What did the book contain that was so offensive? According to an earlier Khaleej Times article, nothing but the truth:
It has been accused that chapter 25 of the book running from page 599 to 614 contains a deluge of derogatory remarks against Islam and the Muslim world, for example, dubbing Middle East as one of the most dangerously explosive areas in the world and the Muslim conquest of India as the most bloodiest in the world history, to mention a few.
The sub chapters clubbed under the title ‘North Africa and the Middle East’ also elaborate on the religion and life-style of Israel with pictures. “Israel is one of a few democracies in North Africa and the Middle East today. Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Morocco are all kingdoms; the country of Syria has sponsored terrorism by giving aid to radicals in the Palestine Liberation Organisation, known as the PLO,” read excerpts from page 610 of the book, copies of which Khaleej Times possess.
“Publisher of “˜offensive” textbook apologises,” from the Khaleej Times, with thanks to all who sent this in:
DUBAI “” Juma Al Salami, Assistant Under-Secretary of the Private Education Department affiliated to the Ministry of Education (MoE), met yesterday the regional manager of Pearson Education Company who came from the publisher’s main office in London to deliver a written apology for offence caused to Arabs, Muslims and Islam by material included in a book called “˜The cultures of the world”.
This book was circulated and distributed to a number of private schools in the country. The regional manager was accompanied by the director-general and representative of the company in the UAE. Al Salami accepted his apology.
Mighty big of you, Salami.