[ad_1]
– We reacted with consternation. We are shocked and very disappointed by the Arab Book Fair. It’s a huge trust gap now, says Malmö City Cultural Director Pernilla Conde Hellman.
Is there an explanation you can buy for how it turned out like this?
– No, currently it doesn’t exist. This is also why we are so clear and say that we are interrupting our cooperation.
The city of Malmö has a total contributed 150,000 SEK to the Arab Book Fair and is now reviewing whether it is possible to claim the money back. The Swedish Council for the Arts has also awarded the same amount in support of the fair.
– We need to find out what is behind the information, who did what and if it violates what they stated in their application and the conditions we have, says Lotta Brilioth Biörnstad, manager of the literature and library unit of the Swedish Arts Council.
Where are you in that process?
– We found out about this today, so we just started.
If it turns out that something violates the conditions?
– Then we have the opportunity to demand the return of the money, it is also indicated in the conditions when requesting a subsidy.
In a statement, Arab Book Fair writes that they were surprised when they learned of the great anti-Semitic content of the book sold through their virtual store of the fair and that they immediately contacted the publisher who sold the book and that it was later withdrawn. immediately.
Helena Stenquist Söderlin
P4 Malmöhus
