Piola Libri — Restaurant in Brussels

SHAME ON YOU! Read below!

Breaking news: Book launch of Frank Furedi's latest book cancelled by Brussels bookstore.

Free speech is under threat in the heart of the EU. Piola.libri, a bookstore on Rue Franklin in the Schumann area, has abruptly cancelled the planned launch of Furedi's book "The War Against the Past".

Despite having agreed to host the event on Monday 30 September, the venue withdrew its offer, citing concerns about the "political connotation" of the launch and the bookstore’s commitment to being an “inclusive space”.

"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." Frank Furedi

In his latest and highly-acclaimed book, Professor Furedi explores the cultural crusade against history, where the past is increasingly dismissed as “toxic”. The book, published by @politybooks, has received widespread praise from some of Europe and America’s leading intellectuals, including Jonanthan Haidt Nigel Biggar Robert Tombs and Lord Sumption.

Details of the book were shared with the bookstore prior to them agreeing to host the event.

What did the bookstore say?

“After a careful consideration, we have found out that the political connotation of the initiative is more strongly marked than we initially understood … Our venue has always maintained a line of neutrality … this choice allows us to ensure an inclusive space that respects all sensibilities”

MCC Brussels is committed to defending free speech and has secured an alternative venue for the book launch, which will be...

Nice concept with all that Italian books, great wine, tasty food but awful service. First, you order only at the bar but even then you wait as often few people are serving one customer (one is pouring the wine, one is taking food order, one is standing by with the pos terminal for paying - unbelievable waste of time and human capital)... Second, kitchen closes at 21h but except on the board on the wall, nobody tells you this.. so order well in advance in order not to be left without food.. Third, some good 15 min before they close, although all the tables around you are occupied and with food and drinks on them, they came to our table multiple times in the span of 5 min and wanted to take away food and drinks (they didn't do this to other tables).. so.. all in all - nice place but they really need to work hard on their customer service...

Piola.libri, a bookstore on Rue Franklin in the Schumann area, has abruptly cancelled the planned launch of Furedi's book "The War Against the Past".

Despite having agreed to host the event on Monday 30 September, the venue withdrew its offer, citing concerns about the "political connotation" of the launch and the bookstore’s commitment to being an “INCLUSIVE space”.

"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...