Dubai: The prestigious Shaikh Zayed Book Award has taken a first-of-its-kind step by withdrawing a prize from one of its 2010 winners on charges of plagiarism, it was announced Tuesday.
The prize for literature, awarded to Algerian author Dr Hafnaoui Ba’li in the year 2009-2010 for his book Comparative Cultural Criticism- an Introduction was withdrawn after “stringent investigative procedures” found that it “contained excerpts and quotations that were ill-referenced or not referenced at all” the award web site said in a statement.
The publisher of the book, Beirut based Arab Scientific Publishers (ASP), said he was surprised to learn that the award had been withdrawn, having thought that the issue had been resolved a month ago.
“A number of other books published by us have won this award, but this is the first to have it withdrawn” said Bassam Shbaro, co-owner of ASP, one of the biggest publishing houses in the Arab world.
Shbaro said Ba’li was accused of failing to reference all the information he used from one writer. “Ba’li is alleged to have referenced it to him in four cases and left the rest,” he said but added that it was not appropriate for him to comment on the issue further until it is investigated.
“We will definitely take a stand on the issue, but only after we know what exactly happened,” he said, adding that representatives of the award did not consult with the publisher on the issue or inform him of the decision.
Allegations of plagiarism in Arab countries are rarely taken to court, largely due to underdeveloped intellectual property laws.
Shbarro also said that the writer whose material Ba’li is alleged to have used without referencing is closely associated with the award. A representative of the award did not respond to a request for a comment.
He said the award was highly-sought after and considered “very prestigious”.
The total prize money for the annual award, which was launched in 2006, is Dh7 million, split between nine categories.
