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UPDATE: Publisher Now In Hiding After Muslim Death Threat
by LotusFlower | September 28, 2008 at 01:14 am | 462 views | 18 comments | 32 recommendations
Publisher Martin Rynja is now in hiding after Muslim extremists pronounce sentence of death if he goes ahead with the publication of 'The Jewel of Medina'.
Muslim extremists have warned the publisher of a novel about the prophet Mohammed that he faces death after police foiled a firebomb attack on his home.
Last night Martin Rynja was under armed guard at a secret location after three men dressed in black poured petrol through the letterbox of his £2.5million house at the weekend.
The attack follows his decision to publish The Jewel Of Medina, a fictional account of the Prophet's child bride.
The novel includes a description of the night they consummate their marriage, described by one academic as 'soft core pornography'.
Yesterday the right-hand man of preacher of hate Omar Bakri said the fire-bombing was the 'thin end of the wedge'.
Anjem Choudary, a former member of radical Islamist group al-Mujaharoun, said: 'This book is an attack on the honour of Mohammed. It is clearly stipulated in Muslim law that any kind of attack on his honour carries the death penalty.
'People should be aware of the consequences they might face when producing material like this. They should know the depth of feeling it might provoke.
'If the publication goes ahead then I think, inevitably, there will be more attacks like this. The repercussions will be very severe for everyone associated with it. It is not me that is doing petrol bombing, but I understand their feelings.'
Original Story: The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie saw the author and publishers being subject to threats and indeed actions from some Muslim extremist groups and now a new book 'The Jewel of Medina' by Sherry Jones looks set to ignite perhaps even more controversy. The publisher Martin Rynja has had his house fire bombed and this has led to three men being arrested under suspicion of terrorist activity.
The book is a work of fiction that uses the story of Aisha the prophet Muhammed's wife who married him at age 9 as its focal point. Many Muslim's find this an offence to Islam whilst the publisher and others feel that as a statement from Rynjna states:
"In an open society there has to be open access to literary works, regardless of fear. As an independent publishing company, we feel strongly that we should not be afraid of the consequences of debate.
"If a novel of quality and skill that casts light on a beautiful subject we know too little of in the West, but have a genuine interest in, cannot be published here, it would truly mean that the clock has been turned back to the dark ages. The Jewel of Medina has become an important barometer of our time."
American publishers Random House initially bought the rights to this book but pulled out after threats from some Islamic groups leaving the way for the small publisher Gibson Square owned by Mr. Ryjna to step in and publish the book.
The London home of the publisher of a controversial new novel that gives a fictionalised account of the Prophet Muhammad's relationship with his child bride, Aisha, was firebombed yesterday, hours after police had warned the man that he could be a target for fanatics.
A petrol bomb is believed to have been thrown through the door of Martin Rynja's £2.5m town house in Islington's Lonsdale Square, which also doubles as the headquarters of his publishing company, Gibson Square. Three men have been arrested on terrorism charges.
The arrests are connected to a fire at a property in Islington, north London, which is used as the home and office of Martin Rynja, a publisher.
His company, Gibson Square, recently bought the rights to a novel which is considered by some to be more controversial than Salman Rushdie's book, The Satanic Verses. The new book, about the prophet Muhammad and his child bride, is entitled The Jewel of Medina.
The blaze yesterday, which led to people being evacuated from the house, may have been started by a petrol bomb pushed through the letter box.
Initially, three men, aged 22, 30 and 40, were detained at around 2.25am yesterday after a fire broke out at a property in Lonsdale Square, Islington. Two were stopped by armed officers in Lonsdale Square, and the third was seized when a car was stopped by armed police near Angel underground station.
Random House US, the major publishing group, announced in May this year that it was dropping its plans to publish Sherry Jones's debut novel following warnings that it could incite acts of violence from radical Muslims. The Jewel of the Medina was also pulled from bookshops in Serbia last month after pressure from an Islamic group.
Gibson Square, which has previously published other controversial books, bought the rights to Jones's book after Random House pulled out. It paid what it described as a "compelling" advance to acquire The Jewel of Medina. The book will be published by Gibson Square next month [October] in Britain, Australia and New Zealand. In the US, the book will be published by Beaufort Books.
