Oxford University Press Is Telling Writers To Avoid These Words To Avoid Offending Sharia Law

February 13, 2016 •By phoenix

 

Several publications have reported about an unusual restriction being placed on the Oxford University Press (OUP) in light of the attacks on free speech from intolerant radical Islamists. Incidences like last year’s Charlie Hebdo shooting, in which 11 people were murdered by Islamic fanatics who believed that making fun of the Prophet Muhammad warrants a death sentence, have created an atmosphere that allows the creation of new measures to whittle away at free speech.

To ensure that nobody is offended, the OUP allegedly has a list of words that should not be used in their articles. In an interview about free speech on Radio 4, Jim Naughtie, a British radio and news presenter, said that he had a letter from the OUP that added more words from those that are already considered taboo.

“I’ve got a letter here that was sent out by OUP to an author doing something for young people… Among the things prohibited in the text that was commissioned by OUP was the following: Pigs plus sausages, or anything else which could be perceived as pork.”

The theory is, that the fear of offense lies in the Islamic faith’s prohibition from eating of anything pork, due to restrictions in the Quran.

“…And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be cloven footed, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you”

According to the Daily Mail, the Oxford University Press has established the guidelines because they would like to make the material available to as many people as possible, and this includes those of the Islamic faith in multiple countries.
The OUP has developed an acronym as a reminder for what topics are taboo. From the Guardian, the word is PARSNIP, and it includes the topics Politics, Alcohol, Religion, Sex, 
Narcotics, Isms (communism for example) and Pork.

The addition of pork and sausage in the new list of words that cannot be said, has received heavy ridicule from many people, including Jim Naughtie, who referred to the policy as ludicrous.