“Moderate” muslim emirate Dubai bans novel over gay character

by Kal El on February 17, 2009 · Comments

Where is the outrage from gay rights groups? GLAAD? Anyone??? Oh that’s right, they only bother to get angry when they know the target of their ire won’t retaliate violently. Personally I have never heard of the author, and do not care to read the book, but I imagine SOME people living in the UAE might. IF it was allowed in by the religious police, of course.

Geraldine Bedell’s novel banned in Dubai because of gay character

A book festival in the Middle East that claims to celebrate the “world of books in all its infinite variety” has banned a British author because her novel contains references to homosexuality.

The first International Festival of Literature in Dubai has attracted dozens of world-class authors, including Margaret Atwood and Louis de Bernières, with promises that it will be relaxed, vibrant and diverse. One author has found otherwise.

Geraldine Bedell’s book The Gulf Between Us was greeted with enthusiasm by organisers because of its setting in the Middle East, but the mood changed swiftly when they discovered a gay character.

Isobel Abulhoul, director of the festival, wrote to Ms Bedell to tell her that she was not invited. “I do not want our festival remembered for the launch of a controversial book,” she wrote. “If we launched the book and a journalist happened to read it, then you could imagine the political fallout that would follow.”

She explained that the book was unsuitable because one of the characters was a gay sheikh with an English boyfriend and the plot was set against the background of the Iraq War which “could be a minefield for us”.

Ms Bedell, who has lived in the Gulf, told The Times that the book has since been banned from sale in Dubai and the rest of the United Arab Emirates.

“It is incredibly affectionate towards the Gulf. I feel very warmly towards it, except when things like this happen. It calls into question the whole notion of whether the Emirates and other Gulf states really want to be part of the contemporary cultural world … You can’t ban books and expect your literary festival to be taken seriously.”

She said that the gay sheikh was a minor character.

Authors due to attend the festival, which begins on February 26, include Kate Adie, Jung Chang, Carol Ann Duffy, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Anthony Horowitz, Frank McCourt, Sir Mark Tully and Wilbur Smith.

One author contacted by The Times privately condemned the censorship: “One always hopes that these sorts of literary festivals open people’s minds to other people’s cultures, but this doesn’t seem to be the case here.”

Giles Foden, who also plans to attend, said: “I’ve never heard of this happening at other literary festivals, though there is an interesting comparison with that Dutch MP not being allowed to come here, which shows that Britain is not above barring entry to people because of what they say or write.”

Sir Ranulph Fiennes said the festival organisers were merely being practical. “I think that if anybody out there wants to establish a festival of some sort, they would be rather stupid to offend the locals in any way.”

Juliet Annan, Ms Bedell’s publisher, said the censorship system was opaque but was known to discriminate against references to homosexuality, drugs and the theory of evolution. Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species was banned throughout the Middle East, she said.

Jonathan Heawood, director of English PEN, the writers’ association, said: “Great literary festivals, like great literature, provide amazing opportunities for cultural exchange, which we need now more than ever.

“A literary festival which bars books because of their gay or religious content is neither literary, nor a festival. I hope that the organisers will reconsider.”

Full article.

HAH!! Reconsider? Just like those asshats reconsidered letting Israeli tennis player Shahar Peer play in the Dubai Open. Oh wait! They didn’t! Friggen muslim government knows they can’t even hold the IDF’s jockstrap, so they ban a TENNIS PLAYER from participating in a tournament. Allahu akbar, indeed…

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  • makeminemaudlin
    Well, as a queer liberal infidel without fear of retribution for the minimal measure of a just society, that being the ability to express my thoughts without violent consequence, I'll say this: This is why NO religion should be allowed into politics.
  • Beejj
    Thomas Jefferson and others of the Founding Fathers of the great American nation would wholeheartedly agree with you. The incessant religious overtones during the recent inauguration of Obama turned my stomach. Yet, if America's commitment to Christianity results in its defeat of the canker of Islam in the West I shall do all I can to foster it despite my abiding refusal to accept the existence of God and my belief that religion should play no part in deciding the daily life of a nation. Christians and Jews and Buddhists and Hindus and Shintoists and Confucius fanciers and ............ do not threaten my life, but Muslims do. They are my enemy. They are OUR enemy. OUR? Yes ....... all who value free speech and freedom of thought and commitment to decency and understanding and the finer expressions of human intellect are in grave danger from these practitioners of iron-age beliefs concocted by the mental case Mohammed, pigshit be upon him.
  • makeminemaudlin
    In 2001, I was attacked by 6 men with crowbars and baseball bats. They wanted to kill me because I am gay. They were Christians.

