Authors protest Gothenburg Book Fair
Photo: Fredrik Sandberg/TT

Authors protest Gothenburg Book Fair over Sweden-Israel Friendship Association appearance

In a debate article in Aftonbladet, seven authors from the writing collective Bröd och Rosor question whether the Sweden-Israel Friendship Association is once again being allowed to participate in the Gothenburg Book Fair.

“Why has the Book Fair, after last year's criticism and after itself intervening against the wording in the association's programme, once again decided to let the organisation exhibit?”, the authors ask.

They specifically mention the decision to give space to Jonathan Conricus, a former spokesman for the Israeli army, who has, among other things, questioned the number of civilian deaths in Gaza.

According to the debate article, the director of the Book Fair, Oskar Ekström, has referred to freedom of expression and to the fact that each exhibitor is editorially responsible for their own programme items, but that "all exhibitors are reviewed."

The authors are critical of that review, "especially considering that the Book Fair this year made public education a main theme and highlighted disinformation as a threat to public discourse," they write.

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AuthorTT News AgencyEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for our readers
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