JK Rowling denied top US honour

JK Rowling, the best selling author of the Harry Potter series, was denied the highest US civilian honour as former President George Bush believed her work encouraged witchcraft.

JK Rowling, the best selling author of the Harry Potter series was denied the highest US civilian honour as former President George Bush believed her work

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encouraged witchcraft, claims a new book.

Matt Latimer, a former speech writer for Bush, states in Speechless: Tales Of A White HouseSurvivor that her name was not included amongst those receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom because Bush thought that the books promoted sorcery, Daily Mail online reported.

The award acknowledges contributions to the US national interest, world peace or cultural endeavours.

In one of his last acts as head of state, Bush gave the medal to former British prime minister Tony Blair. Rowling's alleged exclusion is not the first example of her writing coming into conflict with the American right.

In 2007, Fox News commentator Bill O'Reilly hit out at the author for announcing that Harry Potter character Dumbledore was gay.

He called her a "provocateur" adding that the outing of Dumbledore was part of a liberal "indoctrination" of children.