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Mein Kampf has proven popular throughout the Arab world.
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| By Associated Press March 19, 2005 |
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In Turkish bookshops, there's one best seller that some book shops are hesitant to put on the shelves next to the rest.
New paperback versions of Adolf Hitler's "Mein Kampf" have suddenly become top sellers in Turkey, raising questions about whether the sales reflect growing anti-Semitism and anti-American sentiment in this Muslim country, or if it's just curiosity and a cheap read.
The books were printed without the permission of the Finance Ministry of the German state of Bavaria, which handles the book's copyright. The ministry said Friday that it had asked Germany's federal Foreign Ministry to instruct diplomats in Turkey to investigate possible lawsuits in an attempt to prevent the continued publication of the books.
Hitler wrote Mein Kampf -- "My Struggle" -- in the 1920s, filling it with anti-Semitic diatribes and his strategy for world domination.
Tens of thousands of copies of the book have sold in Turkey in recent months since at least two cheap paperback versions were released.
Many people are not sure why they're such hot sellers.
Analysts point out that many in this Muslim country are angry over the violence between Israelis and their fellow Muslim Palestinians. There is also increased frustration with U.S. policy in neighboring Iraq and in general in the region. Some say the book sales are a reaction to Turkey's bid to join the European Union.
But others point out that the book can be purchased for as little as 6 new Turkish lira ($4.50) and many Turks may simply be curious.
Bavaria was designated guardian of Hitler's estate by victorious World War II allies, and said it remained vigilant about the copyright.
"The book "Mein Kampf" should not be reprinted," Bavarian Finance Minister Kurt Faltlhauser said in a statement. "The state of Bavaria administers the copyright very restrictively to prevent an increase of Nazi ideas."
The Bavarian ministry is asking the embassy in Turkey through the Foreign Ministry to "examine the initiation of legal steps," the ministry said.
Lina Filiba, executive vice president of Turkey's Jewish Community, called the popularity of Hitler's book "disturbing" but said price and curiosity due to prominent media attention were major factors.
She added the sales were part of a "worrying trend" with anti-Semitic publications -- such as the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion," a 19th-century anti-Semitic tract -- even on sale in bustling department stores.
"I think there's an increase in anti-Semitic, anti-American, and anti-foreigner feeling that have paralleled (the) Dec. 17" decision by the European Union to open membership talks with Turkey, Filiba said.
The country's top seller, "Metal Storm," is a novel about a fictional war between Turkey and the United States. Conspiracy theory books are popular sellers and the press is extremely critical of the United States and Israel.
At least two publishing houses, Emre and Manifesto, have released cheap versions of Hitler's book this year.
Oguz Tektas from Manifesto said it had printed 30,000 copies of the book -- a relatively large number for Turkey -- and had sold at least 25,000 so far.
"It has nothing to do with anti-Semitism. Our only aim was commercial," he said.
A company list of best sellers across Turkey listed the Emre edition of the book as the No. 4 four top seller for the D and R bookshop. Officials from the Remzi bookstore confirmed the book was among its top 40 sellers.
But that doesn't mean the shops are comfortable with the book. In one D and R shop in Istanbul, the book couldn't be found with the other best sellers, but was instead on a lower shelf.
"That's where they told us to put it," said saleswoman Nihan Bora. Still, "it's selling a lot."
At the Dost bookshop in Ankara, the book was on a high shelf, far out of reach, where the cover featuring a picture of Hitler, can't be seen. The manager said he was selling about five books a day and added they intentionally were not including it in the best sellers section.
"I saw the book on TV and got curious about Hitler's life and decided to buy it," said Asli Ugur, 20, a university student, who also bought a book about Cuban revolutionary Che Guevera.
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