BANGLADESH BANS BOOK ON WOMEN

DHAKA (AP)--The government banned a book on Tuesday,

saying it could hurt the sentiments of Muslims by claiming

that Islam considers women as sex slaves.

The author of the collection of essays said the government

apparently bowed to pressure from Islamic fundamentalists

and he will challenge the ban in a court of law.

The government ordered the consfiscation and ban on the sale,

distribution and preservation of the book, "Woman," because it

attacks the basic beliefs of Muslims in this Islamic nation, a

Home Ministry statement said.

Humanyun Azad, the author of the 406-page collection of essays

that was first published in 1991, said that a 40-page chapter

in the book highlights the treatment of women in Islamic,

Christian, Hindu and Jewish societies. Azad claimed that the

Koran, the Islamic holy text, portrays women as sex slaves of

men.

Two years ago, the government arrested author Taslima Nasrin

and banned her novel on charges that it hurts the sentiments

of Muslims, who are a majority in this nation of 120 million

people.

[Source: Asahi Evening News, 22/11/95 and The Daily Yomiuri, 23/11/95]

Manir

manir@okabe.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp