By Tom Kelly and Lucy Ballinger
The author of a novel about the prophet Mohammed that provoked a fire-bomb attack on the publisher's home today insisted that Muslims should read the book.
Sherry Jones dismissed claims that The Jewel of Medina was 'soft core pornography' and insisted that it is respectful towards Islam.
She said the attack on the £2.5million London home of its UK publisher, Martin Rynja, at the weekend was 'a reprehensible act of violence by criminals'.
Muslim extremists have also warned the publisher that he faces death for going ahead with the novel about the prophet's child bride, which includes a description of the night they consummate their marriage.
But Miss Jones said: 'When people read my book I fully expect the people who are going to be my biggest detractors will be the ones who hate Muslims.
'They will be unhappy to see how compassionately Mohammed comes across.
'I have not dishonoured the Prophet. I say: read the book, I wrote it with the intention of honouring him.'
Random House cancelled a £54,000 book deal with its U.S. author last month, fearing a violent reaction by 'a small radical segment' of Muslims.
It followed comments from Denise Spellberg, a professor of Islamic history at the University of Texas, who claimed the book had turned a 'sacred history into soft core pornography.'
But Miss Jones, a U.S. journalist demanded an apology from the academic for her 'slanderous' comments.
'She used the most inflammatory language she could possibly have used.
'If you want to incite heated emotions from any religious group you just use the word "pornography" in the same sentence as their revered figures.
'She ought to take back her words because it is in no way an accurate description of my book.
'There are no sex scenes in it.' Read more ...
The author of a novel about the prophet Mohammed that provoked a fire-bomb attack on the publisher's home today insisted that Muslims should read the book.
Sherry Jones dismissed claims that The Jewel of Medina was 'soft core pornography' and insisted that it is respectful towards Islam.
She said the attack on the £2.5million London home of its UK publisher, Martin Rynja, at the weekend was 'a reprehensible act of violence by criminals'.
Muslim extremists have also warned the publisher that he faces death for going ahead with the novel about the prophet's child bride, which includes a description of the night they consummate their marriage.
But Miss Jones said: 'When people read my book I fully expect the people who are going to be my biggest detractors will be the ones who hate Muslims.
'They will be unhappy to see how compassionately Mohammed comes across.
'I have not dishonoured the Prophet. I say: read the book, I wrote it with the intention of honouring him.'
Random House cancelled a £54,000 book deal with its U.S. author last month, fearing a violent reaction by 'a small radical segment' of Muslims.
It followed comments from Denise Spellberg, a professor of Islamic history at the University of Texas, who claimed the book had turned a 'sacred history into soft core pornography.'
But Miss Jones, a U.S. journalist demanded an apology from the academic for her 'slanderous' comments.
'She used the most inflammatory language she could possibly have used.
'If you want to incite heated emotions from any religious group you just use the word "pornography" in the same sentence as their revered figures.
'She ought to take back her words because it is in no way an accurate description of my book.
'There are no sex scenes in it.' Read more ...
Source: Daily Mail
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