Less than a week before the scheduled launch of the newest book by Professor Frank Füredi, the executive director of the leading conservative think tank MCC Brussels, the bookstore that previously agreed to host the event abruptly withdrew its offer, citing concerns about the “political connotation” of collaborating with MCC and the store’s commitment to being an “inclusive space.”
The event was supposed to take place on Monday, September 30th, in the Piola.libri bookstore, just a few minutes’ walk from the European Commission’s headquarters and other major EU institutions.
The think tank was notified of the cancellation in an email on Tuesday, September 24th. “After careful consideration, we have found out that the political connotation of the initiative is more strongly marked than we initially understood,” a Piola.libri representative wrote to MCC. “Our venue has always maintained a line of neutrality, … this choice allows us to ensure an inclusive space that respects all sensibilities.”
In their press release dated September 25th, MCC explained that the critically acclaimed book, The War Against the Past, explores today’s cultural crusade against Western history which is being increasingly dismissed as ‘toxic.’ “From the toppling of statues to the removal of historical terms from everyday vocabulary, Füredi examines the growing effort to cast the past in a negative light,” MCC said.
MCC’s Head of Communications John O’Brien added that the book already received widespread praise from Europe’s and America’s leading conservative intellectuals and that details about its role in the debate about the legacy of Western civilization were shared with the bookstore prior to it agreeing to host its Brussels launch.
“The decision by Piola.libri to cancel the event after previously agreeing to host it speaks volumes about the state of free speech in Brussels,” Füredi, the author and director of MCC commented. He explained:
It is ironic that just a stone’s throw away from the European Commission, a bookstore frequented by EU insiders has declared that some books are simply too dangerous to be given space. It is deeply ironic that the bookstore cited a commitment to “inclusivity”—whilst taking the decision to exclude certain viewpoints from consideration. This incident reveals the deeply censorious nature of the EU bubble and the hypocrisy that exists and thrives in Brussels and Belgium.
Furthermore, MCC employees told The European Conservative the fact that the bookstore had no initial problems with hosting the conservative think tank but abruptly canceled on the same day MCC sent out invitations to the press might suggest that it was contacted (and perhaps even harassed) by leftist journalists whose pressure then led to the decision.
Sadly, free speech battles are becoming mainstays of the Brussels experience for conservatives, as this is not the first nor the last time MCC and similar organizations have become targets of coordinated censorship efforts.
Earlier this year, three Brussels mayors tried to forcibly and illegally shut down NatCon Brussels, Europe’s largest and most prestigious conservative gathering, where both MCC and The European Conservative were co-sponsors. However, the organizers mounted a successful defense against this illegal action through a comprehensive campaign involving media outreach, political advocacy, and legal efforts
Despite the cancellation, however, the think tank insists it will hold the book launch elsewhere. “MCC Brussels is committed to defending free speech and has secured an alternative venue for the book launch, which will be revealed shortly,” O’Brien said.