    I will not abide the lesser evil simply because you and your brethren are granted legitimacy by their intellectually dishonest, compartmentalized, and rationalized-beyond-recognition faith system.

    You *feel* attacked by Islam. I *was* attacked by Christians. I will not let anyone attack me again.
  • Beejj
    That is a deeply tragic tale, Makeminemaudlin, and it it distresses me that you experienced such hellishness. Do not think for one moment that I am an apologist for Christians, for I consider anyone who has religious beliefs to have been sold short on logic, but I do not believe their Christian beliefs catalysed them into their brutal actions. May the bastards suffer everlasting torments for their cowardly actions towards you.

    Your second paragraph makes no sense to me, so perhaps you will elucidate.

    I do not FEEL I am attacked by Islam: I KNOW that all I was brought up to respect and admire is under threat from these neanderthal scumbags.

    What is the Islamic view of homosexuality? I don't know (even though Arabs are said to be fond of little boys). Christians and Buddhists and Hindus, etc? I do not know. What is my view - the view of the atheist? Do whatever pleases you as long as you do no harm to others. Now THERE'S a concept no Muslim can ever understand!
  • xkon
    Beejj: "...but I do not believe their Christian beliefs catalysed them into their brutal actions."

    So, when Christians, Jews, Hindus or Atheists commits a crime, it has nothing to do with their religion, BUT when Muslims commits a crime, then it has to do something to do with their religion? Sounds very bias.

    And then you state above, in a previous post:

    "Why do I consider Islam to be particularly inhumane? Because it reduces women to inferior objects and........ but the Koran says no such thing"

    Here's a verse in the Quran that not only says the complete opposite of what you said, but doesn't mention any of your claims even once:

    "...I never fail to reward any worker among you for any work you do, be you male or female—you are equal to one another. Quran (3:195)

    Now what does Prophet Mohammad say in Hadiths about Muslims killing non-Muslims?

    "Whoever hurts a non-Muslim person under protection, I am his adversary, and I shall be an adversary to him on the Day of Resurrection."
    (Bukhari)

    "One who kills a person under accord (Arabic: dhimmi - non-Muslim who is not at war with Muslims) will not even smell the fragrance of Paradise." (Bukhari)

    So not only can you NOT find evidence in the teachings of Islam that Islam advocates violence, but find the complete opposite to your claims.

    If you can't find evidence in the Quran advocating violence and crimes being done by Muslims, then why hate Islam for it? If you were normal, you'd hate violence by all people, regardless of their religion.
    You know that your ignorant. You know that your views are illogical and you just can't admit it.
  • Beejj
    Whoah, xkon! I said I do not believe those swine who assaulted him did so so from their religious beliefs. They are just low-life scum. And don't be even more silly than you usually are: Jews, Christians and uncle Tom Cobbleigh and all are adept at committing crimes (they are human, god help them) but their aptitude for doing so is not necessarily religion-driven. There must be any number of Muslims who, like Christians and Jews, etc, commit crimes of an "every-day" nature, so don't try to make out I am saying a crime is a result of religious belief. No bias, dear boy, so don't be silly. Strapping explosives to children's bodies and murdering athletes IS religion-driven, however.

    Oh hell, here you go again: quoting that idiotic book of yours. I'll just skip over the next few lines ........

    I have no intention of seeking evidence that your comic religion advocates violence if seeking such means I have to delve into your dreadful tome of evil. Indeed, I am sufficiently open-minded to take your word that such is not the case. I do not need to search your book for such assurance. All I have to do is scan the world news every day to see concrete evidence of the evil of Muslim thinking. This might be some way removed from what your book advocates, but a 60 year-old woman with an axe in her head constitutes considerably greater proof of what your religion stands for in real terms than anything I can think of.

    Oh dear, xkon! Your final sentence says so much about you. (By the way, it's "you're", not "your", but let it pass.) God, you make me laugh: my views do not coincide with yours, ergo I am illogical. Priceless!