September 28, 2008 at 01:14 am by LotusFlower, 462 views, 18 comments
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LotusFlower
Nottingham, United Kingdom
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (18)
at 01:30 on September 28th, 2008
Similar thing did happen with some Movies the Church wanted banned about Christ in the 1989.
at 04:33 on September 28th, 2008
We had the whole controversy about Jerry Springer The Opera where Christian groups threatened violence and mounted sustained protests against the opera and against the BBC when it decided to screen a version of it.
at 07:59 on September 28th, 2008
Paschen, I believe you are referring to Martin Scorsese's film "The Last Temptation of Christ". The film never did receive the recognition it deserved, including Vatican approval as did Mel Gibson's, "The Passion". Apparently Gibson's film was not viewed as threatening in any by the Vatican. Personally, I found Scorsese's film to be executed with brilliance, and would recommend if you can locate a copy, to view it (it is quite lengthy). I don't think you will be disappointed.
at 08:08 on September 28th, 2008
Yes, Rhonda I believe that "The Last Temptation of Christ" was the movie I am thinking of, thank you for the title and I will look it up and see if I can find a copy since I never got around to see it nor had the time when it came out, two little Children can keep you busy!
Well now they are grown up and still keep me worried though.
at 09:12 on September 28th, 2008
No doubt, Paschen! I have two of my own, and know all too well the "worried" feeling. Hope you can locate a copy.
at 04:11 on September 28th, 2008
LotusFlower, not many but all Muslims find this an offence to Islam.
"In an open society there has to be open access to literary works, regardless of fear. As an independent publishing company, we feel strongly that we should not be afraid of the consequences of debate."
If they are fond of debate, they should debate their own faith and not others. It seems this book too like the previous such books, movies, etc., is part of well-knit conspiracy to provoke Muslims so that they could be more vigorously dubbed terrorists. Is attacking faith of one billion people despite knowing that it could offend them is not a sort of terrorism? It is.
at 05:01 on September 28th, 2008
Hi Hussain,
I'm not sure how the book reads having not read it myself but some of my own muslim friends are interested in reading it as a literary work which they'll then pass judgement on whilst some of my other muslim friends don't want to read it much - believing that this publisher is out to gain controversial press even court trouble in order to sell sell sell.
The thing that they all agreed though is whilst not condoning or welcoming something that they might find offensive that they didn't agree with the fire-bombing.
Thanks for the comment which again raises something Zichi mentioned the other day around wether artists/writers should consider or not the offence that their works might cause to others. You go a step further asking us to question if some forms of writing/art might be considered terrorism - perhaps intellectual/phillosophical terrorism?
Thanks again,
LF
at 04:45 on September 28th, 2008
Hi LotusFlower, thanks for prompt response. Whether any Muslim gets offended or not, it is another thing. However, Islam does not allow writing fiction/novel involving person of our Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) in any manner. Even if the writer may have not clearly showed any disrespect, the book seems to be an effort to ridicule or question the marriage of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) to a nine-year-old girl. Yes, some people might not agree with the fire-bombing but it depends upon the emotional state of a person as to how he reacts to such an offense. I think there are many forms of terrorism and every segment of society, in one form or the other, sometimes commits it. In my opinion, everybody should judge his/her own acts and must try to avoid the things that could offend a large number of people of any particular faith, race, etc. I think it is responsibility of every human being. Regards Hussain
at 05:23 on September 28th, 2008
Thanks Hussain - be interesting to see if anyone picks up the debate - I agree that everyone should consider the consequences of their actions and that goes beyond physical acts of brutality - some feel that artists might stand outside such strictures being the catalysts for serious polemic - but artistic freedom does not mean freedom to do anything without expecting comeback of some sort from others - this said I think that I could never find it within my own heart to condone or perpetrate physical violence against another in response to an art or literary work.
The world turns.
