IN DEPTH
Freedom to publish The book fair conundrum
intellectual propert and free assembly are all of key relevance to our industry and its activities—because we can only publish our works freely and without restrictions where human rights are observed,” said the FBF in a statement. “One hundred and fort-seven nations in the world have recognised human rights, but many of them nonetheless violate these universal basic rights on a daily basis.” The anniversary will see several panel discussions on the subjects of press freedom and human rights take place at the fair, including conversations about propaganda and fake news, the Catalonian independence movement, and the possibilit of a European nation electing a Trump- like figure. Tobias Voss, vice-president of foreign affairs at FBF, says: “In recent decades, one thing was always certain and indisputable: that the political administrations in Western democracies could depend on greater support from their respective populations than could those in other state systems. Now, it seems, that certaint is over. “For one thing, a new stle of politics that likes to instru- mentalise facts has become increasingly popular—[not only] America’s President Trump. Meanwhile, new move- ments are gaining ground in many democratic countries, movements that involve populistic, right-wing, nationalist and anti-political groupings. In many countries separatist aspirations are growing in strength, while the idea of a unified Europe is being pushed to the sideline.”
Right or wrong?
The rise of right-wing populism is a contentious issue for the major book fairs: atempting to balance free speech can also provide a platform for extremist views. Last year, both the FBF and Gothenburg Book Fair faced criticism for allowing a small number of extreme-right businesses to exhibit in their halls, which led to clashes between protesters and counter-protestors at both fairs. This year, Gothenburg reversed its decision to allow extremist publishers to exhibit, with director Frida Edman telling The Bookseller that she wanted the focus to return to literature and writing rather than being on its exhibitors. Gothenburg’s four-day fair concluded on 30th September with no securit incidents. FBF, however, has stayed on the same course as last year: as a partly public-funded body, it is required to allow any firm to exhibit as long as its materials do not break German laws. Discussing the situation in Germany, Dr Jessica Sänger, legal counsel and director of European and international affairs for the BDB, says that the climate around press free- dom has changed “fairly dramatically” in recent months, with animosit towards journalists increasing in the context of predominantly anti-immigration street protests, including threats and even violence against journalists becoming far more frequent.
Among the 25-plus scheduled talks on press freedom at the fair will be an in-conversation event between “accidental campaigners”: Angela Gui, daughter of imprisoned Hong Kong bookseller and publisher Gui Minhai; and Ensaf Haidar, wife of jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi. Both Minhai and Badawi have been awarded the International Publishers Association’s Prix Voltaire, which
34 11th October 2018
Both Badawi and Gui have been awared the IPA’s Prix Voltaire [for their] important contribution to the defence and promotion of the freedom to publish
honours a person or organisation that has made an important contribution to the defence and promotion of the freedom to publish. Kristenn Einarsson, chair of the IPA’s Freedom to Publish Commitee, says: “For more than a decade, the IPA’s Prix Voltaire and its predecessor, the Freedom to Publish Prize, have honoured brave individuals and publishing companies from all over the world: from Turkey, Vietnam and Russia, to Iran, South Africa, Belorussia and Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, and despite our best efforts, the nominations for the prize keep arriving every year—a testament to the dire situation that too many publishers find themselves in.”
Te Turkey issue
One of the more intriguing of Frankfurt’s coverage of press freedom will be an event featuring “accidental activists” Ensaf Haidar top, wife of jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi; and Angela Gui above, daughter of imprisoned Hong Kong bookseller and publisher Gui Minhai
Another panel discussion taking place at the fair will focus on the situation in Turkey: a country going through huge political change. The country’s economic situation is also having far-reaching effects on its publishing industry. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has slowly tightened his grip on freedom of expression aſter thwarting a military coup in 2016. Since then, 29 publishers have closed, as have three news agencies, 16 TV stations, 23 radio stations, 45 newspapers and 15 magazines. Nermin Mollaoğlu, owner of the Istanbul-based Kalem
Agency, told The Bookseller that the political situation has thrust citizens into an “economic war”. She said that as a result, Turkish publishers will be more risk-averse and will publish more and more Turkish authors. As 50% of the nation’s domestic books market is translated work, the political situation is profoundly changing the landscape of the country’s publishing scene, she said. Mollaoğlu predicts that fewer Turkish publishers will
atend FBF, and that they will be buying fewer books—and for less money. “There will be no place for young editors who need experience. This is sad,” she added. Mollaoğlu said the situation would mostly affect writers as: “they are the ones who get more abused. They earn less money and get their royalties later than usual.”
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