A distinguished British writer, with a long history of publication, is unable to find a publisher for a book critical of Islam. He strongly suspects that pibslihers are intimidated by implicit threats of violence against them. Everyone, after all, remembers the fate of Salman Rushdie, who must live the rest of his life in fear of the fatwa issued against him.

I suspect he is correct, and that we have entered a shameful new era, in which it is pefectly safe to denounce the Patriot Act and John Ashcroft, but in which criticism of anything related to Islam is off limits. Where are all the left wing defenders of freedom of expression? Strangely silent.

Posted by Thomas  07 28 04