4 July 2006

Alert

Government bans 18 books on Islam and religion


Incident details

book(s)

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(SEAPA/IFEX) - Malaysia's Ministry of Internal Security has banned 18 books on Islam and religion for their alleged potential to "disrupt peace and harmony".

The ban was ordered in accordance with the Printing Presses and Publications Act of 1984, which prohibits the reproduction or distribution of materials that disrupt peace and harmony. The banned books - six of which are in Malay, with the rest in English - include works of noted Islam scholars Karen Armstrong and John Esposito.

The Kuala Lumpur-based women's rights group Sisters-in-Islam is protesting the ministry's decision. "We are particularly concerned over the increasing number of books on Islam and religion that are being banned," the group said in an appeal to be sent to the ministry. "The space for discourse is narrowing and Malaysian readers are being deprived of ideas and debates by renowned scholars and writers, published by reputable institutions such as the Oxford University Press."

Sisters-in-Islam is rallying for civil support to lift recent and past orders to ban other books. It called for a transparent and open process to be employed by the government if books are to be banned. "There should be opportunity for readers and authors to question the decisions being made and the reasons behind the bans," the group said.

Sisters-in-Islam says over 45 books have been banned by the ministry since 2003.

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is walking a tightrope between ensuring open discussions about liberalism and pluralism in Islam, and maintaining a strong political base among Muslim conservatives. The government earlier this year revoked the publishing licenses of a few local newspapers for either running articles related to the controversial Danish cartoons mocking the Prophet Mohammad, or reprinting these cartoons.



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ARTICLE 19 condemns authorities' banning of 18 books for disrupting peace and harmony 11 July 2006

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