Renowned author Karen Armstrong's book 'The Battle for God: Fundamentalism in Judaism, Christianity and Islam' has been slapped with a ban by the government.

The book was a New York Times bestseller and published in 2000 ostensibly to promote better understanding of the three major world's religions.

The book focuses on the fundamentalist strains in the United States, Israel, Iran and Egypt.

Armstrong has since become a prolific, acclaimed, and controversial writer on subjects touching on all of the three major monotheistic religions.

In 1999, the Islamic Center of Southern California honored Armstrong, for "promoting understanding among faiths."

It is not the first time that government has issued a ban on her book. Two of her earlier books - 'A History of God' and 'Muhammad A Biography of the Prophet' - were also blacklisted last year.

Armstrong's 'A History of God' was also a bestseller which attracted rave reviews and was sold in the local bookstores since it was first published in 1993 before it was prohibited.

The Internal Security Ministry has also announced the banning of 17 other books, which are deemed to be able to "disrupt peace and harmony", according to Bernama today.

The ban was made under the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, which prohibits any form of reproduction or distribution of these books

Six of banned books are in Malay, while the rest in English.

Among the Malay-language books banned are two written by controversial author and former politician Kassim Ahmad - 'Kontroversi Hukum Hudud' and 'Risalah No 2 Dilema Umat Islam Antara Hadis dan Quran'.

The 18 banned books

  1. The Bargaining for Israel: In the Shadow of Armageddon

  • Islam

  • Lifting the Veil

  • A Fundamental Fear: Eurocentrism and the Emergence of Islamism (Bobby S Sayyid)

  • Islam Revealed: A Christian Arab's View of Islam (Anis Shorrosh)

  • What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam (John L Esposito)

  • Mini Skirts Mothers & Muslims (Christine Mallouhi)

  • The Battle for God: Fundamentalism in Judaism, Christianity and Islam (Karen Armstrong)

  • Kundalini For Beginners (Ravindra Kumar)

  • Sacred Books of the East

  • Sharing Your Faith with A Muslim (Abdiyah Akbar Abdul-Haqq)

  • Cults, World Religions and The Occult (Kenneth Boa)

  • Petua dan Doa Pendinding, Penawar, Penyembuh Penyakit

  • Hakikat & Hikmah 7 Hari Dalam Seminggu

  • Pemuda Bani Tamim Perintis Jalan Imam Mahdi

  • Kontroversi Hukum Hudud (Kassim Ahmad)

  • Risalah No 2 Dilema Umat Islam Antara Hadis dan Quran (Kassim Ahmad)

  • Siri 7 AmalanAmalan Bid'ah Pada Bulan Syaban