——————————————
Islamic Human Rights Commission
——————————————

ALERT: MEDIA MONITORING & REPSONSE
Date:17 September, 1999
Subject:PROMETHEUS BOOKS, ‘Rage Against the Veil’ & other titles.

1. Background
2. Suggested Action
3. Useful Addresses
4. Specimen letters

Background
IHRC has received a number of complaints about the book ‘Rage Against the Veil’ by Parvin Homa and Romin P. Thomson, published by Prometheus Books of Amherst, NY, USA.

The book purports to ‘raise awareness of the slave conditions of women in Islam…’ and has been hailed as ‘indicative of a larger problem surrounding the role of women in Islamic society.’ Claims of, ‘Oppression, misogyny, and even slavery…’ are laid at the door of Islam and Muslim society, regardless of fact, investigation or research.

IHRC is particularly concerned that the nature of such writing is neo-fascist in its demonisation of a whole people. In fact the demonisation of Islam and Muslims in this manner is akin to that of Adolph Hitler and the Nazi movement’s demonisation of the Jews. As history has shown such demonisation is the prelude to genocide. Indeed the demonisation of Islam, Muslims and non-Orthodox Christians in the Balkans has led to the genocide of Bosnia and Kosova.

Suggested Action

Boycott of PROMETHEUS BOOKS

A. Write, fax or e-mail Prometheus Books to voice your intention to boycott their establishment due to their promotion of Islamophobic and racist literature (see ss3 & 4).
B. Write to your local retailer asking them to withdraw any copies of ‘Rage Against the Veil’ and other books from Prometheus. Voice your intention to boycott their establishment if they do not do so (see s 4).
C. Write to your local library asking them to withdraw any copies of ‘Rage Against the Veil’ and other books from Prometheus. Voice your intention to boycott their establishment if they do not do so (see s 4).

Complain to AMAZON.com, BORDERS.com and BARNESNOBLE.com

(i) E-mail these and any other on-line bookstores that hold this title, and complain about their stocking and promotion of Prometheus Books, particularly, ‘Rage Against the Veil.’ Voice your intention to boycott their company and to encourage others to do so.

Please let us know of the responses you receive.

3. Useful Addresses

PROMETHEUS BOOKS
59 John Glenn Drive
Amherst, New York
14228-2197
USA

Tel: (716) 691 0133
Toll Free: (800) 421 0351
e-mail: marketing@prometheusbooks.com

For UK campaigners, also:

Prometheus Books UK
10 Crescent View
Loughton
Essex
IG10 4PZ

Tel & Fax: 20 8508 2989
e-mail: prom@hutch.demon.co.uk

4. Specimen letters

To Prometheus Books

Dear Sir or Madam,

Re: ‘Rage Against the Veil’ & other titles

I am shocked and saddened to see your publication of this and other titles purporting to study Islam.

Unfortunately these titles are racist, Islamophobic and smack of the anti-semitism that brought about the genocide of Jews in Europe in the 1930s and 1940s. You company appears to be intent on demonising a whole community regardless of the facts, and with clearly malicious design.

I shall be boycotting Prometheus Books, and encouraging others to do so. Your company appears to be nothing more than a mouthpiece for the racism and extremism that brought humanity to its darkest hour this century.

Yours,

Your signature
Your name

To: Retailers & Libraries

The Manager / Head Librarian
Name of Retailer / Name of Library
Address

Date:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Re: ‘Rage Against the Veil’ by Parvin Homa & Romin P. Thomson, and other titles by Prometheus Books

I am writing regarding the publication of inaccurate, racist and Islamophobic material by Prometheus Books. In particular I am concerned with the title ‘Rage Against the Veil,’ by Parvin Homa & Romin P. Thomson.

Unfortunately this and other Prometheus titles purporting to study Islam, are racist, Islamophobic and smack of the anti-semitism that brought about the genocide of Jews in Europe in the 1930s and 1940s. The company appears to be intent on demonising a whole community regardless of the facts, and with clearly malicious design.

I shall be boycotting Prometheus Books, and encouraging others to do so. I request that you remove the above title and any other Prometheus titles should you have any in your stock. Your failure to do so will indicate to those of us who wish to see racism and extremism stamped out that, you appear to be supporting the hatred that brought humanity to its darkest hour this century.

I enclose a Press Release on the matter, issued by a London-based human rights group. Please contact them should you need further clarification.

Yours faithfully,

Your signature
Your name

Enclosure: IHRC Press Release