The Palestinian Attorney General’s office has issued a ban on a crime thriller called “A Crime in Ramallah” on the grounds that it violates public morals.
Deputy general counsel Ahmed Barak said that a decision was made to pull all copies of the novel from all libraries and bookstores.
The ban is supposedly because the novel includes violations of “ethics and morals” and that it “would prejudice the citizen” who reads it – it would cause juvenile delinquency if the young should read it. He hides this censorship behind claims that the book violates the Press and publications Law, the Penal Code, the Law on the Protection of Juveniles, and the Law of the Child, which prohibits the publication or display or circulation of any books or audio or videos that might make a child act “contrary to public order and morals.”
The book looks like a standard crime novel that is meant to illuminate the dark parts of society, with corrupt politicians and police. If I understand the plot correctly, it involves a murder of a young woman whose circumstances would embarrass prominent officials so the family is framed as if it was an honor killing.
Reviews have been generally positive although they note that the novel is bold.
It appears that the novel hit too close to home for the Palestinian Authority officials.
I’m sure that human rights groups will be very loud in their denunciation of this censorship. Right after the flying pigs invasion.
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