REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama, the publisher of a book containing insults about the Prophet Mohammad, burned hundreds of copies of the book on Wednesday following protests from Muslim communities and Islamic organizations. The book, written by Douglas James Wilson, cited that the Prophet Mohammad was described as a pirate, a robber, and had conducted murders to conquer Madina.

The burning of the book, entitled "5 Kota Paling Berpengaruh di Dunia" (Five most influential cities in the world -ed), was carried out in front of the Gramedia Pustaka Utama compound in Palmerah at 2.10pm after the publisher had earlier apologized and withdrew the book from circulation.

The burning of the book was witnessed by Ma`ruf Amin, the chairman of the Fatwa Commission of the Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI) and three other MUI executives, as well as the president director of Gramedia Pustaka Utama, Wandi S Brata.

Habib Novel and Irwan Arsidi from Islam Defenders` Front (FPI) explained that on page 24 there were insulting words describing the Prophet Mohammad as if he was a pirate, a robber and had conducted murders to conquer Madina. Novel said the story about the Prophet Mohammad was far from the facts and based on it he had reported the publisher to the police for blasphemy.

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