Banning Books in Egypt?

Nathan Field at the Daily News Egypt has a very intriguing interview with John R. Bradley, author of the book “Inside Egypt: The Land of the Pharaohs On the Brink of a Revolution.” The book became the subject of controversy after a July 23 Associated Press article quoting Bradley and his publisher said that the book had been banned for distribution in Egypt after American University in Cairo’s bookstore canceled an order for 15 books. However, after international and local attention, the Ministry of Information denied the ban and the book was given the green light.

Bradley sees two possible explanations for the reversal of the ban. One possibility was that some low-ranking official that disagreed with the book forbade the bookstore’s order. This possibility, according to Bradley would reflect, “…the chaotic nature of the regime as I describe it in ‘Inside Egypt,’ where there is no accountability or transparency — let alone respect for the rule of law and the values of free expression.” The other explanation posited by Bradley is the fact that the government was forced to backtrack after the ban gave the book international recognition.