Sep 28 2008
Arson Attack at Gibson Square Publisher
The Jewel of Medina is a novel about A’isha, a wife of the prophet Mohamed. It was precipitously dropped by Random House (due to the topic potentially offending some Muslim groups) and picked up for distribution in the US bu Beaufort Books and in the UK by small press Gibson House. Today Gibson House was subject to an arson attack, thwarted by some apparently very effective monitoring and law enforcement efforts.
Personally I am not overly interested in Sherry Jones’ novel, but I would certainly strenuously defend the right of the author to write it and the publisher’s right to produce and distribute it. And I am pleased to see, at least int he UK, those rights under the law are being given active support by the authorities.
I also think that is is interesting that the commentator who started this kerfuffle, American Professor Denise Spellberg, used as the ultimate basis for her objections that the book was pornography–a claim I rather doubt but I wonder why it holds such power to insult? Spellberg reportedly said: “You can’t play with a sacred history and turn it into softcore pornography”. To which I feel I must answer, in a society governed by secular law and ethics: why can we not? Even if this was the case, and in poor taste, on what basis should it be suppressed? Because art must abide by the edicts of every faith pracrised between its borders? Because Jones and the poor reader shall go to hell for their unladylike temerity?
Jones is quoted as responding: “I feel that the people who resorted to violence are responsible, but [Spellberg’s] use of the word ‘pornography’ has done nothing to help the situation.” Which is no doubt true but uses as her defence that the book is not pornographic, rather than the equally valid: what would it matter if it was?
Some clerics are warning that more deliberately lethal attacks may be in the works–apparently some consider it appropriate to defend the honor of the prophet by killing women. And that the very idea of describing the prophet loving his wife is seen as an offense to this honor–or is it just depicting him at all? I wonder if any of them have actually even laid eyes on the book which has yet to be released to the public.
Beaufort Books is still planning for an October 15th release. I may buy a copy, just to show support.
We are said to learn from history.
Yet, this story certainly parallels an opening of Martin Scorcese’s, “The Last Temptation of Christ”, in 1988. A Parisian theatre was firebombed and thirteen people were injured, four of whom were severely burned.
The movie, adapted from the book of the same name, written by Niklos Kazantzakis in 1951 rocked a similar sacred boat full of sacred cows. He had the nerve to imply that Jesus, man/god, was first a man before a God. This was simply more than anyone could handle. (nor can today, either)
It is always interesting that conservative religious groups will kill/maim/burn at the stake, in the name of their God or G-d, as it may be anyone who rocks the sacred boat with all those moaning cows.
Enjoyed your post, when will we ever learn.
Msp