    No comment from you yet about the "smooth as vipers" stuff, I notice .........
  • xkon
    "Oh dear, xkon! Your final sentence says so much about you. (By the way, it's "you're", not "your", but let it pass.)"

    You know, as soon as that last post had been posted, I realized I mistyped that word. I didn't think it was important to reply and say I "mistyped" a word. But I KNEW that someone like you would find ANYTHING else to focus on. I gave you evidence and I took your words in context to contradict your statements. I just completely refuted your last argument, Beejj.

    "God, you make me laugh: my views do not coincide with yours, ergo I am illogical. "

    Oh, you believe in God now? And if YOU'RE going to use an expression, you might as well do it in consideration to your "beliefs". That way you don't say something that you don't mean, or that you don't believe.

    "No comment from you yet about the "smooth as vipers" stuff"

    smooth as vipers? Where are you getting this stuff? Are you suffering from Alzheimer's? "No bias, dear BOY, so don't be silly."
  • Beejj
    Xkon, you worry me. It's one thing to believe the bullshit written in your book, but when you start saying things such as "I gave you EVIDENCE" and "I completely refuted your last argument" you clearly believe your own bullshit. That is very, very sad. Terminally so, I fear.

    Ah, I used the word GOD. True. Everyone does because such expressions as God knows, and Honest to God, and God help him, and Goddamit, etc are just parts of common speech. Just expressions; no more. My use of the word does not mean I believe in this absurdity.

    Don't bullshit me that you know nothing of the "smooth as vipers" line. It was part of a report that prompted a post from me a few days ago AND TO WHICH YOU REPLIED, you oleaginous little worm.
  • xkon
    Take it easy there Beejj. Wouldn't want you to go psychotic. Look, I know how all of this is truly frustrating you. So anything regarding you from now on, I'll just let it go.

    And Beejj, regarding that "post" to which I replied about "smooth as vipers", did I make any mention of it? If you brought up that "line", and I didn't respond to it, it means you brought an irrelevant topic to which we were not discussing in the first place.

    Whatever helps you sleep at night, Beejj. Seeing that you don't believe in God, then your "only" nights.
    Enjoy your life.
  • Beejj
    You pathetic little man! That is the most dismal surrender I have ever witnessed. No wonder the Israelis always kick your butts!
  • xkon
    Let's see. Regarding your prior post above, you used expletive language, made no argument, and used statements off topic regarding your opinion, and somehow I'm "surrendering" by leaving that discussion? I wonder where that discussion was leading...?
    Beejj, please do yourself a favor. Before you tell people they're giving up on something, ask yourself if they're giving up or just giving up on you. But whichever keeps you satisfied of course.
  • Beejj
    Darwin? Smooth as vipers?
  • hellosnackbar
    G'day to you Beej,( from a damp dismal Paddyland.)
    I've mused on the gender of xcon for a few minutes and speculated that this entity might be female(a tendency to become a little shrill ).
    But defending the indefensible is always difficult.
    The religiously blighted always trot out the non
    arguement that if,(as in her/his case if it's in the koran then it must be true).
    All application of logic dissapears.
    I diagnose a terminal case of "Koranosis"
    a current chronic mental disease afflicting the
    gullible and spread through "fairy tales of fear"
  • Beejj
    Damp, but green, Hellosnackbar - you should see this place! Loved the 14/13 result (15/14?). Less pleased with the 21/16 outcome.
  • hellosnackbar
    The frogs played very well and the taffies were a bit off script.(they'll get an awful slagging from Shaun after
    chucking away that lead).
    England played like muslims(ie they'll be failing for a long time)unless they
    apply a little intelligence.
    I think Allah should revive holy Jonnie then things would really be different but Allah's a mendacious
    twat.
  • hellosnackbar
    Is Beej also a candidate for an angry allah to consine to ever lasting torment on judgement day.?
    Maybe you can have a word with the big A so that you can witness his and my demise.
  • Beejj
    G'day, Hellosnackbar. If it turns out that this nasty fucker called God exists I shall not feel in the slightest way apologetic for my non-belief when my time comes. I shall use Bertrand Russell's words ..... "Insufficient evidence." And then I'll kick his divine balls all over heaven and make a rapid exit to hell where all my friends are awaiting me! Once there I will set about these Muslim swine with Satan's nasty pointy thing, deliciously spending eternity puncturing them and savouring their wails of woe. You see, Satan, like God, despises them.
  • I agree with you, but don't toe the "all religions are equally bad" argument. There are several specific reasons why the ideological aspects of Islam are inhumane.

