How I would like to know, could she claim that the book was "sacred history?" Was she speaking as a detached, secular, scientific observer? She was further quoted as saying the work was "softcore pornography." Spellberg said: "I felt it my duty to warn the press of the novel's potential to provoke anger among some Muslims. London-based cleric Anjem Choudhary has called the book an insult to the Prophet's honour, and thus warrants a "death penalty" under Sharia law. Goodness, we wouldn't expect Muslims to conduct themselves properly in a diverse, secular setting now would we? Spellberg further stated: "When combined with falsification of the Islamic past, it exploits Americans who know nothing about Aisha or her seventh century world." Thank you for looking after my reading habits and noting my ignorance professor.
Moreover, Spellberg then continued into areas fields further outside her academic expertise, she teaches the history of the Middle East and Gender in Islamic History, and was quoted as stating that the novel constituted a "declaration of war" and "a national security issue."
The author Sherry Jones has called on Professor Spellberg to retract her comments.
Spellberg has published an academic study of Aisha's life called Politics, Gender and the Islamic Past: The Legacy of Aisha bint Abi Bakr; she is currently on leave.
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