The Satanic Verses controversy - Wikipedia

This article is about the controversy surrounding the Salman Rushdie novel. For the controversy surrounding the religious verses, see Satanic Verses. TheSatanicVersescontroversy FromWikipedia,thefreeencyclopedia Jumptonavigation Jumptosearch ReactiontoSalmanRushdie's1988novel ThisarticleisaboutthecontroversysurroundingtheSalmanRushdienovel.Forthecontroversysurroundingthereligiousverses,seeSatanicVerses. "TheRushdieAffair"redirectshere.Forthe1990DanielPipesbook,seeTheRushdieAffair:TheNovel,theAyatollah,andtheWest. SatanicVersescontroversySalmanRushdie(picturedin2006),theauthorofthenovelTheSatanicVersesAyatollahKhomeini(picturedin1981),thenSupremeLeaderofIranwhoissuedthefatwa TheSatanicVersescontroversy,alsoknownastheRushdieAffair,wasacontroversysparkedbythe1988publicationofSalmanRushdie'snovelTheSatanicVerses.Itcenteredonthenovel'sreferencestotheSatanicVersesoftheQuran,andcametoincludealargerdebateaboutcensorshipandreligiousviolence.Itincludednumerouskillings,attemptedkillings(includingagainstRushdiehimself),andbombingsbyperpetratorsclaimingtosupportIslam.[1] Theaffairhadanotableimpactongeopolitics,when,in1989,theAyatollahRuhollahKhomeiniofIranissuedafatwaorderingMuslimstokillRushdie.TheIraniangovernmenthaschangeditssupportforthefatwaseveraltimes,includingin1998whenMohammadKhatamisaidtheregimenolongersupportedit.[2]However,afatwacannotberevokedinShiaIslamictradition.[3]In2017,astatementwaspublishedontheofficialwebsiteofthecurrentsupremeleaderAyatollahKhamenei,statingthat"thedecreeisasImamKhomeini(ra)issued"[4]andinFebruary2019,theKhamenei.irTwitteraccountstatedthatKhomeini's"verdict"was"solidandirrevocable".[5] Theissuewassaidtohavedivided"MuslimsfromWesternersalongthefaultlineofculture,"[6][7]andtohavepittedacoreWesternvalueoffreedomofexpression –thatnoone"shouldbekilled,orfaceaseriousthreatofbeingkilled,forwhattheysayorwrite"[8] –againsttheviewofsomeMuslimsthatnon-Muslimsshouldnotbefreetodisparagethe"honouroftheProphet"orindirectlycriticizeIslamthroughsatire –andthatreligiousviolenceisappropriateincontemporaryhistoryinordertodefendIslamandProphetMuhammad.[9]EnglishwriterHanifKureishicalledthefatwa"oneofthemostsignificanteventsinpostwarliteraryhistory".[10] Contents 1Background 2ControversialelementsofTheSatanicVerses 3Earlyreaction 3.1Muslimresponseandbookbannings 3.1.1Attacks 4FatwabyAyatollahKhomeini 4.1Rushdie'sapologyandreaction 4.1.1Rushdie'sapology 4.1.2RejectionofRushdie'sapology 4.2SupportforKhomeini'sfatwa 4.3CriticismofKhomeini'sfatwa 4.3.1OnIslamicgrounds 4.3.2Questionsofpoliticalmotivation 4.3.3Questionsofpersonalmotivation 4.4Attemptstorevokethefatwa 52022assassinationattempt 6Socialandpoliticalfallout 6.1Heightenedtension 6.2Booksales 6.3Rushdie 6.4Explanationofdifferentreactions 6.4.1Muslim 6.4.2Westernmainstream 6.4.3Westernreligiousfigures 7Receptiontimeline 7.11988 7.21989 7.31990 7.41991 7.51993–1994 7.61997–1998 7.71999 7.82000–2004 7.92005–2007 7.102008–2012 7.112016 7.122022 8Seealso 9References 10Furtherreading 11Externallinks Background[edit] EvenbeforethepublicationofTheSatanicVerses,thebooksofSalmanRushdiehadstokedcontroversy.Rushdiesawhisroleasawriter"asincludingthefunctionofantagonisttothestate".[11]HissecondbookMidnight'sChildrenangeredIndiraGandhibecauseitseemedtosuggest"thatMrs.Gandhiwasresponsibleforthedeathofherhusbandthroughneglect".[12]His1983romanàclefShame"tookanaimonPakistan,itspoliticalcharacters,itscultureanditsreligion...[Itcovered]acentralepisodeinPakistan'sinternallife,whichportraysasafamilysquabblebetweenIskanderHarappa(ZulfikarAliBhutto)andhissuccessorandexecutionerRazaHyder(Ziaul-Haq)...'TheVirginIronpants'...hasbeenidentifiedasBenazirBhutto,aPrimeMinisterofPakistan".[12] PositionsRushdietookasacommittedleftistpriortothepublicationofhisbookwerethesourceofsomecontroversy.Hedefendedmanyofthosewhowouldlaterattackhimduringthecontroversy.RushdieforcefullydenouncedtheShah'sgovernmentandsupportedtheIslamicRevolutionofIran,atleastinitsearlystages.HecondemnedtheUSbombingraidonTripoliin1986butfoundhimselfthreatenedbyLibya'sleaderMuammaral-Gaddafithreeyearslater.[13]HewroteabookbitterlycriticalofUSforeignpolicyingeneralanditswarinNicaraguainparticular,forexamplecallingtheUnitedStatesgovernment,"thebanditposingassheriff".[14]AftertheAyatollah'sfatwahowever,hewasaccusedbytheIraniangovernmentofbeing"aninferiorCIAagent".[15]Afewyearsearlier,anofficialjuryappointedbyaministryoftheIranianIslamicgovernmenthadbestowedanawardonthePersiantranslationofRushdie'sbookShame,whichupuntilthenwastheonlytimeagovernmenthadawardedRushdie'sworkaprize.