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3 due in court charged with publisher attack plot | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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LONDON (AP) – Three men charged with plotting to attack the publisher of a novel about the wife of the Prophet Muhammad are due in court in London.

Ali Beheshti, Abrar Mirza and Abbas Taj were charged late Thursday with plotting to damage the offices of Gordon Square publishers. Beheshti was also charged with possession of a weapon designed or adapted for the discharge of a noxious liquid or gas.

The three men were arrested early Sept. 27 under anti-Terrorism laws, but were not charged with any terrorist offenses.

Gordon Square has announced it will publish “The Jewel of Medina” by U.S. journalist Sherry Jones. The novel is focused on the prophet’s wife Aisha.

The book was dropped by Random House, which was concerned it could incite violence.