Non-governmental advocacy group Sisters-in-Islam (SIS) today launched a postcard campaign against the banning of books and demanded for review of all banned books.

The move by SIS entitled 'No Book Banning Campaign' was the result of the Home Ministry's decision to prohibit the movement's publication Muslim Women and the Challenge of Islamic Extremism co-authored and edited by University Kebangsaan Malaysia's sociology professor Norani Othman.

sisters in islam anti book banning book burning campaign 190808 poster The campaign themed 'book banning = book burning' comes as a collective initiative by SIS, Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) and Writers' Alliance for Media Independence (Wami).

"Banning books that one cannot rebuke or debunk is the height of cowardice for the intellectually inferior," said a statement signed by CIJ and Wami.

According to the Publications and Quranic Texts Control Division of the Home Ministry, the book was banned for "containing twisted facts on Islam that could undermine the faith of Muslims."

The book which was sent for printing and publishing in October 2005 only received its ban notification three years later on Aug 14 and came to the attention of SIS on Aug 15 when they called to inquire about the book.

Muslim Women and the Challenge of Islamic Extremism is the third book published by the NGO which has been banned.

Disturbing allegations

sisters in islam anti book banning book burning campaign 190808 maria chin abdullah Moreover, SIS senior programme manager Maria Chin Abdullah highlighted that allegations made against the publication were disturbing as the group "received neither prior notification nor any formal or direct communication."

SIS announced that 2,000 specially printed postcards will be circulated to the public, which will be then collected and handed over to Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar in November.

"This book explored and discussed how women's groups, not only for Muslims but people from other faiths, can come together to identify the different areas of their lives, where network, cooperation, and solidarity can be strengthen and built upon as contemporary women stake their claims for their rights, justice and equality, principles that are pivotal in the Quran," said Maria.

She said some of the key issues raised in the book revolved around the lived experiences and realities of Muslim women around the world, the impact of fundamentalist Muslim movements on women's rights and the role of the state in managing the process of Islamisation.

muslim women and the challenge of islamic extremism noraini othman She also revealed that SIS has already written to the ministry on Aug 17 seeking clarification on which parts of the book offended the regulation under the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA).

Section 7(1) of PPPA which bans the book states that individuals could face up to three years prison term or a fine not more than RM20,000 or both if found to be in possession of a banned book.

"Criteria and guidelines on which the ban is made are unclear, not communicated and there was no discussion or consultation with the authors or publishers as to the basis of objection against the publication.

"We have to wait for 14 days for the response from the ministry and then we will see whether to take legal action or not… we don't want to pre-empt anything until we get the clarification," said Maria during a 40 minute press conference in a hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

"Without forwarding to the author further detailed explanation for their action, it will only make one wonder whether… they may have something to hide or they are submitting themselves to unfathomable prejudice or simply they have not read the book," she added.

CIJ and Wami also in unison called for the end of book banning and for a more open process for reviewing books on Islam.

Norani: Concerned and grieved

Meanwhile, Norani - who was at the press conference - also expressed that she was appalled by the lack of more transparent measures.

sisters in islam anti book banning book burning campaign 190808 noraini othman "I am, needless to say, both concerned and grieved that – seemingly without any proper or transparent process of review and consultation – a book such as this can be banned by a democratic government," she said in her speech.

"This, I suggest, is not – and cannot truly be – any part of realising anew the glory of Islamic civilisation that is the proclaimed agenda of Islam Hadhari and of the government that espouses that noble objective," she added.

"Differences of opinion are a blessing for my (Muslim) community… because the differences of opinion will help to develop (and) change progressive new ideas," quoted Norani from Prophet Muhammad's last sermon.

Norani added that the book was possibly banned for criticising some of the stances made by PAS and government decisions taken from the early 1980s to 1990s.

She said the book has been well received overseas for the past three years as she has attended various dialogues sessions to talk about issued enveloped in the book.

"It is very important for us to disagree to agree so there is no question of being an extremist or fundamentalist," she said.

Marina Mahathir who was also in support of the campaign mocked that the ban was confusing as pro-Islam books were banned whilst books such as Mein Kampf by German dictator Adolf Hitler can be easily obtained in bookstores.