Row over Egypt's 'book of love'

The Al-Azhar said the book was an open invitation to obscenity

An Egyptian poet will defy an edict by Muslim authorities calling for his latest book to be withdrawn because of its explicit sexual nature.

Ahmed Shahawi said the ruling against Commandments of Love for Women had nothing to do with religion.

The book's publishers argue Al-Azhar University can only recommend what books people should read, not ban them.

Egyptian literary and human rights groups have protested against the edict as a threat to freedom of expression.

They say it demonstrates the increasing censorship practiced by religious institutions.

Scholars' praise

The controversy over the book started in September, when an Islamist lawmaker protested about it in parliament, saying it desecrated Islamic principles.

Know that there is nothing greater than the meeting of your souls and the joining of your bodies The Prophet said there is nothing better for those who are in love than lovemaking within wedlock Extract from Commandments of Love for Women

The government-run publishers moved quickly to take the book off the shelves.

But within hours it was back on sale, after the scholars who had sanctioned its publication explained that the poet was drawing on the sacred heritage of the Koran and the sayings of the Prophet Mohammed in order to elevate the status of women within Arab culture.

The scholars praised the book for its affinity with Islamic mysticism known as Sufism, which regards the love of women as a means of loving God.

Al-Azhar's edict

Their arguments - backed up reportedly by the intervention of powerful official figures - convinced the publishers, but not Al-Azhar - the highest authority in Sunni Islam.

On Saturday, its research academy said people should not read the book.

It described the book as an open invitation to obscenity, for saying things like women should surrender themselves to passion without shame, and parade naked before their lovers.

Last month, a United Nations-sponsored report said the relatively tiny and restricted number of books being published in the Arab world was one of the reasons why Arab societies were falling far short of their potential.