Pat Brown is a renowned and well known American Criminal profiler who,
amongst other tasks, offers pro bono profiling and training for Law
enforcement agencies.
Amongst her many publications, a few weeks back, she launched ‘The
Profile of the Disappearance of Madeleine McCann’.This was, effectively,
an accurate analysis of all the evidence available in the case, freely
available within the public domain, combined with her own theories
regarding what might have happened to Madeleine, based on her
professional experience and expertise.
The publication, available in KINDLE format and available on AMAZON, was
a great success.
Up until recently.
For that is when Amazon removed the publication from sale from its
websites.
There is NO official explanation, thus far, from Amazon regarding its
actions. In response to emails sent by customers, querying the
publications removal, it states:-
“Occasionally books are removed from the Kindle Store for various
reasons. We don’t have any details about why this particular book may
have been removed. Thank you for your interest in Kindle.”
However, in an interview on an American online radio broadcast with Levi
Page, Pat states that she was informed by Amazon that they had received
a-
“notice of defamation from Carter-Ruck solicitors claiming that the book
contains defamatory statements regarding their clients Kate and Gerry
McCann”
In an attempt to clarify this rather bizarre turn of events I spoke to
Amazon’s Press Office, (UK), where a nice lady called Laura Bonny
promised that she would look into the matter, subject to receipt of an
official Media e-mail request.
I forwarded, the following-
“I am seeking to ascertain the reasons for the cessation of the selling
of the ‘Kindle’ Book, by Pat Brown, ‘The Profile of the Disappearance of
Madeleine McCann’.
My understanding is that this publication was on sale on all Amazon
outlets for several weeks. Can you please confirm for me whether its
removal from sale from your sites was as the result of LEGAL actions
undertaken and are you in a position to confirm for me who undertook
such actions?
Can you also confirm for me whether or not the publication in question
has been the subject of any complaints relating to its title or its
contents?
Can you confirm whether Amazon has been contacted by either Kate or
Gerry McCann, or by individuals or organisations acting on their behalf
in relation to the publication or its contents?”
30 hours later, with no response, I spoke with their Press Office again,
this time another nice young lady called Sophie who explained that she
WAS aware of the furore surrounding the title, but that they, (Amazon
UK), were awaiting notification and directions from their AMERICAN Head
Office, regarding statements, but that she assured me she WOULD respond
to my questions in time.
That time has not yet, apparently, transpired.
Of course, irrespective of what Amazon says or does NOT say regarding
its removal of a title on the instructions of the McCanns or their
representatives, WITHOUT the benefit of any actual LEGAL hearing or
proven ACTION, I shall be reminding them of ANOTHER, rather more
vociferous statement issued by Amazon in recent times:-
“Amazon believes it is CENSORSHIP not to sell certain books simply
because we or others believe their message is objectionable…………. we do
support the right of every individual to make their own purchasing
decisions.”
This astonishing stance was issued in defence of Amazon’s INSISTENCE on
allowing the sale on its websites of a rather unpleasant publication
titled ‘The Pedophile’s Guide to Love and Pleasure’, subtitled ‘A
Child-Lover’s Code of Conduct’.
That publication WAS eventually removed after a HUGE storm of protest
and condemnation, much of it from children’s charities.
It remains to be seen whether Pat Brown is successful in re-instating
her publication, or whether she joins the INCREASINGLY long list of
people silenced/sued/threatened/sanctioned as a result of the McCanns
and their overwhelmingly exorbitant Lawyers, whose never ending fees
must SURELY be greater than the Millions amassed through public
donations and other fund-raising ventures.
As for AMAZON itself, however, (the “multinational electronic commerce
company”), it poses a rather more disturbing predicament.
One where it is apparently happy to sell material CLEARLY and
unequivocally relating to the sexual abuse of children, and the
purported PLEASURE that such an activity entails, whilst at the same
time censoring a publication that LEGITIMATELY calls into question the
‘OFFICIAL’ version of events relating to the disappearance of a 3 year
old girl, as alleged and insisted upon by Kate and Gerry McCann, their
never ending entourage of supporters, backers, PR Moguls and Newspaper
editors, and their powerful lawyers.
As Abbott Joseph Liebling once said:-
Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one.
Godbless Madeleine McCann, wherever you may be. |