Arabic Bookshop Puts Mein Kampf on Prominent Display Near West London Synagogue — Critics Demand Removal

An Arabic-language bookshop on Edgware Road, London, has drawn criticism after multiple Arabic translations of Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf were displayed prominently on a central browsing table. The editions, which reportedly feature a photograph of Nazi Party leaders saluting, appeared to be published by Aafaq Publishing — the Kuwait-based company that owns the London outlet.

What Happened

The newly opened Aafaq Bookstore placed the titles on a display that visitors described as "front and centre." The shop sits within a short walk of the West London Synagogue; witnesses and local commentators variously described the distance as a five-minute walk or roughly half a mile.

"Imagine my disgust upon going into this new Arabic bookstore on Edgware Road last night only to find them selling multiple copies of Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler, apparently published themselves," said Elliot Keck, Conservative councillor for Hyde Park, after a visit to the store.

Responses and Context

Campaign Against Antisemitism criticised the decision to sell plain, uncontextualised editions, saying businesses should not profit from "the most extreme anti-Jewish propaganda," especially amid rising concerns about antisemitism in the UK. The organisation said annotated and contextual editions have a place in academic study, but urged bookshops to withdraw copies that present hate material without context.

Aafaq Bookstore on Edgware Road is owned Dr Naser Al Shammari from Kuwait

One recent customer left a Google review saying they were "shocked to see hate propaganda so prominently on display." The reviewer praised the shop's atmosphere and English-language selection but said the prominent placement of Mein Kampf "completely ruined the visit" and urged the owners to move such material to a reference or history section with appropriate context.

Legal And Retail Context

Mein Kampf was first published in 1925 and sets out Hitler's racist and antisemitic ideology. The book is not illegal to sell in the UK and selected annotated or academic editions sometimes appear in libraries or in specialist outlets. However, most major UK retailers avoid stocking unannotated editions on shop floors to limit exposure to hate speech.

The Aafaq Publishing & Distribution Company and the Edgware Road bookstore are owned by Dr Naser Al Shammari, 47, from Kuwait. The company was approached for comment.

Next Steps

Local officials and campaign groups say they expect questions about why the shop chose to display these editions so prominently and whether the titles will be moved to a contextualised section or withdrawn. The incident has prompted debate about retail responsibility, community relations and the appropriate sale of historically significant but extremist texts.