A Canadian author was dragged from his bike, tied to a tree and beaten unconscious after publishing a book critical of Islam.

Paris Dipersico was tied to a tree and beaten for writing an anti-Islam book. The Toronto Sun said this may qualify as a hate crime. (Ya think?)

CNews reported, via Free Republic:

Halton police are treating an attack on a first-time author whose self-published book has been branded anti-Muslim as a possible hate crime.

Raised Islamic, Paris Dipersico, 24, reported being dragged from his bicycle Aug. 17, tied up among trees, then beaten briefly unconscious by two Muslim men.

Accused of being gay, they then “called me a Jew in Arabic and said the Jews are paying you to write this against Islam,” the author of Wake Up Call said Thursday.

Dipersico said he also received a “death threat” on his Facebook site, then someone stole files and backup writing discs after breaking into the home he shares with cousin Gabrielle Dipersico — who helped design the book and whose photo is on the cover.

Believing the threat came “from the Middle East,” he said it demanded he remove offensive language.

After treatment for cuts and bruises, Dipersico said on his publisher’s advice, “I’m taking out some of the graphically sexual stuff,” but not the rest.