A renowned writer on religion, whose works have been banned thrice by the government will be in town by the invitation of the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relation to deliver a talk this weekend. Karen Armstrong is a prolific writer on Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and has produced a number best sellers, including Through the Narrow Gate, The Battle for God: Fundamentalism in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and The Spiral Staircase. Described by The Star and New Straits Times as a "religious historian", Armstrong is also a freelance broadcaster, scholar on religion, and a former Catholic nun.

Ironically, behind the local media's favorable review of Armstrong's coming to town; "Religious historian to promote peace, understanding" (The Star, 11 June, pg 18) and "Renowned religious historian coming to town" (NST, 11 June, pg 10), the government's hostility towards her view looms in the background. In 2004 and 2006, the Ministry of Internal Security deemed Armstrong's books to be able to "disrupt peace and harmony" and banned three of her books, namely The History of God, The Battle for God, and Muhammad: A biography of the Prophet. Despite public outcry and a petition signed by over 100 people organized by CIJ and Sisters in Islam in July 2006, the ministry has not given a satisfactory explanation on why Armstrong's and scores of other books on religion are banned.

The government should break its silence on the criteria of banning books and open up the public space to allow ideas to circulate as freely as possible. The government must stop disallowing Malaysians to decide for themselves whether a book is good for them.

Karen Armstrong will be the speaking on The Role of Religion in the 21st Century at a conference on Islam and the West on 16 June, 10:00am at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.