Thanks again,
LF
at 05:25 on September 28th, 2008
Hussain, I can understand your feelings about this as much as I can understand a Christian getting offended by a Book or Film that questions Christ, same for all religion and believes though. However we are in a Democratic society with many believes and Faith as well as many that are broth up with Two or tree Religions in there families and this will increase with the increasing multicultural mosaic of all Societies around the World due to migration and immigration as well as mixed Marriages and People with in Families opting for another faith or believe. Why it is called Faith and believe and not Scientific Prove and why we have so many different once, not only as far as Christian and Muslim or Jews and Buddhist or Hinduism goes but even with in each and every faith the groups split and cannot agree on a great many things. The Christian are split between the Catholic Church, the Orthodox, and Protestant and even with in the Catholic Faith or Orthodox and Protestant movement there are many more sub movements and fraction that are all cannot agree on great many things, same for the Jewish faith and the Muslim one as well. I Buddhism and Hinduism you have the same thing as well. Why we have Philosophy where we can explore them all and debate them openly and honestly in order to at least try to find the truth and rid our self of the lie. I Grow up with Islam and Christianity as well as the Old Nordic Religion and I Chose none for I realized after much search and great Debates with Priest, Mullas and Others that none have the real message nor hold the truth but only Fractions of it and only partially. Yet all can be good and all can be bad as well. My Father was a great believer and man of God or Allah and he lived by the message of peace and forgiveness and achieved great things for Man Kind, all Muslim as well as Christian, Jews and Buddhist to the point that as he died the Christian believed him to have been a Model Christian and the Muslim said he was a Model Muslim and the Buddhist praised him as a Great Buddha, well None knew what he was and yet all loved him and believed he was one of them. Ironic in a way and it did teach me a valuable lesson. Religion should never be practised as a Show or weapon nor for Political gain or power, but for one self and only in private. Yet what we do and how we deal with the World is how we will be judged and remembered. I can chose to be offended and get angry or I can chose not to be offended and forgive even Love those that are blind and filed with fear and hate. All the Prophets including Mohammed did acknowledge all the Prophets before them as Christ and Moses did. Peace is more important!
at 05:12 on September 28th, 2008
LotusFlower, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 05:56 on September 28th, 2008
Though shalt not lie. Jews, Christians and Muslims believe in the ten commandments. Prophet mohammed was 25 years old when he married his first wife, she was 40 and her name was Kadeja, they lived in mecca together for almost twenty years. Prophet mohammed didnt move to Medina untill the age of 44. Prophet mohammed didnt remarry untill after his first wife's death, a death brought on by the forced emigration of mohammed and his early followers. There is much debate about the age of aisha, most say she was a teenager when they married. It is also important to remember that being married doesnt mean consumating the union immediatly. Talk to a muslim that has had an arranged union and they may tell you that it is common practice not to consumate untill a bond of love is formed. Many of the hadiths (sayings) of prophet mohammed were taken from and attributed to aisha. Not to commen an honour to give to a girl? Prophet mohammed anuled forced matrimony within his lifetime as of course divorce has always been permitted in islam.
at 06:03 on September 28th, 2008
Good Comment Sputnic, I agree with what you wrote here and can confirm it as well.
at 07:16 on September 28th, 2008
LotusFlower, I like this story. It's good stuff. without meaning to offend any one here i just want to say that i believe in literary and artistic freedom and condemn violence in all its forms. as muslims or christians or hindus or whichever faith we belong to, if we ignore rather than get provoked if any aspect of our religion is maligned, we would serve that religion better. debates and discussions can and should be conducted over such issues in a civilized fashion. over every subject under the sun. furthermore, restraint, tolerance, peace, negotiation...arent these some of the values that are inherent in most religions of the world? if terrorism through writing is wrong and should be condemned then petrol bombs and such also ought to be condemned.
at 07:32 on September 28th, 2008
Thanks for your flag and comments - I'm sure you offend no one with your considered and reflective comments- LF
at 07:33 on September 28th, 2008
American publishers Random House initially bought the rights to this book but pulled out after threats from some Islamic groups leaving the way for the small publisher Gibson Square owned by Mr. Ryjna to step in and publish the book.
Another sign that the climate of fear from Bush's War of Terror is allowing the terrorists to win.
As for the book, cartoons and the like, threats and acts of violence for perceived "heresy" are not limited to Islam. However, more often than not, those attacking what they perceive as literary or popular press attacks on their faith make the same attacks on other faiths by threat, word and deed.
I would hope such actions would sadden any god.
at 07:44 on September 28th, 2008
Attacking, killing, maiming and threatening people over religion is wrong, dumb and counter productive. Those of any faith who wish to be taken seriously should take a step out of the Dark Ages. They are hypocrites of the worst kind and shame their god.
I do not limit my remarks to Islam.
at 08:04 on September 28th, 2008
LotusFlower, I like this story. It's good stuff.