Berlin, Germany: Children’s book “not antisemitic”
March 02, 2008
The anti-religious children’s book Which Way to God? Asked the Piglet by Michael Schmidt-Salomon will not be banned.
Salomon’s book, which is illustrated by Helge Nyncke, tells the tale of a piglet and a hedgehog searching for God, and takes a critical tone towards the three major religions. Especially the depiction of an angry rabbi led to concerns that Judaism was characterized overcritically and more harshly than the other religions. The German Family Ministry said the book could be antisemitic on this point and should be reviewed, but the Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons (Bundesprüfstelle für Jugendgefährdende Schriften) ruled that the book is equally critical of all three religions. Hence it could be sold and distributed in Germany.
Source: Spiegel Online, 03-06-2008 and Welt Online, 01-30-2008
