Algiers 20th International Book Fair: “Extremism and violence works to be barred from participation”
Books that affect the state icons and national sovereignty will not participate in the International Book Fair, Governor of the 20th International Book Fair, Hamidou Messaoud, said.
“The 2002 Act, which strictly barred the participation of the books that affect the symbols of national sovereignty, will prevent the exhibition of books that are offensive to the revolution and the Algerian state’s icons. Our Commission prevented the book of “Mein Kampf” by Hitler from participation, because observers to the book market consider it exaggerated, and this was decided in 2002, and books that promote violence, extremism and terrorism will never participate in the International Book Fair.”
“Body that oversees the prevention of books is a ministerial committee that is made up of a representative of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Interior and local groups, the Customs Directorate and other ministries.”
“This committee is beyond my domain and I have no responsibility on it.”
“Preparations are under way for the opening of the 20th International Book Fair, as the Fair’s governorate is keen to prepare stands for exhibitors and participants, and the transfer of their books to their stands. Cultural program for France, which is the guest of honor of this edition, is ready.”
It should be noted that the independent commission in charge of monitoring the titles that will participate in the 20th International Book Fair in Algeria had announced on a list of books that are banned from participating in the activities of the event, which kicks off on October, 27, as 111 works of Arab and foreign publishers, including Egyptian, and 40 works of Jordanian publishers were prevented from participation because they speak about the “Zionist entity” icons, and they promote Freemasonry Zionism.
French titles were also barred from participation along with a number of books that enter in the framework of the 2002 law application, which affect in one way or another the national sovereignty or promote various forms of chaos and violence.