|
-----
Original Message -----
Sent:
Saturday, July 31, 2004 12:37 PM
*Khouri to fight for credibility*
Best-selling author Norma Khouri will present evidence in coming days
to prove her memoir Forbidden Love is based on fact, according to her
lawyer.
The book tells the story of Khouri's best friend, a Jordanian woman named
Dalia, who was murdered by her father for falling in love with a Christian
man.
Khouri says she fled Jordan after the incident, writing the story and
making her way to Australia.
But the Sydney Morning Herald alleged last weekend that Khouri fabricated
details of the story. It reported that she left Jordan at the age of
three, that Dalia never existed and that Khouri lived in Chicago for most
of her life.
Publisher Random House Australia pulled the book from sale this week due
to the allegations.
Brisbane-based solicitor Peter Black says he has spoken to Khouri in the
past 24 hours and she is in the process of compiling documentation to
support her case.
"She advised that she had compiled a substantial amount of information, or
documentation, which she would use to respond to the allegations that have
been made about her and the book," Mr Black told ABC radio's AM program.
"She indicated that she was a few days away from completing her inquiries
and then she would be in touch and no doubt she would be able to go public
with the information that she's gathered."
Mr Black says the author is well aware of further claims made in News
Limited papers that the FBI is investigating her for alleged fraud and
that she fled the US to avoid prosecutions.
"It would seem unusual that you would flee a country and then go and write
a bestseller," Mr Black said.
Khouri has been a permanent resident of Australia since March last year.
The Department of Immigration says there is no evidence at this stage that
she breached the Migration Act but it says it is monitoring the situation.
Mr Black says that despite the intense scrutiny of recent days, Khouri
remains upbeat and is confident her book will be back on shelves soon.
"She fully expects that when the information is presented to the publisher
that they will re-instate the book," he said.
Larry Finlay, the managing director of UK publisher Transworld which has
also temporarily withdrawn the book from sale, says it is yet to hear
anything from Khouri.
"It does seem strange that we haven't heard from her but we understand
that she is getting together information which will prove that her story
is indeed genuine and we're very much hoping to hear that news over the
next few days," he said.
More ...
Author stands by Forbidden Love
ABC Online, Australia - 11
minutes ago
HAMISH ROBERTSON: Despite compelling evidence that the
international bestseller Forbidden Love, supposedly
based on fact, was a complete fabrication, it seems ...
|
Author denies fabricating 'Forbidden Love'
ABC Online, Australia - Jul
27, 2004
Author Norma Khouri denies her story of an honour
killing in Jordan, detailed in the best-selling book Forbidden
Love, is fabricated. ...
|
Critics lash out at 'Forbidden Love' author
ABC Online, Australia - Jul
28, 2004
KERRY O'BRIEN: Despite mounting evidence that her
best-selling memoir, Forbidden Love, is a fabrication,
author Norma Khouri is yet to make any detailed public ...
|
'Forbidden Love' author accused of fraud
ABC Online, Australia - Jul
23, 2004
Fairfax's literary editor Malcolm Knox has accused
Norma Khouri, the author of Forbidden Love, of fraud. Ms
Khouri's book, Forbidden ...
|
Forbidden Love withdrawn
The Age, Australia - Jul
25, 2004
The Australian publishers of Norma Khouri's
controversial book, Forbidden Love, have withdrawn the
book from sale and advised booksellers to do the same. ...
|
The Age |
Forbidden Love off the shelves
The Age, Australia - Jul
26, 2004
By Dan Silkstone. At the Dymocks city store, Rebecca
Howie takes the remaining copies of Forbidden Love off
the shelves. Picture:Shannon Morris. ... |
|
