-- KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Malaysia's state censors banned two books on Islam saying they gave a misleading view of the religion — a move slammed Friday by a group of Muslim women activists who published one of them.**********
The books were identified as the English-language "Muslim Women and the Challenge of Islamic Extremism" and the Malay-language "Strange but True in Prayers."
Norhayati Kaprawi, an official with the group, said the book was an academic work in which female activists and scholars studied the impact of extremism on Muslim women's lives.
"For me, it's very ironic that the book itself is a victim of extremism. Does that mean women cannot even discuss extremism?" she said.
"What do they want us to do? Lie down and shut up?"
RELATED: Burning flesh... the new normal
At least 18 people were killed and scores were wounded Thursday when a suicide bomber blew herself up in a tent filled with women on a religious pilgrimage, Iraqi security officials said.*
The attack, which came around dusk in the city of Iskandariya, occurred at the same apartment complex where a suicide bomber killed 40 Shiite pilgrims in February.
“I saw smoke, and I smelled the very bad smell of burned flesh and blood,” said Ali, an 18-year-old who lives at the apartment complex and gave only his first name.
“The reactions were a little less than at the last blast,” Ali added, referring to the February attack, “maybe because they already have been shocked.”
