Comics
'Tintin in the Congo' avoids Belgium ban
Published Wednesday, Feb 15 2012, 17:01 GMT | By Mark Langshaw | Add comment
Tintin in the Congo will not be banned in Belgium after a court rejected the notion that it violates racism laws.
The judge dismissed a five-year campaign against the 1946 book by Congolese student Bienvenu Mbutu Mondondo, who called for it to be pulled from shelves or stamped with a warning sticker.
"It is clear that neither the story, nor the fact that it has been put on sale, has a goal to… create an intimidating, hostile, degrading or humiliating environment," the court said in its judgement.
Mondondo's campaign against Tintin in the Congo's content went to court in May 2010. "It shows the Africans as childish imbeciles," he said at the time. "It suggests blacks have not evolved.
"It twists history to suggest that everything was happy and fun. In reality, it was a tragic, hurtful time."
The Congolese student, who resides in Belgium, confirmed plans to appeal against the ruling.
> Attorney: 'Tintin ban is book burning'
The judge dismissed a five-year campaign against the 1946 book by Congolese student Bienvenu Mbutu Mondondo, who called for it to be pulled from shelves or stamped with a warning sticker.
© Rex Features / Everett Collection
© Rex Features / Everett Collection
"It is clear that neither the story, nor the fact that it has been put on sale, has a goal to… create an intimidating, hostile, degrading or humiliating environment," the court said in its judgement.
Mondondo's campaign against Tintin in the Congo's content went to court in May 2010. "It shows the Africans as childish imbeciles," he said at the time. "It suggests blacks have not evolved.
"It twists history to suggest that everything was happy and fun. In reality, it was a tragic, hurtful time."
The Congolese student, who resides in Belgium, confirmed plans to appeal against the ruling.
> Attorney: 'Tintin ban is book burning'
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