AP Reports The Alexandria Library has withdrawn the first Arabic translation of the “Protocols of the Elders of Zion” from an exhibit after U.N. cultural officials questioned the display of the 19th century anti-Semitic tract.
In a statement faxed to The Associated Press on Saturday, library director Ismail Serageldin denied allegations that the book was displayed next to the Jewish holy book, the Torah.
“The book was promptly withdrawn from public display. But its very inclusion showed bad judgment and insensitivity, and an internal hearing is underway to determine whether further action is to be taken,” read the statement, which was dated Thursday.
Just like Caliph Umar
According to the rumour, Caliph Umar ordered the burning of the entire collection of the library of Alexandria in 640 CE. He supposedly rationalized it thusly: “If these writings of the Greeks agree with the Book of God they are useless and need not be preserved; if they disagree, they are pernicious and ought to be destroyed.”
Replace “Book of God” with “politically correct thinking”.
Re:Just like Caliph Umar
The display was supposed to show Jewish holy books. “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion” is not a Jewish holy book. It’s a forgery made by the government of Czarist Russia. Nobody is saying the book should be banned, but it has no part in a display of Jewish holy books.
Re:Just like Caliph Umar
According to the article by Mr. Hussein that was reprinted at MEMRI. However, the Associated Press article carried in SFGate and the Guardian UK article paint entirely different pictures. One of them quotes Ziedan as saying “Protocols” is a silly book. Aside from all that, the work wasn’t in an exhibit open to the general public, it was only open to academics. I chalk this one up to another case of ultra-left wing censorship, myself. One being led by the Simon Weisenthal Center in Paris. “Protocols” is totally bogus and we’ve known that since about 1939 when it underwent a court review in Switzerland. It should suffice to merely point that out and ensure the work is not being misrepresented as factual. They didn’t do that. The only credit in this incident seems to go to — wossname, the UNESCO director — who seems to have written that letter to seek clarification of the situation but not to interfere. Although AP might have failed to quote any demands he made for removing the book.
Re:Just like Caliph Umar
[quote]It should suffice to merely point that out and ensure the work is not being misrepresented as factual.[quote]
I agreee with this. If they had displayed the book with an indication that it is a forgery, I would have no problem with that. However, there is no indication library officials did that. The director only called it a silly book in a statement after the uproar.
Not only did they not label it as a forgery, they may have placed it next to a Torah and claimed it was a Jewish holy book. As you say, accounts differ.
MEMRI quotes an interview that the director, Dr. Ziedan, published in an Egyptian newspaper al-Usbu’, on Nov. 17:
[quote]When my eyes fell upon the rare copy of this dangerous book, I decided immediately to place it next to the Torah. Although it is not a monotheistic holy book, it has become one of the sacred [tenets] of the Jews, next to their first constitution, their religious law, [and] their way of life. In other words, it is not merely an ideological or theoretical book.[/quote]
Only after the uproar did Dr. Ziedan say the book was not placed next to a Torah.
Re:Just like Caliph Umar (formatted)
This is how my post should have looked:
Fang-Face wrote:
I agreee with this. If they had displayed the book with an indication that it is a forgery, I would have no problem with that. However, there is no indication library officials did that. The director only called it a silly book in a statement after the uproar.
Not only did they not label it as a forgery, they may have placed it next to a Torah and claimed it was a Jewish holy book. As you point out, accounts differ.
MEMRI quotes an interview with the director, Dr. Ziedan, that was published in an Egyptian newspaper al-Usbu’, on Nov. 17:
Only after the uproar did Dr. Ziedan say the book was not placed next to a Torah.