Tre menn forsøkte natt til lørdag å drepe Martin Rynja, den nederlandske utgiveren av Sherry Jones’ bok om Muhammed og hans yndlingshustru Aisha. De skjøv en brannbombe gjennom brevsprekken på huset hans. Boken er ment å utkomme i neste måned.

Random House takket nei i ellevte time, og viste til sikkerhetsvurderinger, bla. fra Denise Spellberg ved University of Texas som kalte boken en sikkerhetstrussel og krigserklæring.

Fikk hun rett, eller er det nettopp disse nyhetsoppslagene som gir ekstremistene blod på tann, slik at spådommene blir selvoppfyllende.

Sherry Jones’ agent, Natasha Kern, var sjokkert over nyheten om attentatet:

Yesterday, Natasha Kern, Jones’s agent, said she was shocked to learn of the attack. She said the book had been misinterpreted by its critics and did not contain sex scenes, as had been alleged.

«I honestly believe that if people read the book they will see it is not disrespectful of Muhammad, and moderate Muslims will not be offended. I don’t want anyone to risk their lives but we could never imagine that there would be some madmen who would do something like this. I’m so sad about this act of terrorism. Moderate Muslims will suffer because of a few radicals.»

Kern said it was too early for her to comment on whether the book should be withdrawn. «That’s up to Martin, and I still need to absorb the fact that he was at risk. I’m just so glad he has not been hurt.»

Muslim gang firebombs publisher of Allah novel, Martin Rynja