The Prosecutor has filed the case of Mein Kampf and the two copies requisitioned they have already returned to Lfree Ideasbut the police intervention of November 7 remains under internal review. Esteve Sala i Yeray Hernandezthe two young dependents that they go live the facts to the bookstore in Escaldes-Engordanyappeared yesterday before the body’s investigators to explain how the confiscation took place. They have not filed a complaint: have formalized a verbal complaint so that the management has their account before deciding whether to take measures. The return of the books has not ended the commercial impact either: Pamela Mendez, owner of Book Ideasassures that the bookstore now has thirty reservations, that there are many people asking for the book and that “in the coming weeks more copies will be sold than in the last forty years“. Police sources recognized yesterday the diarywhile the workers declared, that “the individualized performance of a person does not represent the values of an institution like ours“.
The workers they arrived at police offices at 12:10 p.m and they left shortly before two o’clock in the afternoon. They testified separately and the investigators transcribed their explanations, a procedure that, according to roomwas extended due to the need to write and review the demonstrations. “We filed a complaint about the agent’s attitude and how it all unfolded“, he explained at the end. They also questioned the legal foundations of the withdrawal. “By the time it was made public I think it already had more weight than anything that is taken privately”, he added to justify that they have not reported it. room he positively assessed the treatment received in this new appearance and remarked that the investigators collect information to raise it to the management. They have not spoken to the officer who originated the notice nor do they know if there will be any disciplinary consequences. “We are waiting for them to continue with their internal processes“, he pointed out. The decision on eventual actions now corresponds to those in charge of the body, not to the officials who have given a statement.
The bookseller’s version
The version that room has moved in writing to diary rebuild an evening that began “like any other“. Around the 19.50 hours on Saturdayone man entered the store with his wife and two childrens. According to the young man’s story, one of the children noticed him Mein Kampf and asked if it was legal. The man checked his cell phone, went out and made a call. Then he returned, photographed the two specimens, “he identified himself as a policeman by showing his license plate” and stated that the sale of the book “it was illegal“. He warned he would send a patrol. Sala says he moved the books out of the customers’ view and looked for information to verify the claim. When he asked the officer to show him the plate again to document identification, he tried to take a picture of it with his phone. According to his testimony, the officer waved the device away from him.”The phone didn’t fall to the ground or get damaged, and the gesture didn’t cause me any physical harm. However, I experienced that reaction as an intimidating situation“, he writes. He assures that the cameras recorded the movement, but that they do not have audio.
Sala and Hernández after reporting the facts to the police, yesterday.
The man entered i leave the establishment several times until a patrol arrived with two uniformed agents. These photographed the specimens and the entire shelf, identified the clerks and took the books away. Sala maintains that they were not given any proof of withdrawal. He distinguishes, however, that first interaction from the subsequent treatment: “The two uniformed officers maintained a cordial relationship with us.“He remembers that they were told that the volumes would be at the disposal of the court so that their legality could be assessed. The Prosecutor ended up filing the proceedings and the police returned the books on Tuesday. The director, Bruno Lasneapologized by phone to Mendez and asked that the facts be documented. Sala defends that “the presence of a book on a shelf does not constitute, by itself, an ideological adherence to its content”. He insists that he is not looking for personal revenge against the first police officer: “I don’t want to claim punishment or attribute responsibility that is not for me to determine.” For roombookstores must also facilitate the critical study of historical documents. The criminal case is closed, but the review of the performance continues without a public conclusion.
THE KEYS OF THE CASE
- Formal complaint, but no complaint. Booksellers Esteve Sala and Yeray Hernández testified separately to the police yesterday to explain the action of the agent who ordered the removal of the two copies of Mein Kampf.
- Open internal investigation of the facts. Although the Prosecutor’s Office has filed the case and the books have been returned, the police continue to examine the facts. Management will have to assess whether to take measures against the agent involved.
- Thirty reserves and increased interest. The bookstore claims that the controversy has sparked interest in the text to the point of accumulating thirty reservations. He expects to sell more copies in the coming weeks than in the last forty years.
