VS Naipaul pulls out of writers’ event over Islam row
Author VS Naipaul has pulled out of an international writers’ conference in Istanbul over objections to his previous criticism of Islam. The award-winning writer had been expected to attend the European Writers Parliament as a guest of honour. But Turkish participants threatened to boycott the event saying it was an insult to Muslims if he attended. In 2001, the Trinidadian writer of Indian descent caused controversy by comparing the “calamitous effect” of Islam on the world with colonialism.