Simon & Schuster accused of promoting 'cultural sharia' with launch of Muslim children's books

Conservative U.S. political activist Pamela Geller is questioning the move taken by book publisher Simon & Schuster to publish Muslim-friendly children's books. (Facebook/Pamela Geller)

 Pamela Geller, the president of the American Freedom Defense Initiative, is upset that book publisher Simon & Schuster is launching Muslim-friendly children's books.

Geller has been busy exposing the truth about radical Islam, but publishers have turned their backs on her.

"Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse," Geller wrote on her website. "When I think how difficult it is for my colleagues and me to get a book published that is critical of jihad and sharia. But this? American-Muslim children can't relate to American children's books? Why not? And if not, we change the books? Insane."

"More accommodation, more segregation — not assimilation. Cultural sharia," Geller added.

Simon & Schuster earlier announced that it is opening its doors to Muslim-friendly children's books with the recent launch of Salaam Reads.

The company's executive editor Zareen Jaffery said there is a need to provide good reading materials for Islamic children, because it was something that she struggled with when she was younger.

"I remember looking at books to try to figure out, 'What does it mean to be American? Am I doing this right?'" Jaffery shared with the New York Times.

While growing up in Connecticut, Jaffrey loved reading the novels of popular writers Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume, but somehow, she is unable to relate that well with their characters.

"The truth is, I didn't see myself reflected in books back then," she admitted. "We have a chance to provide people with a more nuanced and, in my estimation, a more honest portrayal of the lives of everyday Muslims."

The first four books of Salaam Reads will be released in 2017, and the titles include: "Salam Alaikum," "Musa, Moises, Mo and Kevin," "The Gauntlet of Blood and Sand," and "Yo Soy Muslim."

Meanwhile, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers publisher Justin Chanda said that people should not expect their books to emphasise theology or Islamic doctrine.

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