Customs services seized two works about Zionism and Israel, Algiers International Book Fair governor says
Hamidou Messaoudi. Photo: Echorouk
International Book Fair governor, Hamidou Messaoudi, which 19th edition will be launched here on Wednesday, October 29, revealed exiting details on the works that were seized by Gendarmerie services and the reserved titles, as well as complaints of publishers against paying customs’ taxation, and causes of choosing this edition’s guest of honor, which organizers faced accusations of the writer Ahlem Mostaghanemi.
Over 900 publishers from Arab, Algerian and Foreign countries participate in SILA’s 19th Edition International Book Fair. Tell us about the content of books that are presented by publishers. Did you ask them to adapt their participation with the Revolution Day celebrations?
Of course, we contacted since the beginning of the 19th edition’s preparations, Arab, Algerian and Foreign publishers, and we asked them to adapt their works with the Revolution Day celebrations, to give an importance to history and revolution, in order to give the opportunity to the Algerian reader to discover some works, this is why the participation is diverse in literature, history and philosophy, and cultural productions that are key works.
Over 70 works of Arab publishers were restrained in this edition, because, as you said in the press conference, they promote sedition and glorify terrorism. Please tell us who introduced them among Arab publishers and what are these works?
Well, “restraint” is the right term, because some media used other terms like prohibition and ban, because honestly we did not ban the participation of these works, but we restrained them, until reading up their content by the reading committee. If it is convenient with the law of 2002, and does not befall neither identity, nor religion, and does not promote sedition or glorify terrorism, it will necessarily be presented in the fair. However, if their contents contravene the conditions their presentation will be banned, according to law. Publishers who tried to interoffice those restrained works are two Syrians, and I do not remember their names, as for the stating names of works, I am not entitled to do that.
Religious works always raises controversy and media uproar. Religious Affairs Ministry complaints many times against organizers of the fair, because many works are banned without studying their contents? Could you explain this case?
To make things clearer, we should stop at an important point, which is that the fair’s management is working hard to coordinate with Religious Affairs and War Veterans Ministries, to check out the quality and content of the participating works, but sometimes the Reading Committee in charge of studying contents, judges the writer only through the title of his/her work. In this context, I assert that the committee is present throughout the fair days and is currently studying works that were banned or restrained, and if their contents do neither hold promotions of sedition, nor glorify terrorism or calls for sectarianism and harms Algeria and its Revolution in general, they will be turned back to publishers and then will be presented in the fair.
Does restraint against 70 works mean that customs services did not seize works?
Customs services seized two works about Zionism and Israel. I cannot mention the publishers who brought that works in order not to advertise them, and I am not entrusted to do that.
Some Arab publishers complained of the customs tariffs that imposed on them. Is it true and did Algerian authorities offer facilities?
Arab and foreign publishers who participate in the fair are not subject to customs tariffs and taxation, according to the law of 2000. Customs services and workers of the fair were helpful and authorities offers facilities.
USA was chosen as this year’s edition Guest of Honor. What are the reasons behind this choice? Why Syria or Libya were not chosen instead to show some support to them?
Libya and Syria are suffering violence and chaos, and we hope they will find peace and stability as soon as possible. However, we choose USA as the Guest of Honor due to the honorable position of the late President Kennedy in the United Nations about the need to encourage Algeria’s Self Determination against French colonialism, and this historical position was the real reason behind choosing America as our Guest of Honor
Was there any political reason?
No, at all because USA also Guest of Honor in some other artistic and economic events, and things have nothing to do with political decisions by Algerian high authorities, or with the changes in some Arab countries, but it is about historical reasons, as I said in the press conference, especially since the fair is adapting activity with the Revolution Day.
Besides all that, Algerian students are very interested in the English language, and are eager to discover the Congress Library Works, and kids English reads. American Writers, producers and movie screenings are also present in the fair.