9 Banned Books From Across the Globe

Unfortunately, books are still being banned across the globe, and it’s up to us to know what they are so that we can push back against that ridiculousness. So for Banned Books Week, I give you a (partial) list of banned works of fiction by country (written since 2000). I, for one, will make it a point to read these. Bangladesh All That Darkness (2004) by Taslima Nasrin Banned for “containing passages that could incite communal passions.” (source)   China Beijing Doll (2000) by Chun Sue Banned because of “its candid exploration of a young girl’s sexual awakening.” (source)   Eritrea My Father’s Daughter (2005) by Hannah Pool Banned because of political content. (source)   Iran O Zahir (2005) by Paulo Coelho No reason given. (source)   Lebanon The Da Vinci Code (2003) by Dan Brown Deemed offensive to Christianity. (source)   Malaysia Fifty Shades of Grey (2011) by E. L. James Contains “sadistic” material and is a “threat to morality.” (source)   Qatar Love Comes Later (2014) by Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar No reason given. (source)   Turkey Henna and Mirror (2003) by Müslüm Yücel Banned for containing “separatist propaganda.” (source)   United States The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (2007) by Sherman Alexie Banned in schools in the following cities: Stockton, Missouri; Richland, Washington; Newcastle, Wyoming; and Meridian, Idaho for the following reasons: “anti-family, cultural insensitivity, drugs/alcohol/smoking, gambling, offensive language, sex education, sexually explicit, unsuited for age group, violence, depictions of bullying” (source)   Save