[citationneeded] ControversialelementsofTheSatanicVerses[edit] Furtherinformation:TheSatanicVerses ThetitleTheSatanicVersesimmediatelysparkedvehementprotestagainstRushdie'sbook.ThetitlereferstoalegendoftheIslamicProphetMuhammad,whenafewversesweresupposedlyspokenbyhimaspartoftheQur'an,andthenwithdrawnonthegroundsthatthedevilhadsentthemtodeceiveMohammadintothinkingtheycamefromGod.These"SatanicVerses"aresaidtohavebeenrevealedinbetweenversestwentyandtwenty-oneinsurahAn-NajmoftheQur'an,[16]andbyaccountsfromAl-Tabari,butareseldommentionedinthefirstbiographyofMuhammadbyIbnIshaq.Theversesalsoappearinotheraccountsoftheprophet'slife.However,alaterverseSurahAn-Najm(Verse23)impliesthattheyarefabricatedbytheforefathersofidolaters.[17] Theutteranceandwithdrawaloftheso-calledSatanicVersesformsanimportantsub-plotinthenovel,whichrecountsseveralepisodesinthelifeofMuhammad.ThephraseArabhistoriansandlaterMuslimsusedtodescribetheincidentofthewithdrawnverseswasnot"Satanicverses",butthegharaniqverses;thephrase"Satanicverses"wasunknowntoMuslims,andwascoinedbyOrientalistWesternacademicsspecialisinginthestudyofculturesconsideredeastern.ThestoryitselfisnotfoundinthesixSahihoftheSunniortheShiitesources,somuchsothatMuraghi,inhiscommentary,says:"Thesetraditionsareundoubtedlyafabricationofthehereticsandforeignhands,andhavenotbeenfoundinanyoftheauthenticbooks".[18][19]AccordingtoDanielPipes,[20]whenattentionwasdrawntoabookwiththistitle,"Muslimsfound[it]incrediblysacrilegious",andtookittoimplythatthebook'sauthorclaimedthatversesoftheQur'anwere"theworkoftheDevil".[21] AccordingtoMcRoy(2007),othercontroversialelementsincludedtheuseofthenameMahound,saidtobeaderogatorytermforMuhammadusedbytheEnglishduringtheCrusades;theuseofthetermJahilia,denotingthe"timeofignorance"beforeIslam,fortheholycityofMecca;theuseofthenameoftheAngelGibreel(Gabriel)forafilmstar,ofthenameofSaladin,thegreatMuslimherooftheCrusades,foradevil,andthenameofAyesha,thewifeofMuhammad,forafanaticalIndiangirlwholeadshervillageonafatalpilgrimage.Moreover,thebrothelofthecityofJahiliyyahwasstaffedbyprostituteswiththesamenamesasMuhammad'swives,[22]whoareviewedbyMuslimsas"theMothersofallBelievers".[23] OtherissuesmanyMuslimshavefoundoffensiveincludeAbrahambeingcalleda"bastard"forcastingHagarandIshmaelinthedesert;[24]andacharacternamedSalmanthePersianwhoservesasoneoftheProphet'sscribes,anapparentreferencetothestory,controversialamongMuslims,ofaMeccanconvertbythenameofAbdAllahibnSa'd,wholeftIslamaftertheProphetfailedtonoticesmallchangeshehadmadeinthedictationoftheQur'an.[citationneeded] DanielPipesidentifiedothermoregeneralissuesinthebooklikelytohaveangeredpiousMuslims:AcomplaintinthebookbyoneofMahound'scompanions:"rulesabouteverydamnthing,ifamanfarts,lethimturnhisfacetothewind,aruleaboutwhichhandtouseforthepurposeofcleaningone'sbehind...",whichwassaidtomixup"Islamiclawwithitsoppositeandwiththeauthor'swhimsy";[22]theprophetofRushdie'snovel,asheliesdying,beingvisitedinadreambytheGoddessAl-Lat,onthegroundsthatthissuggestedeitherthatsheexistsorthattheprophetthoughtshedid;theangelGibreel'svisionoftheSupremeBeinginanotherdreamas"notabstractintheleast.Hesaw,sittingonthebed,amanofaboutthesameageashimself",balding,wearingglassesand"seemingtosufferfromdandruff".[25]AcomplaintbyoneofthecharactersaboutcommunalviolenceinIndia:"Factis,religiousfaith,whichencodesthehighestaspirationsofhumanrace,isnow,inourcountry,theservantoflowestinstincts,andGodisthecreatureofevil".[25] TheGuardiannewspaperpublishedon14September2012aseriesofrecollectionsofvariousBritishpeopleinvolvedinthecontroversy.LisaAppignanesi,ex-presidentofEnglishPEN,observed"Intransigenceisneversogreataswhenitfeelsithasagodonitsside."Oneofthelawyersinvolved,GeoffreyRobertsonQC,rehearsedtheargumentsandrepliesmadewhen13MuslimbarristershadlodgedaformalindictmentagainstRushdieforthecrimeofblasphemouslibel:itwassaidthatGodwasdescribedinthebookas"theDestroyerofMan",yetheisdescribedassuchintheOldTestamentandtheBookofRevelation,especiallyofmenwhoareunbelieversorenemiesoftheJews;thatthebookcontainedcriticismsoftheprophetAbraham,yettheIslamic,ChristianandJewishtraditionsthemselvesseeAbrahamasnotwithoutfaultanddeservingofcriticism;thatRushdiereferredtoMohammedas"Mahound",aconjurer,amagicianandafalseprophet,yettheseremarksaremadebyadrunkenapostate,acharacterwithwhomneitherreadernorauthorhasanysympathy;thatthebookinsultsthewivesoftheProphetbyhavingwhoresusetheirnames,yetthewivesareexplicitlysaidtobechasteandtheadoptionoftheirnamesbywhoresistosymbolisethecorruptionofthecitythenbeingdescribed(perhapssymbolisingMeccainitspre-Islamicstate);thatthebookvilifiedthecompanionsoftheProphet,callingthem"bumsfromPersia"and"clowns",yetthecharactersayingthisisahackpoethiredtowritepropagandaagainsttheProphetanddoesnotreflecttheauthor'sbeliefs;thatthebookcriticisedIslamforhavingtoomanyrulesandseekingtocontroleveryaspectoflife,yetwhilecharactersinthebookdomakesuchremarksthesecannotconstituteblasphemysincetheydonotvilifyGodortheProphet.[26] Earlyreaction[edit] BeforethepublicationofTheSatanicVerses,thepublisherreceived"warningsfromthepublisher'seditorialconsultant"thatthebookmightbecontroversial.[12]Later,Rushdiewouldreflectuponthetimethatthebookwasabouttobepublished.Speakingtoaninterviewer,hesaid,"Iexpectedafewmullahswouldbeoffended,callmenames,andthenIcoulddefendmyselfinpublic...Ihonestlyneverexpectedanythinglikethis".