Key facts
- Waverley library in Sydney has returned the book "How to Sell a Genocide" to its shelves.
- The book was initially removed for review after a complaint from a survivor of an antisemitic attack.
- The State Library of New South Wales intervened, reminding the council of its obligations.
- A petition advocating for the book's return garnered nearly 2,500 signatures.
- The book critiques the US media's alleged complicity in the destruction of Gaza.
Waverley library in Sydney has reinstated the book "How to Sell a Genocide" to its shelves following a public campaign and intervention from the State Library of New South Wales. The book, which critiques the US media's alleged complicity in the destruction of Gaza, was initially removed for review after a complaint from a survivor of an antisemitic attack at Bondi.
The State Library of NSW wrote to Waverley council, reminding it of its obligations under library guidelines and legislation that reinforces the independence of collection development. A spokesperson stated the library supports free and equitable access to information, acknowledging that some materials may not align with personal views but upholding the right to access information.
Ramia Abdo Sultan, a lawyer and board member of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, helped organise a change.org petition signed by nearly 2,500 people, calling for the book's return. She confirmed the library manager notified staff that the book was being reinstated, with 21 people already on the waiting list.
Author Adam Johnson welcomed the decision but criticised the council for not disclosing the specific complaint that led to the removal. He expressed hope to uncover this through legal channels and highlighted concerns about the suppression of pro-Palestine speech in Australia.
Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive officer of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, had previously supported the book's removal, stating it had no place on library shelves near the site of the Bondi attack. However, Bart Shteinman of the progressive Jewish Council of Australia argued the book should never have been removed, calling book bans detrimental to literary freedom and the fight against antisemitism.
Nasser Mashni, president of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network, expressed concern that a single complaint could lead to the removal of a book about the situation in Palestine, urging resistance to such efforts. Multiple human rights groups have stated Israel's actions in Gaza amount to genocide, a claim Israel denies.