Demand to Ban Muhammad Picture

December 4, 2007

Author: Subir Bhaumik

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7126217.stm

A minister in India's West Bengal state has called for a ban on a book carrying a picture the Prophet Muhammad.

Minority affairs minister Abdus Sattar said the picture on the cover could lead to "religious tensions".

The book, published six months ago, is on former Indian president and philosopher S Radhakrishnan.

The demand to ban the book comes days after violent protests by Muslims against Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen in the state capital Calcutta.

Muslim groups alleged that Ms Nasreen's writing ridicules Islam. Last week, the writer said she would withdraw some "controversial" lines from one of her books.