[12] TheSatanicVerseswaspublishedbyVikingPenguinon26September1988intheUK,andon22February1989intheUS.[12]UponitspublicationthebookgarneredconsiderablecriticalacclaimintheUnitedKingdom.On8November1988,theworkreceivedtheWhitbreadAwardfornoveloftheyear,[12]worth£20,000.[27]Accordingtooneobserver,"almostalltheBritishbookreviewers"wereunawareofthebook'sconnectiontoIslambecauseRushdiehasusedthenameMahoundinsteadofMuhammadforhischapteronIslam.[22] Muslimresponseandbookbannings[edit] AfterthebookwasfirstpublishedintheUnitedKingdom(inSeptember1988),therewereprotestsbyMuslimsthatpredominantlytookplaceinIndiaandtheUK.WhenthebookwaspublishedinFebruary1989intheUnitedStates,itreceivedrenewedattention,andworldwideprotestsbegantotakeamoreviolentform.[citationneeded] InIslamiccommunities,thenovelbecameinstantlycontroversial,becauseofwhatsomeMuslimsconsideredblasphemousreferences.Rushdiewasaccusedofmisusingfreedomofspeech.[28]ByOctober1988,lettersandphonecallsarrivedatVikingPenguinfromMuslims,angrywiththebookanddemandingthatitbewithdrawn.[12]Beforetheendofthemonth,theimportofthebookwasbannedinIndia,althoughpossessionofthebookisnotacriminaloffence.[12][29] InNovember1988,itwasalsobannedinBangladesh,Sudan,andSouthAfrica.ByDecember1988,itwasalsobannedinSriLanka.[12]InMarch1989,itwasalsobannedinMalaysia. InBritain,on2December1988,7,000MuslimsinthetownofBoltonstagedthefirsteverdemonstrationagainstTheSatanicVerses.AftertheFridayprayers,acertainsectionofthecongregationmarchedfromtheDeobandirunZakariyyaJameMasjidtothetowncentreandthenburnedthebook.Theorganisersclaimed"Itwasapeacefulprotest,andweburnedthebooktotryandattractpublicattention".[30] TheCityofBradfordgainedinternationalattentioninJanuary1989whensomeofitsmembersorganizedapublicbook-burningofTheSatanicVerses,evokingasthejournalistRobertWinderrecalled"imagesofmedieval(nottomentionNazi)intolerance".[31] InFebruary,whentheUSeditionwaspublished,anewroundofreviewsandcriticismbegan. March1989sawitbannedinKenya,Thailand,Tanzania,Indonesia,andSingapore.[12]ThelastnationtobanthebookwasVenezuela,inJune1989.[12] On12February1989,a10,000-strongprotestagainstRushdieandthebooktookplaceinIslamabad,Pakistan.SixprotesterswerekilledinanattackontheAmericanCulturalCenter,andanAmericanExpressofficewasransacked.[32] Attacks[edit] IntheUnitedStates,theFBIwasnotifiedof78threatstobookstoresinearlyMarch1989,thoughttobeasmallproportionofthetotalnumberofthreats.B.Daltonbookstorechainreceived30threatsinlessthanthreehours.[citationneeded]BombingsofbookstoresincludedtwoinBerkeley,California.InNewYork,theofficeofacommunitynewspaper,TheRiverdalePress,wasallbutdestroyedbyfirebombsfollowingthepublicationofaneditorialdefendingtherighttoreadthenovelandcriticizingthebookstoresthatpulleditfromtheirshelves.[33]ButtheUnitedKingdomwasthecountrywhereviolenceagainstbookstoresoccurredmostoftenandpersistedthelongest.TwolargebookstoresinCharingCrossRoad,London,(ColletsandDillons)werebombedon9April.InMay,explosionswentoffinthetownofHighWycombeandagaininLondon,onKingsRoad.OtherbombingsincludedoneatalargeLondondepartmentstore(Liberty's),inconnectionwiththePenguinBookshopinsidethestore,andatthePenguinstoreinYork.UnexplodeddeviceswerefoundatPenguinstoresinGuildford,Nottingham,andPeterborough.[34] IntheUnitedStates,itwasunavailableinaboutone-thirdofbookstores.Inmanyothersthatcarriedthebook,itwaskeptunderthecounter.[35] FatwabyAyatollahKhomeini[edit] On14February1989,AyatollahRuhollahKhomeini,theSupremeLeaderofIranandoneofthemostprominentShi'aMuslimleaders,issuedafatwacallingforthedeathofRushdieandhispublishers.Thiscreatedamajorinternationalincidentthatpersistedformanyyears. BroadcastonIranianradio,thejudgementread: WearefromAllahandtoAllahweshallreturn.IaminformingallbraveMuslimsoftheworldthattheauthorofTheSatanicVerses,atextwritten,edited,andpublishedagainstIslam,theProphetofIslam,andtheQur'an,alongwithalltheeditorsandpublishersawareofitscontents,arecondemnedtodeath.IcallonallvaliantMuslimswherevertheymaybeintheworldtokillthemwithoutdelay,sothatnoonewilldareinsultthesacredbeliefsofMuslimshenceforth.Andwhoeveriskilledinthiscausewillbeamartyr,Allahwilling.Meanwhile,ifsomeonehasaccesstotheauthorofthebookbutisincapableofcarryingouttheexecution,heshouldinformthepeoplesothat[Rushdie]ispunishedforhisactions.— Rouhollahal-Mousavial-Khomeini.[36] Khomeinididnotgivealegalreasoningforhisjudgement.ItisthoughttobebasedontheninthchapteroftheQur'an,calledAt-Tawba,verse61:"Someofthemhurttheprophetbysaying,'Heisallears!'Say,'Itisbetterforyouthathelistenstoyou.HebelievesinGod,andtruststhebelievers.Heisamercyforthoseamongyouwhobelieve.'ThosewhohurtGod'smessengerhaveincurredapainfulretribution".[37] Howeveritwasnotexplainedhowthatchaptercouldsupportsuchajudgement. Overthenextfewdays,Iranianofficialsofferedabountyof$6 millionforkillingRushdie,whowasthusforcedtoliveunderpoliceprotectionforthenextnineyears.On7March1989,theUnitedKingdomandIranbrokediplomaticrelationsovertheRushdiecontroversy.