Random House scraps publication of novel on Prophet Mohammed's child bride

Telegraph.co.uk ^ | 5:23PM BST 08 Aug 2008 | Catherine Elsworth

[alan120880]

My first post. The Jewel of Medina, a debut historical novel by Sherry Jones, a journalist who spent years studying Arab history, focuses on the life of A'isha, one of the prophet's wives to whome he is said to have become engaged when she was six. It was due for release next week, but in May was pulled after the publisher was told the book could be seen as "offensive to some in the Muslim community". The Wall Street Journal reported that Denise Spellberg, associate professor of Islamic history at the University of Texas, who saw proofs of the book, declared it a "very ugly, stupid piece of work". She urged the editor of a popular Muslim website to warn Muslims the forthcoming publication "made fun of Muslims and their history".

[alan120880]

Word quickly spread across the internet, with bloggers dubbing the book "a new attempt to slander the Prophet of Islam." One editor at Random House told executives Ms Spellberg had warned her the book was a "declaration of war" that would be "far more controversial than The Satanic Verses and the Danish cartoons," the Wall Street Journal reported. In 2006, cartoons in a Danish newspaper showing the Prophet Mohammed wearing a turban resembling a bomb triggered protests and rioting that left at least 50 people dead. Salman Rushdie's 1988 book The Satanic Verses was also condemned as offensive to Islam and the prophet, triggering violence and a fatwa from Iran's then supreme religious leader, Ayatollah Khomeini. Thomas Perry, Random House's deputy publisher, said in a statement that after distributing galleys of the book, the company received "from credible and unrelated sources, cautionary advice not only that the publication of this book might be offensive to some in the Muslim community, but also that it could incite acts of violence by a small, radical segment." He said the decision was taken "for the safety of the author, employees of Random House, booksellers and anyone else who would be involved in distribution and sale of the novel." Ms Jones, who reportedly received $100,000 (£50,000) for a two-book deal, said she was "devastated" by the decision and saw her books as "bridge-builders to another culture". "Although I've been aware from the start that my books might offend some people, I've never been afraid of physical harm because of them," she told the blog Bookroomreviews.com. "I wrote these books because I felt called to write them after researching A'isha for my own purposes. My passion for her story trumps the fear factor. I've expected controversy, yes, but never terrorism."

[EagleUSA]

Yes, anything that exposes Islam for what is REALLY IS, is offensive...so the Islamics now have more excuses to cut more heads off. We would not want to rile their sensitivities about their culture. That would be unfair and insensitive....

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Always search before making your first post......

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/search?m=all;o=time;q=quick;s=random%20house

;-)

[YHAOS]

Islamics are always offended by the truth.

[popdonnelly]

I honestly don’t care if Muslims are offended. This is America, where we have freedom of the press. If Muslims like theocracy, they can move to the Middle East.

[Apollo 13]

Interesting. Because it must be 10 years by now that there was a big row in Holland about a theatrical performance about the same topic, child bride Ai’sha. Details escape me now, but I will see what I can find and come back tomorrow. Mind, those were other times; so it might be very, very revealing to discover what the fuss was about, and who opposed whom in the conflict.

[BubbaBasher]

the book could be seen as "offensive to some in the Muslim community"

SO WHAT?

A'isha: engaged at 6, married at 9, consumated at 12

[ikka]

but also that it could incite acts of violence by a small, radical segment."

And so the answer is to give in to them and not publish the book. Brilliant!

[Aliska]

Pathetic. So much is already suppressed in the name of security. Now this, deference to one and only one religion.

I'm even glad that deference isn't made to my religion as long as it is only words and ideas. I will put up with it because it is good to stretch one's mind and learn tolerance.

Obviously, the human race cannot be trusted with some knowledge. Only certain ones who for all I know may be less trustworthy than I. And I'm supposed to trust those who are the deciders? Not any more and could kick myself for ever trusting them. They don't deserve public trust, even those supposed to be on our side.

I feel like I am living back in the dark ages sometimes.

[Red in Blue PA]

Re: declared it a “very ugly, stupid piece of work

Are the authors sure she wasn’t describing islam itself?

[spyone]

I will never, ever, buy a book from Random House again...unless its in a second hand bookstore.

[Notary Sojac]

Hey Jim,

What would you think of getting the author’s permission to post some choice excerpts from her book on FR??

[Jim Robinson]

Go ahead. Thanks.

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

Adding Random House to my shiite list.

[Spok]

“I honestly don’t care if Muslims are offended.”

I’ve never heard any arguments from liberals about offending Christians.

[chaos_5]

Interesting article on the pedophile, urr.. I mean prophet.

http://www.faithfreedom.org/Articles/sina/ayesha.htm

[Retired COB]

I will never, ever, buy a book from Random House again...unless its in a second hand bookstore.

Since Random House breached the contract, can she take the book to another publishing house?