The author of a book about Islamic repression of women is the latest target of a death sentence from the Religion of Peace™: Call for Internet Publication of Sex, Sharia and Women in the History of Islam. (Hat tip: Paul.)

This is a call for the Internet publication (and eventual translation) of the book Sex, Sharia and Women in the History of Islam by Marywan (sp. Mariwan) Halabjaye (sp. Halabjayee, Halabjayi). The book concerns how Islam is allegedly used to oppress women. Halabjaye’s book is based on an analysis of the Qur’an as well as recognized Sunnah and Hadith. “I wanted to prove how oppressed women are in Islam and that they have no rights,” says Halabjaye.

This call for Internet publication is based on the belief that the best response to those who would suppress publication of a book is to increase publication, promotion and distribution of that book. The most efficient way to do that is on the Internet. This request is also based on the belief that it would be a powerful and timely lesson if the only thing accomplished by those who seek to suppress publication of the book Sex, Sharia and Women in the History of Islam is to cause it to be published to the entire world.

The Islamic League of Kurdistan has issued a “conditional” fatwa to kill Halabjaye if he does not repent and apologize for writing the book. The “conditional” nature of the fatal fatwa is uncertain at best. Halabjaye reports that “a couple of weeks ago in Halabja, the mullahs and scholars said if I go to them and apologize they will give me 80 lashes and then refer me to the fatwa committee to decide if I am to be beheaded. They might forgive me, they might not.” As a result, Halabjaye is in hiding with his pregnant wife and three children.

This request for Internet publication is also being made, in part, because the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has not offered Halabjaye any protection, much less arrested those who have solicited his murder and made threats against his life. “The Kurdish authorities have not provided any protection from threats and fatwas,” says Halabjaye, “any moment I am expecting a bullet or a hand grenade to be thrown into where I live.” On the contrary, in response to the Halabjaye affair the KRG Minister of Religious Issues, Dr. Mohammad Gaznayi, told protestors that, “we will give those who attack our prophets a sentence so that they can be a lesson for everyone.”