[38][39] Rushdie'sapologyandreaction[edit] Rushdie'sapology[edit] On18February,Iran'sPresidentAliKhamenei(whowouldlaterthatyearsucceedKhomeiniasSupremeLeader)suggestedthatifRushdie"apologisesanddisownsthebook,peoplemayforgivehim".[40] Followingthis,Rushdieissued"acarefullywordedstatement",[40]saying: IrecognizethatMuslimsinmanypartsoftheworldaregenuinelydistressedbythepublicationofmynovel.IprofoundlyregretthedistressthepublicationhasoccasionedtothesincerefollowersofIslam.Livingaswedoinaworldofmanyfaiths,thisexperiencehasservedtoremindusthatwemustallbeconsciousofthesensibilitiesofothers.[40] ThiswasrelayedtotheMinistryofForeignAffairsinTehran"viaofficialchannels"beforebeingreleasedtothepress.[40] RejectionofRushdie'sapology[edit] On19February1990,AyatollahKhomeini'sofficereplied: TheimperialistforeignmediafalselyallegedthattheofficialsoftheIslamicRepublichavesaidthesentenceofdeathontheauthorofTheSatanicVerseswillberetractedifherepents.ImamKhomeinihassaid: Thisisdenied100%.EvenifSalmanRushdierepentsandbecomethemostpiousmanofalltime,itisincumbentoneveryMuslimtoemployeverythinghehasgot,hislifeandwealth,tosendhimtoHell. TheImamadded: Ifanon-MuslimbecomesawareofRushdie'swhereaboutsandhastheabilitytoexecutehimquickerthanMuslims,itisincumbentonMuslimstopayarewardorafeeinreturnforthisaction.[41] McRoy(2007)statedthatKhomeini'sinterpretationoftheIslamiclawthatledhimtorefusetheapologyfollowsthesamelineofreasoningasAl-Shafi'i(9thcenturyjurist),whoinhisRisala(MalikiManual37.19CrimesAgainstIslam)ruledthatan"apostateisalsokilledunlessherepents...WhoeverabusestheMessengerofGod...istobeexecuted,andhisrepentanceisnotaccepted".[23] SupportforKhomeini'sfatwa[edit] InBritain,theUnionofIslamicStudents'AssociationsinEurope,whichisthelargestcollectiveofIslamicStudentsinEurope,[citationneeded]issuedastatementofferingtocommitmurderforKhomeini.DespiteincitementtomurderbeingillegalintheUnitedKingdom,[42]oneLondonpropertydevelopertoldreporters,"IfIseehim,Iwillkillhimstraightaway.Takemynameandaddress.OnedayIwillkillhim".[43] Otherleaders,whilesupportingthefatwa,claimedthatBritishMuslimswerenotallowedtocarryoutthefatwathemselves.[why?]ProminentamongsttheseweretheMuslimParliamentanditsleaderKalimSiddiqui,andafterhisdeathin1996,hissuccessor,GhayasuddinSiddiqui.Hissupportforthefatwacontinued,evenaftertheIranianleadershipsaiditwouldnotpursuethefatwa,[44]andreiteratedhissupportin2000.[45] Meanwhile,inAmerica,thedirectoroftheNearEastStudiesCenteratUCLA,GeorgeSabbagh,toldaninterviewerthatKhomeiniwas"completelywithinhisrights"tocallforRushdie'sdeath.[46] InMay1989inBeirut,Lebanon,BritishcitizenJackieMannwasabducted"inresponsetoIran'sfatwaagainstSalmanRushdieforthepublicationofTheSatanicVersesandmorespecifically,forhisrefugeandprotectionintheUnitedKingdom".[47]HejoinedseveralWesternersheldhostagethere.TwomonthsearlieraphotographofthreeteachersheldhostagewasreleasedbyIslamicJihadfortheLiberationofPalestinewiththemessagethatit"wouldtakerevengeagainst"allinstitutionsandorganisationsthatinsultedinonewayoranother"membersoftheProphetMohammed'sfamily".[48] McRoy(2007)claimedthat"InIslamicsocietyablasphemerisheldinthesamehostilecontemptasapedophileintheWest.JustasfewifanypeopleintheWestmournthemurderofachildmolester,fewMuslimsmournthekillingofablasphemer".[23] CriticismofKhomeini'sfatwa[edit] Khomeini'sfatwawascondemnedacrosstheWesternworldbygovernmentsonthegroundsthatitviolatedtheuniversalhumanrightsoffreespeech,freedomofreligion,andthatKhomeinihadnorighttocondemntodeathacitizenofanothercountrylivinginthatcountry.[citationneeded]ThetwelvemembersoftheEuropeanEconomicCommunityremovedtheirambassadorsfromTehranforthreeweeks.[39] OnIslamicgrounds[edit] Inadditiontocriticismofthedeathsentenceonthebasisofhumanrights,thesentencewasalsocriticisedonIslamicgrounds.AccordingtoBernardLewis,adeathwarrantwithouttrial,defenceandotherlegalaspectsofshariaviolatesIslamicjurisprudence.InIslamicfiqh,apostasybyamentallysoundadultmaleisacapitalcrime.ForLewis,fiqhalso"laysdownproceduresaccordingtowhichapersonaccusedofanoffenseistobebroughttotrial,confrontedwithhisaccuser,andgiventheopportunitytodefendhimself."Lewisaddedthat"[a]judgewillthengiveaverdictandifhefindstheaccusedguilty,pronouncesentence",andthat"[e]venthemostrigorousandextremeoftheclassicaljuristonlyrequireaMuslimtokillanyonewhoinsultstheProphetinhishearingandinhispresence.Theysaynothingaboutahiredkillingforareportedinsultinadistantcountry."[49] OtherIslamicscholarsoutsideIrantookissuewiththefactthatthesentencewasnotpassedbyanIslamiccourt,[43][50]orthatitdidnotlimitits"jurisdictiononly[to]countriesunderIslamiclaw".[37]MuhammadHussamalDin,atheologianatAl-AzharUniversity,argued"Bloodmustnotbeshedexceptafteratrial[whentheaccusedhasbeen]givenachancetodefendhimselfandrepent".[43]Abdallahal-Mushidd,headofAzhar'sFatwāCouncilstated"WemusttrytheauthorinalegalfashionasIslamdoesnotacceptkillingasalegalinstrument".