Iran’s marketing of anti-Semitic literature - The Protocols of the Elders of Zion

Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center
at the Center for Special Studies (C.S.S)

October 31, 2005

Iran’s marketing of anti-Semitic literature: anti-Semitic books in English translation were exhibited at the Iranian stand at the Frankfurt Book Fair. The anti-Semitic literature marketed by Iran spreads messages of hatred against the Jewish people and grants legitimacy to violence and terrorism directed against Israel and Jewish communities worldwide.

A “selection” of Iranian-published anti-Semitic books offered for sale at the Iranian stand at the Frankfurt Book Fair
(Center: The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, an Iranian version) (Photo: www.zombietime.com)

Iran took advantage of the international book fair held in Frankfurt to market anti-Semitic books of its own publishing. Iran 's official display stand at the fair exhibited and offered for sale (October 24) a “selection” of anti-Semitic literature published in the twentieth century in English translation.

Among the anti-Semitic publications exhibited at the fair were:

Jewish Conspiracy: The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion , published by the Islamic Propaganda Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran.


Left: an English edition of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion exhibited at the stand. Right: a page in the book featuring details on the Islamic Propaganda Organization, which published this edition (Photo: www.zombietime.com).

An Iranian abridgment of Henry Ford's anti-Semitic The International Jew, written in 1921. Along with The Protocols of the Elders of Zion , this book enjoys immense popularity in the Arab and Muslim world. ¹The foreword to the book states that “the Jewish danger, now called Zionism, is not only threatening one nation. As a matter of fact, it is directed against the entire humanity.” The Iranian abridgment was published by the translation and publishing department of Iran 's Organization of Islamic Culture.
An anti-Semitic booklet titled Tale of the “ Chosen People” and the Legend of “Historical Right”, written by Mohammad Taqi Taqipour. The booklet states that Zionism has its source in lies of the Jews being a “superior race” and that the global Islamic movement will soon destroy Israel .

The Iranian display stand at the Frankfurt Book Fair. Iran exports anti-Semitic literature, including English editions, across the globe, within the context of its efforts to delegitimize Israel and the Jewish people (Photo: www.zombieonline.com).

It should be stressed that selling inflammatory anti-Semitic literature at the fair is a blatant violation of German law. As early as last year, the organizers of the fair were criticized for allowing publishers from Arab countries to exhibit Arabic versions of books on Holocaust denial and other anti-Semitic publications. In response, the management of the fair, one of the largest of its kind in the world, claimed that due to the large number of exhibitors it could not inspect each publication presented at the fair, and that it could only take action against the exhibitors if an official complaint were filed against them.

Selling The Protocols and other anti-Semitic books in Germany , the country where the Jewish people endured the Holocaust , is another example of the systematic anti-Semitic incitement made by the Iranian Islamic regime since its inception. While the Iranian president calls for wiping Israel off the map, Iran spreads abroad books, motion pictures, TV films, and other Iranian publications, making use of prevalent myths drawn from the “classic” European anti-Semitism. Time and again, the anti-Semitic publications present Jews as plotting to take over the world, taking part, whether openly or covertly, in each and every international event or crisis, and being a threat and a danger to the whole world.

Translated into several languages and exported by Iran and some other Arab countries, ² the anti-Semitic publications are marketed to Muslim and Arab communities in Europe and elsewhere in the world, as well as to English-speaking target audiences. These publications indoctrinate Arab and Muslim communities with hatred against the Jewish people and grant legitimacy to acts of violence and terrorism against Israel and Jewish communities worldwide. By refraining from enforcing the law, European countries allow, in fact, the spread of inflammatory anti-Semitic literature originating in the Middle East to continue almost unchecked.

¹ For Arabic editions of the book published in Egypt see Information Bulletin dated April 2004: “ Anti-Semitism in the Contemporary Middle East ”.
² See within this context an Information Bulletin published by the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, titled: “ Exporting Arabic anti-Semitic publications issued in the Middle East to Britain: anti-Semitic books ( The Protocols of the Elders of Zion and Mein Kampf ) issued in Egypt and Lebanon are sold in bookstores in London” (October 10, 2005).