Five police officers and a representative from the Paris Prosecutor's Office raided a bookstore in Paris's 11th district on January 7 to seize copies of a children's book on Palestinian history. The book, titled 'From the River to the Sea: un livre de coloriage', was deemed by the French Ministry of Justice likely to incite hatred against the Israeli population. The Violette and Co bookstore condemned the action as disproportionate and an assault on fundamental freedoms.
The raid took place at Violette and Co, a feminist bookstore advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, located in Paris's 11th district. Officers inspected shelves, boxes, and storage areas for 45 minutes but found no copies of the book, as they were sold out. Instead, they issued a summons for a voluntary statement on January 22 as part of a preliminary investigation.
The Commission for Surveillance and Control of Publications for Youth (CSCPJ), under the Ministry of Justice, issued an unfavorable report on November 14, 2024. It stated that the book's content is 'susceptible to incite hatred toward a group of people, namely the Israeli population, and to harm the moral development of youth.' It also noted that it includes 'elements with strong political connotations and positions regarding the State of Israel without contextualization,' amid 'exacerbated tensions and rising antisemitism.'
The book, educational and interactive, covers Palestinian history, its people, land, culture, the Nakba, occupation, genocide, resistance, and international solidarity. Written by journalist Azad Essa and illustrated by Nathi Ngubane, it was published in January 2024 by Social Bandit Media, based in Johannesburg and New York. Part of the proceeds went to humanitarian associations in Gaza.
Violette and Co described the decision as 'unprecedented and disproportionate,' raising concerns for fundamental freedoms and signaling increased 'ideological control and political repression.' 'Independent bookstores are spaces for critical thinking, circulation of ideas, and cultural resistance,' they stated in a release.
Ian Brossat, Communist Party spokesperson, senator, and Paris municipal candidate, condemned on social media: 'This is a grave attack on freedom of expression and creation aimed at intimidating bookstores and criminalizing support for the Palestinian people.'