[50] TheIslamicJurisprudenceAcademyinMeccaurgedthatRushdiebetried,andiffoundguilty,begivenachancetorepent,(p. 93)andAyatollahMehdiRohani,headoftheShi'icommunityinEuropeandacousinofKhomeini,criticisedKhomeinifor'respect[ing]neitherinternationallawnorthatofIslam.'[51]TherewasalsocriticismofthefatwaissuedagainstRushdie'spublishers.AccordingtoDanielPipes,theSharia"clearlyestablishesthatdisseminatingfalseinformationisnotthesameasexpressingit.'Transmittingblasphemyisnotblasphemy'(naqlal-kufrlaysakufr)."Inaddition,thepublisherswerenotMuslimandsocouldnotbe"sentencedundertheIslamiclawsofapostasy".Iftherewasanotherlegaljustificationforsentencingthemtodeath,"Khomeinifailedtoprovide"it.[52] Iran'sresponsetocallsforatrialwastodenounceitsIslamicproponentsas"deceitful".PresidentKhomeiniaccusedthemofattemptingtousereligiouslawas"aflagunderwhichtheycancrushrevolutionaryIslam".[53] Questionsofpoliticalmotivation[edit] Somespeculatethatthefatwa(oratleastthereaffirmationofthedeaththreatfourdayslater)wasissuedwithmotivesotherthanasenseofdutytoprotectIslambypunishingblasphemy/apostasy.Namely: TodivideMuslimsfromtheWestby"starklyhighlight[ing]theconflictingpoliticalandintellectualtraditions"ofthetwocivilisations.[6]KhomeinihadoftenwarnedMuslimsofthedangersoftheWest –"theagentsofimperialism[who]arebusyineverycorneroftheIslamicworlddrawingouryouthawayfromuswiththeirevilpropaganda".[54]HeknewfromnewsreportsthebookwasalreadyrousingtheangerofMuslims. TodistracttheattentionofhisIraniancountrymenfromhiscapitulationsevenmonthsearliertoatrucewithIraq(20July1988)endingthelongandbloodyIran–IraqWar(atruceIraqwouldhaveeagerlygivenhimsixyearsandhundredsofthousandsoflivesearlier),[55][56]andstrengthentherevolutionaryardourandmorale[57]ofIraniansworndownbythebloodshedandprivationofthatwar.AccordingtojournalistRobinWright,"astheinternationalfuroregrew,Khomeinideclaredthatthebookhadbeena'godsend'thathadhelpedIranoutofa'naïveforeignpolicy'".[37][58] TowinbacktheinterestinandsupportfortheIslamicRevolutionamongthe90%ofthepopulationoftheMuslimworldthatwasSunni,ratherthanShialikeKhomeini.TheIran–IraqWarhadalsoalienatedSunni,whonotonlywereoffendedbyitsbloodshed,buttendedtofavourIran'sSunni-ledopponent,Iraq.AtleastoneobserverspeculatedthatKhomeini'schoiceoftheissueofdisrespectfortheProphetMuhammadwasaparticularlyshrewdtactic,asSunniwereinclinedtosuspectShiaofbeingmoreinterestedintheImamsAliandHusaynibnAlithanintheProphet.[59] TostealthethunderofKhomeini'stwoleastfavouriteenemystates,SaudiArabiaandtheUnitedStates,whowerebaskinginthegloryoftheSovietwithdrawalfromAfghanistan.Thiswithdrawal,seenbymanyasagreatvictoryofIslamicfaithoveranatheistsuperpower,wasmadepossiblebybillionsofdollarsinaidtotheAfghanmujahideenbythosetwocountries.Khomeiniissuedthefatwaon14February1989.ThenextdaycametheofficialannouncementofthecompletionoftheSovietwithdrawalfromAfghanistan,lostinthenewscycleofthefatwa.[60] TogaintheupperhandfromSaudiArabiainthestruggleforinternationalleadershipoftheMuslimworld.Eachledrivalblocsofinternationalinstitutionsandmedianetworks,and"theSaudigovernment,itshouldberemembered,hadledtheanti-Rushdiecampaignformonths".[59]UnlikethemoreconservativeSaudiArabia,however,Iranwasideologicallyandmilitantlyanti-westernandcouldtakeamoremilitantstandoutsideinternationallaw. Questionsofpersonalmotivation[edit] DespiteclaimsbyIranianofficialsthat"Rushdie'sbookdidnotinsultIranorIranianleaders"andsotheyhadnoselfishpersonalmotivationtoattackthebook,thebookdoesincludeaneleven-pagesketchofKhomeini'sstayinParisthatcouldwellbeconsideredaninsulttohim.Itdescribeshimashaving"grownmonstrous,lyinginthepalaceforecourtwithhismouthyawningopenatthegates;asthepeoplemarchthroughthegatesheswallowsthemwhole".Inthewordsofoneobserver,"Ifthisisnotaninsult,Khomeiniwasfarmoretolerantthanonemightsuppose".[61]JohnCrowleyhasnotedthatthesectionofthebookdepictingtheKhomeini-likecharacterwasselectedtobereadpubliclybyRushdieinthepromotionaleventsleadinguptoandfollowingthebook'srelease.[62]InCrowley'sopinion,thefatwawasmostlikelydeclaredbecauseofthissectionofthenovelanditspublicexposure,ratherthantheoverallparodictreatmentofIslam.[62] Attemptstorevokethefatwa[edit] On24September1998,asapreconditiontotherestorationofdiplomaticrelationswithBritain,theIraniangovernment,thenheadedbyreformistMuhammadKhatami,gaveapubliccommitmentthatitwould"neithersupportnorhinderassassinationoperationsonRushdie".[63][64] Inearly2005,Khomeini'sfatwawasreaffirmedbyIran'sSupremeLeader,AyatollahAliKhamenei,inamessagetoMuslimpilgrimsmakingtheannualpilgrimagetoMecca.[65]Additionally,theRevolutionaryGuardshavedeclaredthatthedeathsentenceonhimisstillvalid.[66]Iranhasrejectedrequeststowithdrawthefatwaonthebasisthatonlythepersonwhoissueditmaywithdrawit,[65]withRuhollahKhomeinihavingdiedin1989. On14February2006,theIranianstatenewsagencyreportedthatthefatwawillremaininplacepermanently.[3] In2007,SalmanRushdiereportedthathestillreceivesa"sortofValentine'scard"fromIraneachyearon14Februarylettinghimknowthecountryhasnotforgottenthevowtokillhim.Hewasalsoquotedsaying,"It'sreachedthepointwhereit'sapieceofrhetoricratherthanarealthreat".