Nazi books on sale – update

| Friday, 2 December 2005 Source: Searchlight

WH Smith has also been selling nazi books online, The Jewish News revealed on 1 December. Journalists at the London-based weekly followed up Searchlight's exposé that Tesco was selling antisemitic titles such as The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion and the writings of hardline nazis including Arnold Leese, William Joyce and Lincoln Rockwell.

Since Searchlight's revelations Tesco has withdrawn all the books from publishers Steven Books and Liberty Bell and expressed regret that the books had found their way onto its website. However Amazon UK has refused to end its own sales of these books, some of which are libellous. Searchlight complained to Amazon even before our investigation of Tesco but we are still awaiting a satisfactory explanation.

Searchlight has been informed that nazi hate music is also available on at least one major website.

Searchlight has taken its concerns to the Commission for Racial Equality, which has promised an early reply from a senior legal adviser. We have also contacted the Holocaust Educational Trust and the all-party parliamentary group against antisemitism, because material of this type instigates hatred which can end in murder.

The Jewish News has apologised to Searchlight for omitting to recognise Searchlight's role in uncovering the scandal, which was the result of a subediting error. Zeddy Lawrence, the editor, wrote to Searchlight:

"I just wanted to thank you for all the assistance you gave us with regard to our front page story this week, and for prompting our initial quest to look into the sale of anti-semitic literature on the WH Smith website.

"The work carried out by Searchlight is truly invaluable, not only in uncovering the original Tesco story, but in combating the dissemination of fascist and racist material wherever it occurs.

"I want to take this opportunity to assure you that when the piece was originally written we did credit the input of Searchlight. However, unfortunately, when the article was subbed to fit the available space in the paper, this was accidentally one of the lines that was cut out. There was certainly no intention to take credit away from you or your organisation.

"We shall certainly ensure that any follow-up to the story mentions the involvement of Searchlight."