SHAH ALAM - Karangkraf Books Group Sdn Bhd has decided to withdraw from participating in the Frankfurt Book Fair (Frankfurter Buchmesse) 2023, scheduled to take place in Frankfurt, Germany.
Chairman Firdaus Hussamuddin announced that this decision was prompted by their dissatisfaction with the event organiser, who issued a public statement expressing support for Israel and intertwined political matters with the book festival.
"The organiser's public support for Israel in the ongoing conflict in Palestine was inappropriate, especially given the participation of numerous publishers from Muslim countries.
"A book festival should be a peaceful event, free from external political concerns. Books should be a source of wisdom and shared knowledge," Firdaus said today.
Frankfurter Buchmesse Director Juergen Boos had previously expressed solidarity with Israel on Instagram and criticised Hamas leaders' actions as violating human rights.
Subsequently, the Malaysian Education Ministry and Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) announced their withdrawal from the event, scheduled to run from Oct 18 to 22.
Firdaus further stressed that Karangkraf was also concerned about the safety of their participants if the withdrawal had not been immediate. She pointed out that despite incurring a substantial financial loss, ensuring the safety and well-being of their team remained their top priority.
"The hotel where we planned to stay in Frankfurt is situated very close to the Main Central Station or the city centre.
"In the event of any demonstration, even if it is peaceful, it could still jeopardise our safety.
"When it comes to safety, we sometimes consider that money can be earned, but life is irreplaceable," she added.