German publisher cancels book with abusive comments about the koran

"After the Mohammad cartoons, one knows that one can't publish sentences or drawings that defame Islam without expecting a security risk,"

A German publisher canceled a murder mystery book about honor killing because it is seen as insulting the koran. The book's author, Gabrile Brinkmann, refused to remove the 'offending' passages.

BERLIN (Reuters) - A German publisher said Tuesday it had canceled the printing of a murder mystery about an honor killing because it contained passages insulting Islam and may have prompted Islamist retaliation.

Droste publishers dropped the book by author Gabriele Brinkmann entitled "To Whom Honor is Due" after she refused to change several passages, including one where a fictional character is portrayed making abusive remarks about the Koran.[...]

The publisher's decision has prompted criticism that it is bowing to Islamist intimidation and curtailing freedom of speech. The firm has also received threats from far-right groups against its employees for being "friends of Islamists."

German newspapers ran headlines: "Publisher self censors" and "Fear of Islamist attacks."[...]

"What on earth is this all about, where are we here? We are in a free country," Brinkmann told German media.

Indeed.