Controversy erupted at Cairo International Book Fair as some of the goers rejected selling of books by Muslim cleric Sheikh Youssef al-Qaradawi at Dar al-Shorouq pavillion, resulting in its withdrawal.
Ahmed Megahed, head of the General Egyptian Book Organization, said, “The organization is against the confiscation of books, however, we did not prevent Dar al-Shorouq from selling Qaradawi’s books. It withdrew all his books from the fair after people objected to its selling.”
Meanwhile, the Culture Ministry said in a statement it did not prevent selling of Qaradawi’s books saying “the incident is the first of its kind that people refuse selling of Qaradawi’s books at the fair’s pavillion. People rejected two books for Qaradawi at which he declared his hostility to Egypt and its people.”
“Some people rejected the presence of books by this man, who has not denied his affiliation to the terrorist Muslim Brotherhood,” the statement added.
“We believe in freedom of expression and thought. We do not set conditions to control the publishers except for foreign books, which are the only ones that go under regulations and laws organizing their participation by Arab or foreign publishers who show their works at the fair. These [Qaradawi] books were shown at Dar al-Shorouq without notifying the ministry and GEBO.”
In related news, tight security measures have been imposed at Cairo International Book Fair on Sunday causing congestion at the gates in light of the increasing goers who lined up since the morning.
Central security elements and armored vehicles, explosive experts were present on site.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
