An Algerian scholar has been stripped of a literary prize after being accused of plagiarism, reports The National. In February the Sheikh Zayed Book Award in the United Arab Emirates awarded Hafnaoui Baali, a professor of higher education at the University of Annaba, a prize in literature for his book, Comparative Cultural Criticism: an Introduction. But the judging committee reversed its decision Wednesday saying there was sufficient evidence that the professor had copied passages from another book. It is now attempting to recover the cash prize Mr. Baali received, which is worth more than $200,000. Eugene Rogan, a lecturer in modern Middle East history at Oxford University and a member of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award’s advisory council, said the move sends an important message to academics in the region about plagiarism.