The Bookseller.com

4th July 2009

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Malik claims censorship

13.08.08

Author Max Malik, who won last year's Muslim Writer of the Year Award, has claimed his new book was "censored" from this year's competition because it tackled subjects "unpalatable" to Britain's Islamic community like suicide bombings, reports the Daily Telegraph, responding to a press release, issued on Malik's behalf.

Malik said even though his unpublished book was one of just five novels shortlisted for this year's award, The Butterfly Hunter was never given to the judges to read. The Muslim Writers Awards aim to unearth undiscovered talent, but Malik said he thought his book had been cast aside to appease parts of the Muslim community.

The organisers of the awards have admitted the judges never got the chance to read the book, even though it was short-listed, but could not explain why. The 2008 awards ceremony was held in Birmingham on 29th March.

 

Daily Telegraph

Max Malik Muslim Writer of the Year Award