German book publisher pulls out from 'honour killing' novel fearing Islamic backlash India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

A German publishing company has pulled out from a novel based on 'Islamic honour killings' in order to avoid any violent protests from the Muslim community. The publisher said that he withdrew from the book, which was to be titled 'To Whom Honour is Due,' after an Islamic expert warned him that some of the passages could put his life in danger. "After the Muhammad cartoons, one knows that one can't publish sentences or drawings that defame Islam without expecting a security risk," Fox News quoted Felix Droste, of Droste Verlag publishing, as saying. Gabriele Brinkmann, the author of "To Whom Honor is Due," has criticized the publisher for the cancellation of her book. "It's a scandal for a publisher to tuck its tail between its legs. This is anticipatory obedience," Brinkmann said. Critics have called the publishing company's decision 'a cowardly move', but others say the publisher is simply being responsible. Dr. Phyllis Chesler, author of several books, including "The Death of Feminism: What's Next in the Struggle for Women's Freedom," said cancelling the book is not an isolated case. "Most academic and mainstream publishers won't even consider books that might offend Islamists or Muslims. The West has, so far, given in and censored its writers and artists in order to avoid being sued or bombed. Appeasement will get us nowhere," Dr Phyllis Chesler, author of 'The Death of Feminism: What's Next in the Struggle for Women's Freedom' said. However, Nonie Darwish, the author of 'Cruel and Usual Punishment: The Terrifying Global Implications of Islamic Law,' said the publisher had every right to be afraid. "The publisher is being realistic in their fear of retaliation from Muslims. I cannot blame the publishing company. I blame Western governments, [the] legal system and police who are not protecting the infidel West from the danger of Islamic assault on Western civilization. Last month, Yale University Press had removed 12 controversial caricatures of Prophet Muhammad from an upcoming book in order to avoid any violent protests.