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Harry Potter author JK Rowling misses US honour

Friday, 02 October 2009

Harry Potter author JK Rowling misses US honour

Bestselling author JK Rowling has been denied a top American honour because some politicians in the country claimed that the Harry Potter books "encouraged witchcraft".

According to Matt Latimer, former speech writer for President George W Bush, some of the members of the presidential administration team had said that Rowling’s books promoted dabbling in the occult.

Because of this the author was not awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Latimer's new book entitled Speechless: Tales of a White House Survivor, revealed that "narrow thinking" led White House officials to object to giving Rowling the civilian honour.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is given to people who have made valuable contributions to the national interest of the US, or for world peace or cultural endeavours.

John Steinbeck and Harper Lee are previous winners of the prestigious award.

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