Random House pulls novel on Islam, fears violence (Where is the OUTRAGE?)

Publisher Random House has pulled a novel about the Prophet Mohammad's child bride, fearing it could "incite acts of violence."

"The Jewel of Medina," a debut novel by journalist Sherry Jones, 46, was due to be published on August 12 by Random House, a unit of Bertelsmann AG, and an eight-city publicity tour had been scheduled, Jones told Reuters on Thursday.

The novel traces the life of A'isha from her engagement to Mohammad, when she was six, until the prophet's death. Jones said that she was shocked to learn in May, that publication would be postponed indefinitely.

"I have deliberately and consciously written respectfully about Islam and Mohammad ... I envisioned that my book would be a bridge-builder," said Jones.

Random House deputy publisher Thomas Perry said in a statement the company received "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."

"In this instance we decided, after much deliberation, to postpone publication 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," Perry said.

Jones, who has just completed a sequel to the novel examining her heroine's later life, is free to sell her book to other publishers, Perry said.

The decision has sparked controversy on Internet blogs and in academic circles. Some compared the controversy to previous cases where portrayals of Islam were met with violence.

Protests and riots erupted in many Muslim countries in 2006 when cartoons, one showing the Prophet Mohammad wearing a turban resembling a bomb, appeared in a Danish newspaper. At least 50 people were killed and Danish embassies attacked.

I am outraged at our country's weakness in the face of new threats on American traditions from Muslims. Just this week, Tyson's Food negotiated with its union to permit Muslims to have Eid-al-Fitr as a holiday instead of Labor Day. What am I missing? Yes, there is a large Somali Muslim population working at the Tysons plant in Tennessee. Tennessee, last I checked, is still part of the United States. If Muslims want to live and work here they should be required to live and work by our American Laws and not impose their will on our long history. In the same week, Random House announces that they have indefinitely delayed the publication of The Jewel of Medina, by Sherry Jones, a book about the life of Mohammed's wife Aisha due to fear of retribution and violence by Muslims. When did we become a nation ruled by fear of what other immigrant groups want? It makes me so sad to see large corporations cave rather than stand proudly on the principles that built this country.

Get rid of the ACLU; don't elect Muslims even for Dog Catcher; Obama should come clean on Ayers and the bombings he was never tried for and his Friend Rezko and the Iraqi Billionaire; MoveOn.Org and Code Pink are subversive organizations bent on the destruction of America. Our men and women in the military are keeping us safe by keeping the enemy at bay across the oceans - we need to clean up America for them so they have a country to come home to. Get Mad and Stay Mad Freepers.............!!!!

yoe,
The WSJ had a great piece on this a few weeks ago. Unfortunately with all the political stuff going on, this will fly under the radar. I’ve been reading Andy McCarthy’s book Willful Blindness—Islam is scary, and we are baring our own throats to it.

I’m not exactly sure how to point out that Labor Day is not a “law.” My wife doesn’t automatically get Labor Day. I get it, but the place I work is always open and I don’t always take it. Part-time workers certainly don’t get it. It’s not exactly a scared thing.

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