Saudi Arabia will not be the guest country at the next Turin International Book Fair but the event will focus on Arabic literature, its organisers said on Tuesday.
Some reports that emerged before the organisers' meeting on Tuesday had said that Saudi Arabia would be invited as guest country to the fair, which is due to be held on May 12-16 next year.
Founded in 1988, Turin's international book fair is the largest book show in Italy, attracting more than 300,000 visitors per year.
The Saudi Arabian ambassador on Tuesday urged "our Italian friends" not to "interfere" with the oil monarchy's internal affairs. The Turin Book Fair said its 2016 edition dedicated to Arab literature won't be hosted by Saudi Arabia after it beheaded and crucified 21-year-old Mohammed al-Nimr for taking part in a protest when he was 17.
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