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Anti-Coptic book wins Arabic fiction prize
by Scott Gilbreath ~ March 19th, 2009
Egyptian author and Islamic philosophy scholar Youssef Ziedan has been awarded the second annual International Prize for Arabic Fiction for his historical novel Azazeel (“Beelzebub”, or “Lord of the Flies”). Set in 5th-century Egypt, the book focuses on violent conflicts and divisions among Christians over the nature of Jesus Christ and sympathises with those who did not accept his divinity.
When Azazeel was first published, Coptic Christians denounced it as the Arabic version of The DaVinci Code and an attempt to discredit Christian doctrine. Those criticisms were repeated in the wake of the prize.
[Coptic apologist] Father Bassiet said the novel ‘Azazeel’ is an insult to the history and the symbols of the Coptic Church, as it says that the Church has darkened the world, and that its priests took all the food and filled life with ugliness. It also says they were snakes that killed in the name of the Lord anyone who was not Christian.
Bishop Bishoi, Secretary of the Holy Synod and Bishop of Damietta, said:
“This confirms intolerance of Christians. The administration of the award should have more consideration for the Coptic Church, as we stood against any scorns of Islam. We also condemned the cartoons that scorned the prophet.”
Blogging at Babylon and Beyond for the Los Angeles Times, Noah El-Hennawy has more about Mr Ziedan’s motivation in writing the controversial novel:
Ziedan, in an interview in Alexandria, said in a defiant tone that his work aimed at challenging the monopoly claimed by different religious institutions over the truth of faith and history. “I don’t deconstruct the text, but I reexamine the religious institution and religious heritage,” said Ziedan. “I analyze religious knowledge and consciousness.”
Yet, this is not the crux of Ziedan’s views. His critique goes beyond the role of religious institutions to the essence of monotheistic religions: “The substance is the same; it is based on the superiority of oneself over others under the pretext of possessing a god who owns the truth. This element of superiority is the same in all three religions, which gives rise to violence. As long as religions last, violence will persist. ”
So, Ziedan says he wants to challenge “the essence of monotheistic religions”, and which specific religion does he take on? Not the one followed by 90 percent of his countrymen, and the one he follows himself—Islam. He’s seen what radical Muslims can do when someone challenges Islam. Islamists commit mayhem and murder over that kind of thing,
No, best to take on the peaceable Christians. That way he can offend believers while avoiding death threats from religious leaders. A very courageous writer, that Youssef Ziedan.
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