Wiesenthal Center Condemns Hate Literature at Panama Book Fair

August 23, 2022

Buenos Aires and Paris - For many years, the Wiesenthal Center has monitored hate exhibited at various Book Fairs. At the recent Panama Fair, copies of Adolf Hitler's “Mein Kampf” were exhibited on one stand. 

The Israeli Ambassador to Panama, Itai Bardov, raised a complaint, which led to its removal.

A few hours later, the book was back on display, claiming it as a “best seller."

Dr. Shimon Samuels, Wiesenthal Center’s Director for International Relations, stated: “From six Arab Book Fairs to the Fair of Fairs in Frankfurt, and now Buenos Aires, exhibit recidivist stands of hate. Since the Abraham Accords, governments have worked with us [SWC] in removing our findings”... Each year the SWC holds a competition for the most hateful literature. Last year, the winners were Iran for children's books between four and seven, extolling ''shehada'' - to become ‘’martyrs.’’ Best runner-up was Egypt for books on Jewish ''worldwide power.’’

“We would never have expected that in a country that values freedom and harmony such as Panama, exhibits praising monsters who carried out a criminal plan of extermination, and ironically with the burning of books. We urge the Panama Book Fair authorities to take measures in the future,” concluded Dr. Ariel Gelblung, the Center's Director for Latin America.

For further information, please contact Dr. Shimon Samuels at +336 09770158 or Dr. Ariel Gelblung at +54 9 11 49695365, join the Center on Facebook, or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent directly to your Twitter feed.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in the United States. It is an NGO at international agencies including the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).