The Gothenburg Book Fair faced criticism over controversial panel titles by the Sweden-Israel Friendship Association, leading to police reports and title changes. The original titles, accused of promoting conspiracy theories, were replaced after backlash.
Controversial Titles Removed from Gothenburg Book Fair
Controversial Titles Removed from Gothenburg Book Fair
At the Gothenburg Book Fair, the Sweden-Israel Friendship Association planned panel discussions with titles like “The Fabricated Starvation in Gaza” and “UNRWA, the Link Between Terror and the UN?”. These titles faced criticism and were reported to the police, according to Dagens ETC. The titles have now been changed.
– This is completely appalling that people refuse to face the truth, says Christina Toledano Åsbrink, who is set to lead the discussions.
The Gothenburg Book Fair kicks off this week, and the Sweden-Israel Friendship Association is organizing several booth talks during the event.
With titles such as “The Fabricated Starvation in Gaza” and “UNRWA, the Link Between Terror and the UN?”, various debaters and experts were set to converse. The program points were met with criticism, which Dagens ETC was the first to report.
– They accuse the UN of terrorism. It’s about conspiracy theories in this case, that Palestinians control the world, says Taha Khatab, a master's student at the University of Gothenburg and active in GU Students for Palestine, to the newspaper.
Reported to Police
According to him, both the fair and the association have been reported to the police for incitement against a group of people following the titles.
Several of the titles have disappeared from the book fair's website after ETC's interview. “The Fabricated Starvation in Gaza” has become “What Happens to All the Aid to Gaza's Inhabitants?”. Also, “UNRWA, the Link Between Terror and the UN?” has been replaced with “How Does UNRWA Work?”.
On the Sweden-Israel Friendship Association's website, the original titles for the book fair remain.
Unaware of Title Changes
Christina Toledano Åsbrink, residing in Israel and a member of the association, is the one who will lead the panel discussions. She has not been informed about the title changes.
– I am supposed to lead these discussions, and I really hope I am not boycotted. This is completely appalling that people refuse to face the truth. In Israel, we have democracy where you can say almost anything as long as you don't threaten anyone, she says.
The book fair commented on the Sweden-Israel Friendship Association's participation and the titles to ETC.
– We do not support those titles. We have reacted to them ourselves. We are seeking dialogue with the organizer, says Maria Rogstad, the book fair's communications manager to ETC.
Association Changed the Titles
Maria Rogstad tells Expressen that it was not the Book Fair that changed the titles but the Sweden-Israel Friendship Association. After the criticism, the fair sought contact with the association.
– In that dialogue, the organizer chose to update the titles, she says.
– We reacted to these formulations in the titles that were strongly polarizing, and in the current situation, we talked to the organizer to see if something could be adjusted, and the organizer then chose to do so, says the Book Fair's communications manager Maria Rogstad.
Expressen is seeking the Sweden-Israel Friendship Association.