United Arab Emirates bans Harry Potter, Animal Farm

AP/Jerusalem Post ^ | 2/14/02 | Staff Writer

[veronica]

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - The United Arab Emirates has banned 26 books from private school curriculums, including the wildly popular "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," the daily Al-Hayat reported today.

The paper said the Ministry of Education banned the books, which also included George Orwell's "Animal Farm," because they contained "written or illustrated material that contradicts Islamic and Arab values."

Officials at the ministry were not immediately available for comment.

The paper said the banned books contained pictures of alcoholic drinks, pigs and other "indecent images." The books also insulted Arabs and Muslims and had false historical references, such as using the word Israel instead of Palestine, either in maps or in written texts, according to Al-Hayat.

The ministry warned private schools to abide by its decision and required them to present a list of books to be taught to students.

The Harry Potter series, one of the world's best selling books by J.K. Rowling, chronicle the fictional adventures of the young Harry Potter as he attends a boarding school for wizards and battles his nemesis, the evil sorcerer Voldemort.

[veronica]

FYI.

[denydenydeny]

George Orwell's "Animal Farm"...contained "written or illustrated material that contradicts Islamic and Arab values."

Hey, they said it, I didn't.

[Jakarta ex-pat]

Mr Blair will be turning in his grave. (sarcasm on)

[Praxeologue]

Witchcraft is beyond their perception, but pigs, booze and map names can really get them going.

I guess if your fundamental beliefs are pagan, with a little crescent cover, Harry' occult hobby is a little too close for comfort ... and it's not even violent.

[usual suspect]

Maybe we should reciprocate and ban Aladdin.

[Catspaw]

Did they have a book-burning yet?

[Bahbah]

It reminds me of the California Department of nonEducation.

[Publius6961]

The books also insulted Arabs and Muslims and had false historical references, such as using the word Israel instead of Palestine, either in maps or in written texts, according to Al-Hayat.

A wonderful textbook example of pathological 7th century thinking.
Can't be any more clear as to where these primitives are coming from. They indict themselves.

Still, it's live and let live as long as they limit themselves to brutalizing their own people.
Right?

[Publius6961]

It would be extremely educational to have a list of all 26 books.
Any hope of having someone post it?

[Publius6961]

such as using the word Israel instead of Palestine, either in maps or in written texts

A request to the Muslim/Arabprop Tag Team or any lurking Muslim Apologists:

Can you explain the basis on which Saudi Arabia feels entitled to protest the name of any foreign country?
What entitles them?

Suppose Israel wanted to show Saudi Arabia as "Mangydog Land" on all maps. How would Saudi Arabia react?

[DrDavid]

The paper said the Ministry of Education banned the books, which also included George Orwell's "Animal Farm," because they contained "written or illustrated material that contradicts Islamic and Arab values."

Perhaps the pigs in Animal Farm were acting too much like Arab Islamic leaders? Especially the ones who dress up like sheep!

[Thorondir]

United Islamic Idiots Ban Common Sense and the Twentieth Century

...because they contained "written or illustrated material that contradicts Islamic and Arab values."

Values like:
Slitting women's throats
Slavery
Buggering little boys
Slamming Planes into buildings
Oppressing women
Murdering innocent unarmed people
Shooting unsubmissive women at soccer games
Killing christians and burning their churches down
Sword-point conversions
Murdering anyone who dares to question Mohammed or the Koran
Lying about being the religion of peace
Lying about the murderous, bigoted intent of the Koran
Dancing in the streets when 2,000+ innocent people are murdered


What else can be expected from the freaks of Islam(PlanesIntoBuildings).

We had better wake up and get as serious about our survival as the Islamic nuts are about our annhilation!

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

Witchcraft is beyond their perception, but pigs, booze and map names can really get them going.

LOL! Agreed about the 2nd part, but the first part? How 'bout all those flying carpets and "I Dream of Jeannie"? :-]

[sheik yerbouty]

What a rich heritage! They must be baffled as to why we have not embraced these values!

[BenF]

Still, it's live and let live as long as they limit themselves to brutalizing their own people.

You're being kind. It's more than "live and let live", for most European countries and a number of Freepers, it's "let's give them all the help we can" as long as they're murdering Jews.