Saddam's Latest Crime: Copyright Violation

Jan. 8, 2001 -- Saddam Hussein is believed to have a new novel out, but according to one Canadian artist, the story surrounding the Iraqi dictator's alleged first novel isn't over with yet.

Like The Fortified Castle this year, Zabibah and the King came out last year to rave reviews — and suspicions as well — that it was written by Saddam Hussein.

But the earlier book was also met by complaints from Jonathon Earl Bowser, a renowned painter of fantasy art, who says one of his works was used for its cover — without his permission.

"I've certainly never licensed an image to a head of state," Bowser said. "I'd never have licensed it to a dictator."

A New York Times article described the cover as showing the character Zabibah standing before the arches of ancient Babylon.

But Bowser said his 1998 painting, titled The Awakening, actually depicts the goddess of spring bringing light to a winter landscape.

The Charge d'Affairs at the Iraqi Embassy in Ottawa, Canada, has denied the paintings were the same, Bowser says. But he added, "he's obviously mistaken."

No Fun With Saddam

Bowser says he certainly could do without the publicity linking him with what's come to be known as Saddam Hussein's novel.

He has received angry e-mails from exiled Iraqi opposition members suspecting him of collaborating with Saddam, and worried that the CIA, which has been examining the book for encoded messages and insight into the Iraqi dictator's mind, might do the same.

He now states on his Web page, "I have never had any contact whatsoever with any agent of the Iraqi Government."

The events of September 11 and the subsequent anthrax scares have changed his perspective as well. "When the story first broke, I remember saying it's amusing in a grim and perverse sort of way," he said.

Bowser adds that even though many lawyers chased him to pursue a case, he realizes there are others people who have a greater call for redress — never mind how difficult it would be to pursue inside the United States.

"I think I could probably pursue a case in Baghdad. It is theft. I'm told they think fairly highly of artists in Iraq," he said. "But I'm not going to press the issue."

However, Bowser says his publisher has been thrilled, being "of the mind that any publicity is good publicity."

The original sold in California, in May 1999, for $32,000, but his publisher has hundreds of prints remaining — and has raised their price.