Frankfurt Book Fair concludes amid political tension

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Frankfurt Book Fair, the world's most significant publishing event, was marred by chaos and violence over the appearance of a right-wing politician and publishers on Saturday.

A visit by a prominent member of the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) led to violent scenes a day before it concluded.

AfD member Bjoern Hoecke was there to attend the presentation of the book "Mit Linken Leben" ("Living with Leftists"), by the hard-right publishing house Antaios.

Before AfD made its way to the parliament following a stunning victory in the September elections, Hoecke stirred up a controversy earlier this year by attacking the Holocaust Monument in Berlin as a "monument of shame." He also said Germany should stop atoning for its guilt over World War II.

The rise of the right-wing populists has left the mainstream political parties and a wide section of the population concerned, the latest example of which was seen at the 69th Frankfurt Book Fair.

Dozens of leftist protesters shouted "Nazis out" while counter-demonstrators responded with “Everyone hates Antifa”, referring to the radical left-wing anti-fascist movement, according to the German media.

Police intervened to separate rival demonstrators.

Nico Wehnemann, a member of the anti-political group Die Partei, tweeted this photo claiming an attack by far-right populists. /Twitter Photo

A reading by two authors from the right-wing extremist Identitarian Movement was dropped after they got drowned out by protesters, AFP reported, quoting German news agency DPA.

A member of the anti-political group Die Partei, Nico Wehnemann later claimed that he was attacked near a right-wing stand. He said in a tweet that a neo-Nazi punched him and then he was pushed to the ground by private security as police looked on.

In another violent incident, music producer Achim Bergmann, head of the left-wing Trikont record label, was attacked near the stand of right-leaning weekly Junge Freiheit (Young Freedom), Germany's popular tabloid newspaper Bild reported.

Antaios, the small publisher behind the bestselling book "Finis Germania", Latin for "The End of Germany", complained earlier this week that some of its books were stolen and others smeared with toothpaste and coffee in apparent protest actions.

The organizers were slammed for providing a platform to right-wing populists, but the organizers defended their decision, saying "the Frankfurt book fair thrives on the diversity of opinion and is a space for free dialogue."

They also condemned the tumult calling it "the targeted provocations" between "left- and right-wing groupings."

"Books as weapons"

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron opened the fair on Tuesday. At the opening, Macron said, "Books are the best weapons."

"Without culture, there is no Europe," he said, adding that "Identity of the language lives through the confrontation with other languages."

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron opened the fair. /Reuters Photo

France is the guest of honor at the fair this year.

At least 7,150 exhibitors from 106 countries, around 278,000 visitors and approximately 10,000 accredited journalists, of which 2,400 are bloggers, are attending the fair, according to the organizers.

The German author Thomas Wagner, the activist Gerald Hensel and the former editor-in-chief of the Turkish opposition newspaper Cumhuriyet Can Dundar spoke at different events.

Dundar, who faces imprisonment in Turkey, added to the political theme in a talk about writing in exile, exemplifying Turkey's crackdown on freedom of expression in the wake of last year's failed coup.

He urged EU governments not to turn their backs on Turkey as the rift with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan widens.

Celebrated Turkish novelist Asli Erdogan was also in attendance. She was held for four months on "terror propaganda" charges.

Wagner and Hensel discussed the identity of the new right.

Margaret Atwood, Dan Brown and Nicholas Sparks were among the other authors who attended this year.

Participation of the Chinese publishers

More than 170 exhibitors from China are also taking part in the fair. About 70 Chinese publishing houses took more than 2,000 titles to the five-day fair.

The Chinese pavilion of the 69th Frankfurt Book Fair in Frankfurt, Germany, on Oct. 11, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

The books displayed by Chinese publishers have centered primarily on those introductory publications on the Communist Party of China (CPC), and on the country's latest economic and social developments.

The CPC will hold its 19th Congress on October 18.

Dozens of activities on book launches, copyright transfers and seminars on various topics were arranged in the China publication exhibition areas, reported China Daily.

Holger Volland, vice president of the Frankfurt Book Fair, said Chinese exhibitors are very welcome at the Frankfurt Book Fair.

"Each year, more Chinese publishing houses are coming to Frankfurt," he was quoted by Xinhua News Agency as saying.

He lauded the professionalism of the Chinese exhibitors.