APPRAISING 'THE JEWEL OF MEDINA'

By Fred Burton and Scott Stewart

"The Jewel of Medina," a controversial work of historical fiction by American author Sherry Jones, was supposed to have gone on sale Oct. 15 in the United Kingdom. A series of events, however, have delayed its British release indefinitely. The book, which went on sale in the United States on Oct. 6, describes the life of Aisha, the young girl who became the Prophet Mohammed's third - and according to many sources, favorite - wife.

Some Muslims have labeled the book blasphemous and have branded the author an enemy of Islam. An associate professor of Islamic history at the University of Texas at Austin said Muslims would find the book very offensive and, in an August interview in The Wall Street Journal, likened it to soft-core pornography.

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By a special correspondent

Terrorist radicalisation will take thirty years to eradicate, a Committee of MPs heard today.

During the Defence Select Committee's inquiry into 'UK national security and resilience' evidence was heard from the following witnesses:

- Rt Hon Bob Ainsworth MP, Minister for the Armed Forces, Ministry of Defence (MOD);
- John Day, Policy Director, MOD;
- Brigadier Chapman, Military Director of Counter Terrorism and UK operations, MOD;
- Admiral Lord West of Spithead KCB DSC, Under Secretary of State for Security and Counter Terrorism, Home Office;
- Gillian McGregor, Home Office;
- Chloe Squires, Cabinet Office.

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