Author Salman Rushdie has strongly condemned his publisher for cancelling another writer's historical novel about 'the Prophet Mohammad and his child bride'. “I am very disappointed to hear that my publishers, Random House, have cancelled another author's novel, apparently because of their concerns about possible Islamic reprisals,” Rushdie said. “This is censorship by fear and it sets a very bad precedent indeed".�The withdrawal of Jones's book has renewed the debate over self-censorship in the treatment of Islam Random House feared igniting violent protests such as those that followed the release 20 years ago of 'The Satanic Verses' and the publication of Danish cartoons of Muhammad in 2005—or even a repeat of the murder of the Dutch film-maker Theo van Gogh after his documentary about women in Islam.'The Satanic Verses', a novel combining fantasy, philosophical ruminations, and comic aspects, was well-received, but it also aroused the ire of many Muslims, who considered it an attack on the Koran, Muhammed, and the Islamic faith. As a result of demonstrations, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Egypt and Saudi Arabia banned the work. In 1989, Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini declared that Rushdie should be put to death, and Khomeini’s followers offered a bounty, which reached $5 million, for Rushdie’s death. Although Rushdie offered an apology and a formal statement of his adherence to Islam, the bounty was not lifted, and he remained in hiding until late 1991, when he began to make isolated and unscheduled appearances and to allow a few interviews. In 1995, despite the continuance of death threats, Rushdie began making television appearances, granting more frequent interviews, and giving public readings of his works. 'The Jewel of Medina', is a first-person narrative of the life of A'isha, often described as Muhammad's favourite wife, from her engagement to the Prophet at the age of 6 until his death, when she was 18. Jones, a journalist from Spokane, Washington State, has never visited the Middle East but spent several years studying Arab history and learning Arabic. She insisted the novel brought together all she had learnt. “They did have a great love story,” the author said of Muhammad and A'isha. “He died with his head on her breast.” (Agencies) ... read more »