RAMALLAH, February 7, 2017 (WAFA) – The PLO department of culture and information Tuesday called on Attorney General Ahmad Barak to annul his decision to remove from book stores all copies of the Arabic novel “A homicide in Ramallah” written by a Palestinian author.

The department said in a press release that Barak’s decision to ban the book on the ground it contains explicit sexual language and indecent terms is completely unfounded and seriously undermines freedom of opinion, expression and creative writing, guaranteed by the Palestinian declaration of independence and the Basic Law.

“To use the term public decency is a form of manipulation and unacceptable justification because it has no legal or logical definition. It opens the doors for an endless censorship, which violates freedom of expression and right to creative writing.”

It said the authorities must abide by the laws, agreements, and international treaties to reflect a true loyalty to the international community and its shared values.

The author Abad Yahiya, who previously wrote another controversial novel, “Blonde Ramallah,” criticized on his Facebook page the order to remove his novel from shelves saying this step will have an impact on the freedom of creative writing and expression.

He said, “I am surprised and worried about freedom of creative writing, expression, publication and writing, and really shocked by what is happing and the way it is being done.”

Yahiya said he is not going to compromise on his right to use literary terms and texts as required in his writing.

M.H