Palestinian scholar dies

NEW YORK, Sept. 25 (UPI) -- Edward Said, a professor of English and comparative religion at Colombia University died of cancer Thursday in New York. He was 67.

Said was known for his brilliant writing and advocacy for Palestinian independence.

Born in Jerusalem, he moved to Cairo in 1948 when his family fled the fighting between Palestinians and Jews. He studied in Cairo and earned a bachelor's degree from Princeton University and a master's and doctorate from Harvard University.

Sparked by the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, Said, a moderate, became one of the most eloquent spokesmen for the Palestinian cause.

For his activism, he was attacked from many sides. The Jewish Defense League called him a Nazi and militants set fire to his office. Later, when he criticized the Palestinian hierarchy and the Oslo peace accords, he was vilified by some fellow Palestinians and his books were banned in Palestinian territories.

He wrote 10 books, including "Orientalism," "The Question of Palestine" and "Covering Islam." He lectured at more than 150 universities and was also a music critic.

He is survived by his wife Miriam.