as the bogey monsters of infant nightmares:
     These are clearly presented on Stand 5.0.D938 of the Palestinian Territories where the Tamar Institute for Community Education, Ramallah, offers a series from 2003 to 2005 of „Stories for Palestinian Children“ during the Intifada.
   • Similarly, Stand 5.0.D940 of Asala of Beirut, Lebanon, displays „War in My City“, 2006, which also demonizes Jewish symbols.
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     On German book stalls at the Fair’s entrance, there is a semi-hidden array of Nazi memorabilia (books, prints, postcards) and some neo-Nazi pamphlets, such as on the attached photo ‚USA: Traum oder Albtraum?‘ (USA: Dream or Nightmare?) by Martin Luther II. It shows President Bush manipulating a terrorist’s puppet in one hand, and an Ariel Sharon wearing a Kippah, waving a Star of David missile.“
   The report to Boos continued, „These publications surely contravene German law on incitement and defamation and, as per your request, we are happy to share these findings with the Hessen Public Prosecutor, Jörg Claude.“
   The Centre urged the Director „to advise those exhibitors, clearly identified above, that, in view of their abuse of contractual obligations and your good faith, they will be excluded from the 2007 Frankfurt Book Fair.“
   Samuels concluded, „By setting this example, the next Fair may become truly hate-free.“
   For further information, please contact Shimon Samuels at +33.609.77.01.58.
   PHOTOS COPYRIGHT SIMON WIESENTHAL CENTER / SHIMON SAMUELS

1. Wie auch schon in den Jahren zuvor, werd auch dieses Jahr wieder verschiedene Nazi-Schriften, Postkarten, Briefmarken und andere Memorabilia unmittelbar vor dem Haupteingang, an einem offiziellen Handelsstad, zum Verkauf angeboten….
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2. Auf Anfrage ob der Händler noch anderes habe, zog er einen Stapel weiterer Dinge unter dem Ladentisch hervor. Hierzu zählte, u.a. die nachfolgende „nette“ Postkarte. Tatsächlich findet sich alles mögliche auf und unter dem Verkaufstisch….
   Auf die Frage, ob dies nicht illegal wäre, teilte der Mann mit, daß er eigentlich die Hakenkreuze abkleben müßte, aber daß die Karten dann ja nicht mehr so „schön“ und wertvoll wären….
   
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