[67] 2022assassinationattempt[edit] Mainarticle:StabbingofSalmanRushdie Thissectionneedsexpansion.Youcanhelpbyaddingtoit.(August2022) OnAugust12,2022ataround10:47a.m.EDT,[68]amanstabbedSalmanRushdieashewasabouttogiveapubliclectureontheUnitedStatesassafehavenforexiledwritersattheChautauquaInstitutioninChautauqua,NewYork,UnitedStates.[68][69][70][71]Theassailantstabbedhimtentimes,strainingtocontinuetheattackevenasseveralpeopleheldhimback.[68]Oneofthesepeoplewastheco-founderofCityofAsylum,HenryReese,onstageatthetime,abouttobegininterviewingRushdie.Duringtheassault,Reesesustainedashallowknifewoundanddeepbruisinginthevicinityofhisrighteye.[72][73]Adoctor,whowaspresentforthelecture,immediatelytendedtoRushdie.[74]Rushdiesufferedfourwoundstothestomachareaofhisabdomen,threewoundstotherightsideofthefrontpartofhisneck,onewoundtohisrighteye,onewoundtohischestandonewoundtohisrightthigh.[75]A24-year-oldsuspect,HadiMatar,wasarrestedatthescene,andwaschargedthefollowingdaywithassaultandattemptedmurder.Rushdiewasgravelywoundedandhospitalized. ThegovernmentofIrandeniedhavingforeknowledgeofthestabbing,althoughIranianstate-controlledmediacelebratedit.U.S.lawenforcementisinvestigatingwhethertheassailantwasincontactwithotherextremists. Socialandpoliticalfallout[edit] OneoftheimmediateconsequencesofthefatwawasaworseningofIslamic-Westernrelations. Heightenedtension[edit] RushdielamentedthatthecontroversyfedtheWesternstereotypeof"thebackward,cruel,rigidMuslim,burningbooksandthreateningtokilltheblasphemer",[76] whileanotherBritishwritercomparedtheAyatollahKhomeini"withafamiliarghostfromthepast –oneofthosevillainousMuslimclerics,aFaqirofIpioramadMullah,whousedtobeportrayed,largerthanlife,inpopularhistoriesoftheBritishEmpire".[77]MediaexpressionsofthisincludedabannerheadlineinthepopularBritishnewspapertheDailyMirrorreferringtoKhomeinias"thatMadMullah".[78] TheIndependentnewspaperworriedthatMuslimbookburningdemonstrationswere"followingtheexampleoftheInquisitionandHitler'sNationalSocialists",[79]andthatifRushdiewaskilled,"itwouldbethefirstburningofahereticinEuropeintwocenturies".[80]PeregrineWorsthorneofTheSundayTelegraphfearedthatwithEurope'sgrowingMuslimpopulation,"Islamicfundamentalismisrapidlygrowingintoamuchbiggerthreatofviolenceandintolerancethananythingemanatingfrom,say,thefascistNationalFront;andathreat,moreover,infinitelymoredifficulttocontainsinceitisvirtuallyimpossibletomonitor,letalonestampout...".[81] OntheMuslimside,theIraniangovernmentsawthebookaspartofaBritishconspiracyagainstIslam.ItbrokediplomaticrelationswithUKon7March1989givingtheexplanationthat"inthepasttwocenturiesBritainhasbeeninthefrontlineofplotsandtreacheryagainstIslamandMuslims".ItaccusedtheBritishofsponsoringRushdie'sbooktouseitasapoliticalandculturaltacticonearliermilitaryplotsthatnolongerworked.[82]Italsosawitselfasthevictorofthecontroversy,withtheEuropeanCommunitycountriescapitulatingunderIranianpressure."WhenEuropeanssawthattheireconomicinterestsinMuslimcountriescouldbedamaged,theybegantocorrecttheirpositionontheissueoftheinsultingbook.Everyofficialstartedtocondemnthebookinonewayoranother.WhentheyrealisedthatIran'sreaction,itsbreakingofdiplomaticrelationswithLondon,couldalsoincludethem,theyquicklysentbacktheirambassadorstoTehrantopreventfurtherIranianreaction".[83] Booksales[edit] PersianSamizdateditionofSalmanRushdie'sSatanicVersesc.2000 AlthoughBritishbooksellerW.H.Smithsold"amerehundredcopiesaweekofthebookinmid-January1989",it"flewofftheshelves"followingthefatwa.InAmerica,itsoldan"unprecedented"fivetimesmorecopiesthanthenumbertwobook,StarbyDanielleSteel,sellingmorethan750,000copiesofthebookbyMay1989.B.Dalton,abookstorechainthatdecidednottostockthebookforsecurityreasons,changeditsmindwhenitfoundthebook"wassellingsofastthatevenaswetriedtostopit,itwasflyingofftheshelves".[84][85]Rushdieearnedabout$2 millionwithinthefirstyearofthebook'spublication,[86]andthebookisViking'sall-timebestseller.[87] Rushdie[edit] Theauthorofthebookhimselfwasnotimmediatelykilledorinjuredasmanymilitantswished,butvisiblyfrustratedbyalifelockedin24-hourarmedguard –alternatelydefiantagainsthiswould-bekillersandattemptingoverturesofreconciliationagainstthedeaththreat.Aweekafterthedeaththreat,andafterhisunsuccessfulapologytotheIraniangovernment,Rushdiedescribedsuccumbingto"acuriouslethargy,thesoporifictorporthatovercomes...whileunderattack";[88]then,acoupleofweeksafterthat,wroteapoemvowing"nottoshutup"but"tosingon,inspiteofattacks".[89] Hiswife,MarianneWiggins,reportedthatinthefirstfewmonthsfollowingthefatwathecouplemoved56times,onceeverythreedays.InlateJuly,RushdieseparatedfromWiggins,"thetensionofbeingatthecentreofaninternationalcontroversy,andtheirritationsofspendingallhoursofthedaytogetherinseclusion",beingtoomuchfortheir"shaky"relationship.