'Jewel of Medina' to be published in U.K.

LONDON, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- "Jewel of Medina," an Islamic-themed novel Random House decided not to publish as planned, reportedly is to be released in the United Kingdom.

Random House, which is based in the United States, said it was not publishing as scheduled journalist Sherry Jones's work of fiction about the Prophet Muhammad and his child bride for fear it "could incite acts of violence by a small, radical segment."

However, the BBC reported that the independent British company Gibson Square is planning to publish Jones's debut novel next month.

Gibson Square's Martin Rynja told the British broadcaster there must be "open access to literary works, regardless of fear."

"If a novel of quality and skill that casts light on a beautiful subject we know too little of in the West, but have a genuine interest in, cannot be published here, it would truly mean that the clock has been turned back to the dark ages," he said.