Irshad Manji recently published Allah, Liberty and Love, a follow up to The Trouble With Islam Today, which is an examination of the negative effects of Islamic regimes as well as the importance of reclaiming Islam. After The Trouble With Islam Today was published in 2004, it was subsequently banned in much of the Middle East and many predominantly Islamic countries.
Instead of allowing a publication ban to stop her, Manji made copies available online. Millions of free copies in Arabic, Urdu, Farsi, Malay and Indonesion have been downloaded, according to her website. If Allah, Liberty and Love is also banned, Manji should continue to make copies available to people in their native tongues online in order to reach those who are being oppressed by regimes examined in her book.
Authors exploring controversial topics in other countries should follow in Manji’s footsteps and make copies of their books available online as well if they want to reach the most highly affected demographic.
However, we must proceed with caution because the Internet is a double-edged sword. Manji’s book promoted dialogue where it’s limited, but authors could also abuse the Internet to promote hate. Creating digital copies of banned books could have an opposite effect because some books, like those of neo-Nazis, are banned for a reason.
The availability of Manji’s book via online downloads hasn’t hindered her success. She’s still a bestselling Canadian author, and she has a role to play in the advancement of liberal society. Using liberal societies to make resources accessible online can counter oppressive regimes, creating alternative voices there, while promoting dialogue here.