And I thought we were crazy.
The Egyptian pavilion has been shut down at the Tehran International Book Festival (TIBF) for offering The Arabian Gulf Encyclopedia, the Tehran Times reports. After all, it’s a book “promoting the false, misleading and recently-concocted name of Arabian gulf in place of the correct, long-established and historically-documented name of Persian Gulf.”
Says TIBF international section director Mohammadreza Vasfi:
Arabian publishing companies are unaware of our sensitivities on this issue, so we face similar problems every year during the TIBF.
Well. You’d think they’d get a clue.
Apparently, the Italian pavilion was also shut down. In fact, they didn’t even show up, “due to their indiscipline.”
Says Vasfi:
Due to their indiscipline, Italian publishing companies are not interesting enough to be invited to international book fairs, including the TIBF.
Thanks to The Complete Review for digging this up.
I couldn’t believe this when I read about it in the news! Why shut down the whole Egyptian pavilion? Why not just remove the offending book, charge a fine if need be. But removing everything?! No fun.
But Bernie, that wouldn’t send the proper message, which is apparently, Either play our way or don’t play at all!