Hamas-led Palestinian Authorities
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Banned Folktales Book
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Hamas-led Palestinian authorities banned an anthology book of folktales titled “Speak Bird, Speak Again,” according to the Associated Press.
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Palestinian Education Minister Nasser Shaer told the AP that copies of the books were removed from school libraries because of “clear sexual expressions” in the book. As many as 1,500 of the books were destroyed, the AP reported Tuesday (March 6, 2007).
The book lists for $356 on www.amazon.com for a single used copy. At that price, the censors could have made $534,000 if they sold the books instead of burning them.
West Bank novelist Zakariya Mohammed told the AP he fears banning Speak Bird, Speak Again is just the beginning of censorship under the Hamas-led government.
“If we don’t stand up to the Islamists now, they won’t stop confiscating books, songs and folklore,” he told the AP.
