1. Religious leaders say the novel defames Islam.

2. Synonyms for Backbites include detracts, knocks, libels, rubbishes, abuses, calumniates, defames, denigrates, disparages and maligns

3. Synonyms for Belittles include ridicules, decries, defames, deprecates, depreciates, derogates, disparages, maligns, minimises and minimizes

4. Synonyms for Asperses include vilifies, disparages, maligns, defames, slanders, slurs, traduces, calumniates, smears and libels