A BOOK by Turkish author and journalist Mustafa Akyol was banned recently because it had inappropriate “elements” that strayed from “Malaysian norms”, Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamid said.

“The book in question, which is written by a foreigner, has too many elements and facts that are far outside what is considered appropriate or the norm in our country,” said Zahid, who is also home minister.

“We feel it would not be appropriate to allow this book to be widely publicised. Therefore the ministry has taken action for the sake of the people and the country,” Zahid said, referring to Akyol’s book “Islam Without Extremes: A Muslim Case for Liberty”.

A federal gazette announcing the ban was released late last month and followed a summons by the Federal Territories Religious Department (Jawi) to question Akyol for giving a religious talk without proper accreditation.

Akyol was to have spoken at an interfaith forum titled “The Islamic Jesus”, which eventually was cancelled.

He was then detained on orders from Jawi as he prepared to board a flight at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and subsequently taken to the Jawi headquarters in Kuala Lumpur for questioning.

Zahid told reporters today that Akyol and about a dozen other Islamic books were banned recently for failing to meet criteria set by the Home Ministry.

The bans were instituted under Section 7(1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

Zahid said the Publications and Al-Quran Text Control Division under the Home Ministry has three steps when deciding to ban books.

“First, a ban may be carried out after we receive feedback from the public, where they give their views on the inappropriateness of certain books.”

“Second, we also judge the contents of the books whether it follows the guidelines set by Home Ministry’s permit.

“Third, (action can be taken) after we carried out investigations on the appropriateness of such books. Such are books that we ban.”

Other books banned in federal gazettes issues at the end of last month were Abdullah Yusuf Ali’s translation of the Quran, “Al-Quran Translation”; “The Quran Modern English Translation” by SAM Synergy Media; “Translation of the Quran” by Multiracial Reverted Muslims; the Korean edition of “The Meaning of The Glorious Qur’an”, and the Chinese edition of “The Meaning of the Holy Quran”.

Also banned were Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik, “The Meaning of Al-Quran (The Guidance for Mankind)”, Faisal Tehrani’s book “Aku _____, Maka Aku Ada!”, and two issues in a series by the Islamic Renaissance Front, “Wacana Pemikiran Reformis”. – October 6, 2017.