January 29, 2008

Italy: Book fair boycotted by Arab writers because Israel is a guest of honor

Freedom of Expression On The Ropes Update from AKI (thanks to Insubria):

Turin, 29 Jan.(AKI) - The Union of Arab Writers has written a letter of protest at the designation of Israel as a guest of honour for the next edition of the Turin International Book Fair, Italian daily Corriere della Sera reports.

The letter slams Israel's invitation to the event - timed to mark the 60th anniversary of the Jewish state - at a time when its economic blockade is crippling the Gaza Strip, according to prominent Iraqi author Younis Tawfik, quoted by Corriere della Sera.

The Union of Arab writers has also written a letter to the Union of Italian writers, asking it to clarify its position over Israel's invitation to the Turin book fair - Italy's largest.

"In any case, this is a book fair, this is not the United Nations, it is not a political office. The Israeli writers that we invited are usually critical toward their government," said the director of Turin's book fair, Ernesto Ferrero in a response.

"The fact that other writers are talking about their freedom of expression, seems to me incredible," he added.

Indeed.