Book Fair in Controversy – Is Genocide Being Diminished on the Cultural Stage?
FrihetsNytt / Sep 25, 2025 at 5:49 AM
One of Sweden's most prestigious cultural venues is now accused of giving space to messages that may violate the law. After headlines questioning the starvation in Gaza – in the midst of what the UN has classified as genocide – the Book Fair has been reported to police for incitement against an ethnic group.
The Gothenburg Book Fair, one of Sweden's largest cultural events, has landed in controversy after program items with headlines such as "The Fabricated Starvation in Gaza" and "UNRWA – The Link Between Terror and the UN?" were published in the official program, reports Göteborgs-Posten (GP).
It was the (((Sweden-Israel Friendship Association))) that organized the talks. After the headlines sparked strong criticism, they were changed, but the content of the program items remained unchanged.
"We reacted to the headlines. There were several that were unnecessarily provocative in their formulation," said the fair's program director Oskar Ekström to Dagens Nyheter.
Police Reports for Incitement Against Ethnic Group
Several people have now filed police reports against both the Book Fair and the (((Friendship Association))). One of the reports concerns incitement against an ethnic group, with reference to the organizers allegedly diminishing an ongoing genocide according to the complainant.
Student Taha Khatab, who is behind one of the reports, tells Aftonbladet:
"I believe they have dehumanized Palestinians, among other things through the item about the 'fabricated starvation.' A UN group has determined that genocide has occurred in Gaza, and that it is still ongoing. If you deny the starvation, you deny the Palestinians' suffering."
UN's Assessment May Have Legal Consequences
The UN Human Rights Commission recently concluded that Israel's actions in Gaza meet the criteria for genocide. According to Swedish law, it can be criminal to publicly diminish a genocide if done with the intent to express contempt for an ethnic group.
The law on incitement against an ethnic group covers, according to previous government assessments, these types of acts as well. In combination with the EU's so-called Racism Framework Decision, formulations that diminish genocide can be covered by criminal liability.
Book Fair's Responsibility Questioned
According to the Book Fair's own policy, headlines and content from external organizers are not pre-reviewed before publication. Despite this, the controversial headlines appeared in the fair's official program, where they were presented side by side with other cultural events.
The fair management has explained that they had dialogue with the organizer and subsequently chose to change certain headlines. But no requirements for changes in content were made.
The question now raised is to what extent the Book Fair, as a platform and co-organizer, bears responsibility for content disseminated in its name.
Connections to Israeli Military
Another actor who participated in the program was (((Keren Hayesod))), an organization that according to its own information collects funds for the benefit of soldiers in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). The IDF is identified in the UN report as responsible for parts of what has been assessed as constituting genocide.
Critics argue that these types of connections should have led to additional scrutiny before participation was approved.
A Cultural Arena with Limited Openness
The Book Fair is marketed as a meeting place for free debate and exchange of ideas. But recurring criticism has been directed at the fact that in practice there is limited openness for perspectives outside the established mainstream.
Several actors with system-critical or oppositional profiles have in recent years been denied space at the fair. At the same time, programs with strong connections to a state accused of war crimes have been given space – something that has raised questions about double standards.
