A Book For 'Perverts'?

International News, By Christian Taylor, 14th July, 2009

A book named Gay Travels In The Muslim World, written by a gay travel journalist has been translated into Arabic – but the word ‘gay’ has been translated into ‘pervert’.

“It literally means ‘different,” Luongo told Advocate.com, “But it can also mean ‘pervert.’ It depends on whom you talk to.”

Luongo told the New York Post that he’s very proud of this book because it’s the first-ever gay book to have been translated into Arabic after first having been printed in English. “The only problem – the big problem – is that… the new book has in huge words ‘Michael Luongo – Pervert Travels in the Muslim World’ across the cover.”

Luongo said that the translation may cause problems for him when he tries to promote the book in Beirut in October.

“The publisher said this is the word they’ve traditionally used… All of the gay rights organizations in the Middle East that I was planning to do events with, once they saw the word, were horrified,” said Luongo.

The publisher in question is Beirut based Arab Diffusion and the word used is ‘shaz’. Luongo has asked if they will rectify the problem, but the title is already in print and has already started distribution.

“Arabic doesn’t have the many different expressions of GLBTQ that we do in English. There are only a few words, some are very, very derogatory,” a Sydney-based Arabic and Islamic studies graduate told Same Same.

“The word ‘shaz’ does mean pervert, however this is widely used by mainstream press to describe homosexuals, so I guess the publisher would have thought it OK. They generally only use this when reporting of ‘crimes against morality’ or ‘lewd’ acts.”

“Remember you are talking about a language which is very old and dates to pre-Islamic Arabia, and most of the language incorporates religious sayings and beliefs from greetings to everyday conversation.”

The travel journalist said that he feels ‘more cautious’ now about travelling to the Middle East now. According to New York Post the book has already been attacked online by a former Taliban member.

“I thought overall it was more important to have an Arabic translation than to worry about the risk,” said Luongo.

Your Thoughts

musicman

said ages ago

That's terrible and downright shameful! There are Arabic words now which refer to GLBT people more positively (http://www.bintelnas.org/10muqadeema/transl-eng.html). It's a shame that the first book to be translated into Arabic is written ABOUT gays in the Arab world, rather than BY gays from the Arab world. I'd recommend "Unspeakable Love: Gay and lesbian life in the Middle East" by Brian Whitaker - although he mainly uses web sources and is actually a British journalist, I think he achieves something very worth reading.

musicman

said ages ago

Plus I can't believe that this author is quoted saying: "I thought overall it was more important to have an Arabic translation than to worry about the risk” - how offensive. Imagine if a white guy wrote a book about Indigenous Australians, had the titled translated to "Coon Travels" and said he was proud of his achievement! Downright offensive and shows how little he knows about the subject he is supposedly writing on!

mohamed

said ages ago

Strongly recommend Unspeakable love, by former Middle East editor of the The Guardian Brian Whitaker. As publisher weekly stated: 'aware of the complexity of this undertaking, he points out that words such as "homosexual," "lesbian," "gay" and "queer" are Western constructs and can be misleading or dangerously inaccurate when applied to non-Western cultures.' It is unfortunate that these books are indeed written by non-Arabs, however given the strict censorship and lack of human rights for LGBTQI people it is not surprising these books originate from outside the Arab world.

pantone801

said ages ago

Ordering the english version now http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9781560233404/Gay-Travels-in-the-Muslim-World

marky markywicz

said ages ago

Would be interested to see a copy. Risky to write something like this and then travel within the M/East.

colofaus

said ages ago

Why would anyone want to contribute to these unspeakably evil regimes by visiting their countries in the first place?

Asherbella

said ages ago

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkqjQb24IiM

maxheadroom

said ages ago

I'll have what she's having please.:D

Spooky

said ages ago

Oh! So does the word “Breeder” translate into the word “Rapist?”

Asherbella

said ages ago

http://i612.photobucket.com/albums/tt204/Asherbella_bucket/smallcover9.jpg I wonder what 'Arabian Fist' translates as? LOL

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