The Jewel of Medina Author Speaks Out Against Censorship
Sherry Jones, the author of the novel The Jewel of Medina, is speaking out against censorship of her book which details the life of the child bride of the Prophet Muhammad. The book was originally to be published by Random House for a six figure advance, but threats from Muslim extremists caused Random House to drop the project. Then, her British publisher Gibson Square backed out after a firebomb attack on their offices.
The attackers were caught and have been sentenced. But Jones' book is now without a publisher.
Jones has now revealed on her blog that despite attempts to find a new UK distributor for The Jewel of Medina, "everyone, it seems, is too afraid". "Although the extremists lost in court, they have apparently won where it really counts – in the UK's book stores," she wrote. "The 'thugs' have accomplished their task — and freedom of speech, the first freedom to go when fascism gets a foothold, has taken a blow in the western world."
She called on "the people of Great Britain" to "speak out against those who are limiting their right to read, think, speak, listen, debate, discuss, criticise". "I hope the people of the UK can find the power, and the courage, to raise an outcry against censorship," she said. "Now it's time for the rest of us, including moderate Muslims and the press, who cherish our culture and our freedom, to raise a cry louder than that of radicals, so we don't lose that most precious, and crucial, of freedoms."
Jones has repeatedly said that the book is not derogatory towards the Prophet or his wife, but her comments fell upon deaf ears of extremists who are now succeeding in censoring the book. The entire situation is appalling; the fact that this criminal group has the power to stop this book does not bode well for the freedom of authors to write and publish books on controversial topics.
