Publisher appeals ban on bin Laden book

Jean-Charles Brisard, co-author of the book, feels he's been deprived of his freedom of expression Keystone

The German publisher, Pendo, has decided to appeal against a Swiss ban on a French book about the Saudi dissident, Osama bin Laden.

Pendo’s publication was banned by a court in Geneva on Friday, following a complaint filed in December last year by the millionaire half-brother of Osama bin Laden, Yeslam Binladin.

“We’re going to use all legal means to ensure that the book be made available everywhere,” said Pendo’s Ernst Piper.

Pendo, which wants to publish “Bin Laden, The Forbidden Truth”, is responsible for the book’s translation into German, as well as its distribution in Germany, Austria and the German-speaking part of Switzerland.

The French language version of the book in Switzerland, which is edited by the French publishers, Denoël, has also been blocked as a preventive measure. It is a best-seller in France.

“I am profoundly indignant,” said Jean-Charles Brisard, co-author of the book with Guillaume Dasquié. “I feel as any author would who’s been deprived of his freedom of expression.”

Brisard, who defends the book’s contents, said his work was not a hypothesis, but based on facts.

Bin Laden half-brother

Binladin, who has lived in Geneva for the past 20 years, accuses the book’s authors of defamation. He is seeking SFr20 million in damages after the authors claimed he was in contact with his half-brother.

Binladin’s lawyer, Jürg Brand, said the allegation that his client was in contact with a “known terrorist”, could prejudice Yeslam Binladin’s ability to conduct business for the next 10 to 20 years.

The lawyer said that Binladin’s accounts were examined by an independent trust company following the September 11 attacks in the United States. No evidence of a compromising relationship was found, he said.

Copies available

Despite the ban, some copies in German are available in Switzerland, because they were delivered before Friday’s ruling.

At least 20,000 copies of Pendo’s book have been sold – 10,000 of which were destined for the Swiss-German market. However, no copies were distributed in the French-speaking part of Switzerland.

swissinfo with agencies