    Many aspects of the Israeli gov't have religion involved (Judaism) but you don't see them stoning homosexuals and adulterers, do you? It has nothing to do with religious values influencing government policy. It's Islam, nothing else. Inhumane government policy is just a result of the basics tenets of Islam being carried out by people in power.
  • makeminemaudlin
    Most such religions ARE equally "bad" as you say, because they are all founded on the ultimately unjust authority of a deity who is capable of speaking to its subjects but suffers from the tragically human qualities of self-importance and self-intoxication that prevent it from deigning to do so. This is evidenced in the Book of Job as well as in the Q'uran.

    I'd like to hear your evidence for Islam being particularly inhumane. That's not to say I disagree with you. But I will say that modern Wahabbist Islam exhibits much more intellectual honesty with regard to the particular issues of liberal theology than the vast majority of the other opiate-laced fruits of Abrahamic religon. These degrees of "badness" in such religions, if they can be measured at all, are measured in the detrimental effects they have on people.

    Surely, Israel stands as the most progressive society in the Middle East. But in 2005, 3 participants in the Tel Aviv gay pride parade were stabbed without provocation. Their assailant was not a Muslim, but an Orthodox Jew. In 2006, Christian, Muslim, and Jewish leaders convened to unanimously condemn homosexuality and homosexuals just as the World Pride events took place in Jerusalem. They saw past their theological and political differences for long enough to unite as a front against actual living people, favoring instead some disembodied metaphysical Santa Claus-esque rain god. This can't exactly be good for gay people in Israel. Have you ever seen "Trembling Before G-d"? It is a supreme example of the psychological torture that leads to destruction of families, self-hatred, and even suicide, that Abraham's first child Judaism still to this day confers upon the faithful.

    When you say "many aspects of Israeli gov't" you of course mean that it's the only legitimately recognized theocracy in the world. It's fundamental principles ARE religious values, so there's no need for influence of such values upon its policies. One is the other. And if you think that is completely benign, I beg you to reexamine your evidence. The founding of the political state of Israel was based mostly on Christian eschatology (the Book of Revelations). Again, the measure of "badness" in a religion is the detrimental effects it has on people, and I would have to say that that turned out to be pretty damned detrimental, what with all the war that has occurred as a result basically from day one.

    Furthermore (forgoing the fact that "Islam" is not monolithic and therefore cannot be the SINGLE cause of anything), where is Islam in every single instance of inhumane governmental policy? It certainly MUST be there, if it is the case that "inhumane government policy is just the result of the basic tenets of Islam being carried out by people in power". Otherwise, your statement completely meaningless.

    Every time Abrahamic religion enters the political arena, everyone loses.
  • Beejj
    Makeminemaudlin, of course the deity suffers from the defects to which you refer, given that this deity is a human invention: God created in man's image. Just read the 23rd psalm - a job description for an imaginary God. The Book of Revelations? It amazes me that LSD was available in those times. The book of Job summarises into: play the hand you are dealt and don't complain. What a load of shit!

    Why do I consider Islam to be particularly inhumane? Because it reduces women to inferior objects and straps explosives to children's bodies while promising eternal rewards for those who "heroically" bring death upon non-believers. Ah, but the Koran says no such thing ............... It might or it might not, but the arseholes who read it seem to think so, and they are the ones who matter.

    Israel is a land of people - people who are allowed to think for themselves; people who are not punished for taking a view contrary to that held by the majority. Yes, there will be people in Israel whose views are utterly foreign to yours and mine, but let us rejoice that they are able to express themselves (short of murder, of course) without having a fatwah placed upon them,.

    The wars that have afflicted Israel "from day one" were not initiated by Israel, so please don't try to fuck with my brain. Brush up on your history before you dare attempt such a thing.

    Your final paragraph needs rewriting because as it stands it is gibberish.
  • Tonto
    Dubai refused entry to a Jewish competitor in a tennis tournament too....those little twinkies really have issues that threaten them don't they?
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