Novelist Faisal Tehrani, says he will be proud if rumours of his novel, 'Perempuan Nan Bercinta' - launched by the prime minister last year - of being banned by Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim) turn out to be true.

NONE However, Faisal ( left ), whose real name is Mohd Faizal Musam personally had no knowledge of matter found that his book 'A Woman in Love' still on sale as of last week.

"If this allegation is true, I would be ecstatic for creating history (to be banned) twice, which was never achieved by any novelist or illustrious writers in this country.

"Only the novel of Pak Sako (banned by the British) and Pendita Za'ba's scholarly book were once upon a time banned by the religious authorities of Perak.

"Both were my idols," Faisal told Malaysiakini .

‘Sebongkah Batu di Kuala Berang' (A Rock in Kuala Berang), which was launched in 2011, is his first novel to be banned and his latest will mark the second.

However, he does not view it as a setback, saying that he would seek further advice on the matter from the Front Line Defenders (FLD), an International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders ,under the wings of the 'Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders', of the United Nations.

Digging in regardless

"I have just completed writing a long scholarly article entitled 'The Malaysian Shi'a: A Preliminary Study of Their History, Oppression, and Denied Rights .'

"It will be published in an international journal," said the novelist.

Undeterred by his adversity, Faisal vowed to continue producing more novels or scholarly journals in the future.

NONE However, Deputy Director of Seksyen Akidah Jakim, Mohd Aizam Mas'od was quoted by MyMetro as saying: "This is dangerous because his writing promotes Shi'a beliefs legalise contract marriages between man and woman....in fact the author also plays with people's rationality.

He pointed out that Jakim has forbidden the book.

The novel features the story of a feminist' transformation from blind feminism to finding the right path by following the footsteps of Prophet Muhammad's daughter.

Meanwhile according to The Malaysian National Institute of Books and Translation’s (ITBM), communication, marketing and sales department head Mohd Khairulanuar Manshor, 3,000 copies of the novel have been distributed sold out.

“The print (run) of the book has been completed and we printed only 3,000 copies. There are no more copies in our possession, but I am not sure about the book stores,” he said when contacted by Malaysiakini .

Efforts to obtain the Home Ministry for comment have been unsuccessful.