Okay… this might a be hoax letter from Durham University or maybe the students of the Durham University might have Photoshopped the letter, but I couldn’t resist myself sharing it with readers of BannedStuff.net. When I first read the letter I almost fell off my chair LOL!
Any student from Durham University (UK) reading this please confirm it with us

The reason for the ban? For painting Islam in a bad light. The French magazine in question is L’Express International, and its cover story this week is titled “The Jesus-Muhammad Shock.” And that (plus its contents) offended the Muslim officials of Algeria, Tunisia and Morocco. L’Express said on its website that the series of articles comparing Christianity and Islam was inspired by a meeting this week in Rome between Christian and Muslim scholars, which aims to “help the dialogue between Islam and Christianity.” The magazine said it did not understand the ban on its international edition in North African countries, particularly because of the pains it took to adhere to Islamic norms.

Algerian officials said some of the L’Express articles comparing Christianity to Islam were considered “pro-Bible.” They also pointed out that pictures inside the magazine did represent Muhammad’s face — which is not allowed in Islam. A Tunisian government official, meanwhile, said that the magazine contents could be considered to be “offensive to Islam and faith or convictions of Mulsims.” Morocco’s Information Minister Khalid Naciri said only this week’s issue of L’Express International was banned but told The Associated Press he would not hesitate to do so “every time the media offends religion.”

“Go Ask Alice” is a book that deals realistically with young people’s dealings with drugs–and so naturally, it has come under fire, and is often the target of book banning.

The 1971 book is about drug abuse and considered a classic of youth literature. The novel (autobiography?) claims to be the journal of an anonymous teenage girl who died of a drug overdose in the late 1960s. It’s therefore presented as a testimony against drug use. Alice is not the author / main character’s name; the book never gives her name. A woman named Alice, who is a fellow addict, is mentioned briefly in the book. The author meets Alice on the street.

The book caused a stir when published and remains in print as of 2007. Revelations about the book’s origin have caused much doubt as to its authenticity and factual accounts, and the publishers have listed it as a work of fiction since the 1980s. Today, most critics consider it to be the work of its editor, Beatrice Sparks. It makes for compelling reading, and rather than banning it, it should be encouraged as reading material for teens.

Although they didn’t make a big fanfare over it, Google has taken a stand in favor of free reading rights, and against censorship and book-banning. They’ve done so by launching their “Celebrate Your Freedom to Read” page, at http://books.google.com/googlebooks/banned/.

The page contains a list of what the editors consider the best books that were ever challenged in the 20th century; highlighted books that have been challenged this year; and a link to the American Library Association’s “Banned Books Week” resource page.

The page editors comment, “It’s hard to imagine a world without these extraordinary literary classics, but every year there are hundreds of attempts to remove great books from libraries and schools. In fact, according to the American Library Association, 42 of 100 books recognized by the Radcliffe Publishing Course as the best novels of the 20th century have been challenged or burned. [It's our] effort to expand the universe of books you can discover, and we’re proud to join libraries and bookstores across the country in celebrating Banned Books Week – a nationwide initiative to help people learn about and explore banned books.”

Not surprisingly, 3 of the world’s most banned books deal specifically with sex. Here’s a brief description of them:

In “Daddy’s Roommate,” by Michael Wilhoite, A young boy describes his father’s relationship with his roommate, Frank (they “live together, work together, eat together, sleep together . . .”), and his own relationship with these men–shopping, gardening, and enjoying the zoo, beach, movies, etc. He believes that “being gay is just one more kind of love. And love is the best kind of happiness.’”

“Sex” by Madonna contains a lot of provocative photos and basically covers every sexual fantasy that one might have. activities include sex with animals, sadomasochism and “inter-generational love affairs” such as the relationship between an 11-year-old boy and a 21-year-old man.

Easily the most controversial book on the list is “The New Joy of Gay Sex.” While I won’t ask for it or any other book to be banned, I would never own it. It discusses activities such as sex with animals, sadomasochism and “inter-generational love affairs” such as the relationship between an 11-year-old boy and a 21-year-old man. These are disturbing ideas that I will protest by not supporting the author with my dollars.

Which is probably how most book-protests should be handled.

Since 1982, this annual American Literature Association event has reminded Americans not to take the democratic freedom of self-expression for granted. This year marks Banned Book Week’s 27th anniversary (September 29 through October 6). The Freedom to Read is usually observed during the last week of September each year. The Times’ book editor David Ulin takes a look at the annual event:

I’m ambivalent about Banned Books Week, which runs through Saturday. On the one hand, we clearly still need such a public affirmation, as the recent tumult over Sarah Palin and her “rhetorical” inquiries to the Wasilla, Alaska, public library show.
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On the other, Banned Books Week offers up the sort of toothless, feel-good spectacle that makes us less likely to consider the actual ramifications of free expression.
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The basic message here is one of astonishment: Why would anyone ban books when literature is such a positive and ennobling force? Yet, while I agree with that, I also believe that some books truly are dangerous, and to ignore that is simply disingenuous.

Check your local library for their Banned Books Week events.

And it was banned not because of its anti-Christian themes or magical effects, but because the said guide “appropriates too much of Rowling’s creative work for its purposes as a reference guide.” Yup, the upcoming Harry Potter series guide is not made by Ms. Rowling but by a fan of her work. According to reports, it was written by Steve Vander Ark based on his Harry Potter fan website, Harry Potter Lexicon (HPL). He denied claims of plagiarism, and says the book was intended to help readers and celebrate Rowling’s work. However, the British author didn’t see it his way, and said her creativity was being “plundered” and that it “really decimated my creative work over the last month.”

The New York judge (Judge Robert Patterson) handling the case said in his ruling that Rowling’s views had been “overstated” but he agreed with her that the Lexicon had gone beyond the fair use of her work in creating a volume of reference. He found that the Lexicon would have harmed her intention to produce her own Harry Potter encyclopedia, the proceeds of which she has promised to charity. Warner Brothers and JK Rowling, were awarded damages of £430 for each of the seven novels about the boy wizard and £3,888 for two companion books she wrote.