Oxford University warns authors not to write about bacon, pork to avoid offending Muslims

Oxford University Press (OUP) explained that their books must take into consideration other cultures of the world and must avoid mentioning pigs or “anything else which could be perceived as pork,” the International Business Times reported.

The move was revealed during a discussion on free speech during BBC Radio 4’s “Today,” following the terror attacks in Paris.

“I’ve got a letter here that was sent out by OUP to an author doing something for young people.” Presenter Jim Naughtie said. “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.

“Now, if a respectable publisher, tied to an academic institution, is saying you’ve got to write a book in which you cannot mention pigs because some people might be offended, it’s just ludicrous. It is just a joke,” he said.

The move was condemned by Muslim Labour MP Khalid Mahmood, the Times reported.

“That’s ludicrous,” he said. “That’s absolute, utter nonsense and when people go too far that actually brings the whole discussion into disrepute.”

OUP defended the move by saying it needs to make its books available to the “widest possible audience.”

“Many of the educational materials we publish in the U.K. are sold in more than 150 countries, and as such they need to consider a range of cultural differences and sensitivities,” a spokesman told the Daily Mail. “Our editorial guidelines are intended to help ensure that the resources that we produce can be disseminated to the widest possible audience.”

In a statement later, the company said its commitment to “academic and educational excellence” is “absolute,” the London Evening Standard reported.