Germany: Anti-Semitic books displayed at Frankfurt fair - Qatari, Palestinian, Egyptian and Iranian publishers are top offenders

- “Worst Offender 2014” goes to Qatar for fomenting conspiracy theories and Jew-hatred
- “Runner-Up” goes to Palestinian Islamist Bait al-Almaqdes Centre
- “Hate-Free” commendation goes to Turkey for 3rd consecutive year

Anti-Semitic books displayed at Frankfurt fair, watchdog says Qatari, Palestinian, Egyptian and Iranian publishers said to be the top offenders at world’s largest publishing gathering.

For the 12th year, the Simon Wiesenthal Centre is the only non-governmental organization to monitor anti-Semitic hate and incitement to violence on the display stands of the Frankfurt Book Fair.

At the opening press conference, Fair Director, Juergen Boos, acknowledged the growth of “hate, xenophobia and alienation,” calling for “an inspirational Fair based on respect for cultural mobility.” However, his response to an Iranian journalist seemed discordant: “We are present in Tehran [Book Fair] and really wish to showcase Iranian publishing here in Frankfurt.”

“Discordant”, in that for the last five years the Wiesenthal Centre Director for International Relations, Dr. Shimon Samuels, has reported to the Director on Iranian children’s literature displayed on governmental stands extolling war, terrorism, suicide and martyrdom, again repeated this year.

More: Simon Wisenthal Center