 In July 2007 , British human rights lawyer David Enright complained to the United Kingdom 's Commission for Racial Equality ( CRE ) that he came across the book in the children 's section of Borders bookshop while shopping with his wife and two sons . The CRE called on bookshops to remove the comic , stating that it contained " hideous racial prejudice " by depicting Congolese who " look like monkeys and talk like imbeciles . " Responding that it was committed to letting its " customers make the choice " , Borders moved the book to an area reserved for adult graphic novels . UK bookseller Waterstone 's followed suit . Another British retailer , WHSmith , said that the book was sold on its website , but with a label that recommended it for readers aged 16 and over . The CRE 's attempt to ban the book was criticised by Conservative Party politician Ann Widdecombe , who remarked that the organisation had more important things to do than regulate the availability of historical children 's books . The media controversy increased interest in the book , and Borders reported that its sales of Tintin in the Congo had been boosted 4 @,@ 000 % , while it also rose to eighth on the Amazon.com bestseller list . Publisher Egmont UK also responded to racism concerns by placing a protective band around the book with a warning about its content and writing an introduction describing its historical context . 
 In July 2007 , British human rights lawyer David Enright complained to the United Kingdom <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>Commission for Racial Equality ( CRE ) that he came across the book in the children <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>section of Borders bookshop while shopping with his wife and two sons . The CRE called on bookshops to remove the comic , stating that it contained " hideous racial prejudice " by depicting Congolese <a href='null_relcl' title='3'><mark>who</mark></a>" look like monkeys and talk like imbeciles . " Responding that it was committed to letting its " customers make the choice " , Borders moved the book to an area reserved for adult graphic novels . UK bookseller Waterstone <a href='null_genetive' title='4'><mark>'s</mark></a>followed suit . Another British retailer , WHSmith , said that the book was sold on its website , but with a label <a href='null_relcl' title='5'><mark>that</mark></a>recommended it for readers aged 16 and over . The CRE <a href='null_genetive' title='6'><mark>'s</mark></a>attempt to ban the book was criticised by Conservative Party politician Ann Widdecombe , <a href='null_relcl' title='7'><mark>who</mark></a>remarked that the organisation had more important things to do than regulate the availability of historical children <a href='null_genetive' title='8'><mark>'s</mark></a>books . The media controversy increased interest in the book , and Borders reported that its sales of Tintin in the Congo <a href='been_done' title='9'><mark>had</mark></a> been boosted 4 @,@ 000 % , while it also rose to eighth on the Amazon.com bestseller list . Publisher Egmont UK also responded to racism concerns by placing a protective band around the book with a warning about its content and writing an introduction describing its historical context . 
In July 2007 , British human rights lawyer David Enright complained to the United Kingdom  Commission for Racial Equality ( CRE ) dat he came across da book in the children  section of Borders bookshop while shoppin w his wife and 2 sons . TdaCRE called on bookshops to remove the comic , stating that it contained " hideous racial prejudice " by depicting Congolese " look like monkeys and tlk like imbeciles . " replyin tdatit was committed to lettin its " ppl make the choice " , Borders moved the book to an area reserved for adult graphic novels . UK bookseller Waterstone  followed suit . anotha British retailer , WHSmith , said that the book was sold on its website , but with a label recommended it fa readers aged 16 and over . ThdaRE  attempt to ban the book was criticised by Conservative Party politician Ann Widdecombe , remarked thdathedaganisation had more important things to do than regulate the dailability of historical children  books . The mdaa controversy increased interest in the boda, and Borders reported that its sales of Tintin in the Congo done been boosted 4 @,@ 000 % , while it also rose to eighth on the Amada.com bestseller list . Publisher Egmont UK also responded to racism concerns by placing a protective band around the book with a warning about its content and writing an introduction describing its historical context .