[90] Latethenextyear,Rushdiedeclared,"Iwanttoreclaimmylife",andinDecembersignedadeclaration"affirminghisIslamicfaithandcallingforViking-Penguin,thepublisherofTheSatanicVerses,neithertoissuethebookinpaperbacknortoallowittobetranslated".[91]Thisalsofailedtomovesupportersofthefatwaandbymid-2005RushdiewascondemningIslamicfundamentalismasa ...projectoftyrannyandunreasonwhichwishestofreezeacertainviewofIslamiccultureintimeandsilencetheprogressivevoicesintheMuslimworldcallingforafreeandprosperousfuture....alongcomes9/11,andnowmanypeoplesaythat,inhindsight,thefatwawastheprologueandthisisthemainevent.[92] Amemoirofhisyearsofhiding,titledJosephAnton,waspublishedon18September2012.JosephAntonwasRushdie'ssecretalias.[93] Explanationofdifferentreactions[edit] Muslim[edit] ThepassionateinternationalrageofMuslimstowardsthebooksurprisedmanyWesternreadersbecausethebookwaswritteninEnglish,notArabic,Urdu,PersianorotherlanguagesforwhichthemajorityofmothertonguespeakersareMuslims;itwasneverpublishedorevensoldinthecountrieswheremostMuslimslived,andwasaworkoffiction –ademanding,denselywrittennovelunlikelytoappealtotheaveragereader.[94] Someoftheexplanationsfortheunprecedentedrageunleashedagainstthebookwerethat: RushdiewaslivingintheWestandoughttobesettingagoodexampleforIslamandnotsiding"withtheOrientalists".[95] TheviewofmanyMuslimswasthat"RushdiehasportrayedtheprophetofIslamasabrothelkeeper".[96][dubious–discuss]"Rushdieaccusestheprophet,particularlyMuhammadofbeinglikeprostitutes":[97]"allwhoprayaresonsofwhores".[98]"TheProphet'swivesareportrayedaswomenofthestreet,hishomesasapublicbrothelandhiscompanionsasbandits".[99]Thebook,infact,portraysprostituteswho"hadeachassumedtheidentityofoneofMahound'swives".[100] Beliefthatfictionalelementsofthenovelwerenotflightsofimaginationbutlies.Complaintsincludedthatitwas"neitheracriticalappraisalnorapieceofhistoricalresearch",[101]thatthenovelfailedtorelyon"scientificandlogicalarguments",[102]its"lackofscientific,accurateorobjectivemethodsofresearch",[103]"unfoundedlies",notbeing"seriousorscientific",[104]"atotaldistortionofhistoricalfacts",[105]being"notatallanobjectiveorscientificopinion".[106] Rejectionoftheconceptoffreespeech.ThebeliefamongmanyMuslimsinorfromtheMiddleEastisthateverycountry"has...lawsthatprohibitsanypublicationsorutterancesthattendtoridiculeordefameIslam".[107]ItfollowedthatpermissiontopublishabookthatridiculedordefamedIslamshowedananti-Islamicbiasinthosecountriesthatpermitpublication.Althoughnotenforced,andabolishedcompletelyin2008,theUnitedKingdompreviouslyhadlawsprohibitingblasphemyagainsttheChristianreligion. AbeliefheldbymanyMuslimsthatBritain,AmericaandotherWesterncountriesareengagedinawaragainstIslamandwhatmightonthesurfaceappeartobetheproductoftheimaginationofanindividualiconoclastauthorwasactuallyaconspiracyonanationalortransnationalscale.ThenIranianpresidentAkbarHashemiRafsanjani,forexample,explainedtheallegedhistoricalrootsoftheRushdiebookinabroadcastonRadioTehran:"WhoeverisfamiliarwiththehistoryofcolonialismandtheIslamicworldknowsthatwhenevertheywantedtogetafootholdinaplace,thefirstthingtheydidinordertocleartheirpaths –whetherovertlyorcovertly –wastounderminethepeople'sgenuineIslamicmorals"[108]andclaimedanunnamedBritishforeignsecretaryoncetoldtheBritishparliament,"SolongastheQur'anisreveredbyMuslims,wewillnotbeabletoconsolidateafootholdamongtheMuslims".[108] AcampaignbytheinternationalIslamistgroupJamaat-e-IslamiinretaliationforRushdie'ssatireofthemintheearlierbookShame.InBritain,thegroupwasrepresentedbytheUKActionCommitteeonIslamicAffairs.[109] AmongsecondgenerationMuslimimmigrantsinUKandelsewhere,adeclineininterestinuniversalist"whiteLeft"anti-racist/anti-imperialistpolitics,andriseinidentitypoliticswithitsfocusonthe"defenceofvaluesandbeliefs"ofMuslimidentity.[110] Basedonthebook'stitle,andoutofageneralignoranceaboutwhatitreferences,amisunderstandinginthepartofpeopleinMuslimmajoritycountries,wherethebookwasnotavailable,thatledtothemistakenbeliefthatthebookwasa"Satanist"critiqueofIslamandtheProphetMuhammad. Westernmainstream[edit] DespitethepassionateintensityofMuslimfeelingontheissue,noWesterngovernmentbannedTheSatanicVerses.ThisisprimarilybecausemostWesterngovernmentsexplicitlyorimplicitlyallowforfreedomofexpression,whichincludesforbiddingcensorshipinthevastmajorityofcases.WesternattitudesregardingfreedomofexpressiondifferfromthoseintheArabworldbecause: Westernersarelesslikelytobeshockedbyridiculeofreligiousfigures."TabooandsacrilegearevirtuallydeadintheWest.Blasphemyisanoldstoryandcannolongershock".[111]Examplesofmoviesandbooksthatarousedlittleornoprotestinthewestdespitetheirblasphemy:JosephHeller'sGodKnows,whichturned"Biblicalstoriesintopornographicfare";[112]EvenTheProtocolsoftheEldersofZion,abookthatwasnotonlyoffensiveanduntruebutarguablyverydangerous,havinginspiredthekillingofJewsinRussiaandcontributedtoNaziideology,was"freelyavailableinthewest".[112] Theideawidelyacceptedamongwritersthatprovocationinliteratureisnotarightbutisaduty,animportantcalling:"itisperhapsinthenatureofmodernarttobeoffensive...inthiscenturyifwearenotwillingtoriskgivingoffence,wehavenoclaimtothetitleofartists".