Oxford Press Bans Pigs and Pork References

Image by thinkstock

By JTA January 15, 2015

Oxford University Press has banned references to pigs and pork in its publications in order to avoid offending Jews and Muslims.

“Many of the educational materials we publish in the UK are sold in more than 150 countries, and as such they need to consider a range of cultural differences and sensitivities,” a spokesman for Oxford, the largest university press in the world, told the British media.

Eating pork is forbidden in both Islam and Judaism.

The policy came to light this week on the show “Today” on the BBC’s Radio 4 station in the wake of the Islamist extremist attacks on Paris. The show read a letter on the air sent by the Oxford University Press to an author asking her not to mention pigs or pork products in her book.

Representatives of the Jewish and Muslim communities told the British media that the ban was unnecessary.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO