Tintin Book Embroiled In Race Row

Updated: 15:48, Thursday July 12, 2007

A High Street bookshop chain is moving an edition of children's favourite Tintin to its adult section following a complaint of racism.

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The Commission For Racial Equality had called on the Borders chain to pull Tintin In The Congo from its shelves.

It said the illustrated book - which has been the subject of controversy for years - had the potential to offend many people.

A spokeswoman said: "This book contains imagery and words of hideous racial prejudice, where the 'savage natives' look like monkeys and talk like imbeciles.

"How and why do Borders think that it's okay to peddle such racist material?

"Yes, it was written a long time ago, but this certainly does not make it acceptable."

The CRE was contacted by a Borders customer who saw the book in a London branch of the chain last month.

A spokesman for the store said it was moving the Tintin book from the children's section to the adult graphic novels area.

"Naturally, some of the thousands of books and music selections we carry could be considered controversial or objectionable depending on individual political views, tastes and interests," he said.

"However, Borders stands by its commitment to let customers make the choice. After consideration of this title, we have instructed all stores to move it to the adult graphic novels section."

Source: http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1274908,00.html