After arrest, Turkish journalist faces book ban

Putrajaya has banned a book by prominent Turkish journalist Mustafa Akyol, who was briefly detained by the Federal Territories Islamic Department (Jawi) last week.

According to a federal government gazette notice, the book, "Islam without Extremes: A Muslim Case for Liberty", published in 2011, is now banned in the country, along with its Bahasa Malaysia version.

The Bahasa Malaysia version of the book was published by the think tank Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF) last year.

Meanwhile, another gazette notification stated that there was a ban on two books by IRF chairperson Ahmad Farouk Musa, titled "Wacana Pemikiran Reformis 1" and "Wacana Pemikiran Reformis 2", which were published  by IRF in 2012 and 2014.

Both gazette notifications were issued on Sept 6 and signed by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, in his capacity as home minister.

Mustafa was a relatively obscure figure in Malaysia until he was ticked off by Jawi after a speaking engagement in Kuala Lumpur on Sept 24.

The award-winning author was arrested by Jawi officials while attempting to leave the country the next day and questioned for several hours for giving a religious talk without accreditation.

In his latest column published by the New York Times, Mustafa said his release from detention in Malaysia was secured by the Turkish embassy, former Turkish president Abdullah Gul and an unnamed member of the Malaysian royalty.

Meanwhile, Jawi has summoned Ahmad Farouk to appear before the Kuala Lumpur Syariah Court on Dec 4, to answer charges of "abetting" Mustafa.- Mkini