[113]Rushdiehimselfsaid:"Ihadspentmyentirelifeasawriterinopposition,andindeedconceivedthewriter'sroleasincludingthefunctionofantagonisttothestate".[114] ThelastpointalsoexplainswhyoneofthefewgroupstospeakoutinMuslimcountriesagainstKhomeiniandforRushdie'srighttopublishhisbookwereotherwriters.[115]NobelprizewinnersWoleSoyinkaofNigeriaandNaguibMahfouzofEgypt,bothattackedKhomeini,andbothreceiveddeaththreatsasaresult,withMahfouzlatergettingstabbedintheneckbyaMuslimfundamentalist.[116][117] SomeWesternpoliticiansandwritersdidcriticiseRushdie.FormerUnitedStatespresidentJimmyCarter,whilecondemningthethreatsandfatwaagainstRushdie,stated,"wehavetendedtopromotehimandhisbookwithlittleacknowledgmentthatitisadirectinsulttothosemillionsofMoslemswhosesacredbeliefshavebeenviolatedandaresufferinginrestrainedsilencetheaddedembarrassmentoftheAyatollah'sirresponsibility".HealsoheldthatRushdiemusthavebeenawareoftheresponsehisbookwouldevoke:"Theauthor,awell-versedanalystofMoslembeliefs,musthaveanticipatedahorrifiedreactionthroughouttheIslamicworld".[118]Hesawaneedtobe"sensitivetotheconcernandanger"ofMuslimsandthoughtseveringdiplomaticrelationswithIranwouldbean"overreaction".[119] Amongauthors,RoaldDahlwasscathingandcalledRushdie'sbooksensationalistandRushdie"adangerousopportunist".[120]JohnleCarréthoughtthedeathsentencetobeoutrageous,buthealsocriticisedRushdie'saction:"Idon'tthinkitisgiventoanyofustobeimpertinenttogreatreligionswithimpunity",[120]althoughhelaterexpressedregretoverhisdisputewithRushdie.[121]Rushdie,however,wassupportedbymajorbodiesintheliteraryworldsuchasPENandAssociationofAmericanPublishers,andprominentfiguressuchasGünterGrass,MartinAmis,SaulBellow,NadineGordimerandDerekWalcott.[122]AnothermajorsupporterofRushdie,ChristopherHitchens,saidthatthefatwapersuadedhimthatIslamicfundamentalismwasanurgentmenace,andlaterwroteGodIsNotGreat,apolemicagainstreligion.[123]Theaffairhoweverledtogreatercautionandsomedegreeofself-censorshipwhendealingwithIslamicissuesintheliteraryandothercreativearts.[117] Westernreligiousfigures[edit] ManyreligiousfiguresintheUnitedStatesandUnitedKingdomsharedtheaversiontoblasphemyofpiousMuslims(ifnotasintensely)anddidnotdefendRushdieliketheirsecularcompatriots.TheArchbishopofCanterbury,RobertRuncie,demandedthatthegovernmentexpandtheBlasphemyActtocoverotherreligions,includingIslam.[124] MichaelWalzerwrotethattheresponserevealedanevolutionofthemeaningofblasphemy;itmovedawayfromacrimeagainstGodandtowardsomethingmoretemporal. Todayweareconcernedforourpainandsometimes,forotherpeople's.Blasphemyhasbecomeanoffenceagainstthefaithful –inmuchthesamewayaspornographyisanoffenceagainsttheinnocentandthevirtuous.Giventhismeaning,blasphemyisanecumenicalcrimeandsoitisnotsurprising...thatChristiansandJewsshouldjoinMuslimsincallingSalmanRushdie's[book]ablasphemousbook.[125] Somerabbis,suchasImmanuelJakobovits,chiefrabbioftheUnitedHebrewCongregationsoftheCommonwealth,opposedthebook'spublication.[126] Receptiontimeline[edit] 1988[edit] 26September1988:ThenovelispublishedintheUK. KhushwantSingh,whilereviewingthebookinIllustratedWeekly,proposedabanonTheSatanicVerses,apprehendingthereactionitmayevokeamongpeople.[citationneeded] 5October1988:Indiabansthenovel'simportation,afterIndianparliamentarianandeditorofthemonthlymagazineMuslimIndiaSyedShahabuddinpetitionedthegovernmentofRajivGandhitobanthebook.[127][128][129]In1993,SyedShahabuddintriedunsuccessfullytobananotherbook(RamSwarup'sHinduViewofChristianityandIslam).[130][131] October1988:DeaththreatsagainstRushdiecompelhimtocanceltripsandsometimestakeabodyguard.LetterwritingcampaigntoVikingPressinAmericabrings"tensofthousandsofmenacingletters".[132] 20October1988:UnionofMuslimOrganisationsoftheUKwritestheBritishgovernmentpressingforabanofTheSatanicVerseongroundsofblasphemy.[133] 21November1988:GrandsheikofEgyptAl-AzharcallsonIslamicorganisationsinBritaintotakelegalactiontopreventthenovel'sdistribution. 24November1988:ThenovelisbannedinSouthAfricaandPakistan;bansfollowwithinweeksinSaudiArabia,Egypt,Somalia,Bangladesh,Sudan,Malaysia,Indonesia,andQatar. 2December1988:FirstbookburningofTheSatanicVersesinUK.7000MuslimsattendrallyburningthebookinBolton,[134]thoughtheeventisbarelynoticedbythemedia.[135] 1989[edit] 14January1989:AcopyofthebookisburnedinBradford.Extensivemediacoverageanddebate.Somesupportfromnon-Muslims.[134] January1989:IslamicDefenseCouncildemandsthatPenguinBooksapologise,withdrawthenovel,destroyanyextantcopies,andneverreprintit. February1989:ThefirstcopiesoftheUnitedStateseditionappearinbookstores,alongwithbookreviewsintheUSpress. 12February1989:Sixpeoplearekilledand100injuredwhen10,000attacktheAmericanCulturalCenterinIslamabad,PakistanprotestingagainstRushdieandhisbook.[136] 13February1989:Onepersoniskilledandover100injuredinanti-RushdieriotsinSrinagar,JammuandKashmir.[137][138] 14February1989:AyatollahRuhollahKhomeiniofIranissuesafatwacallingonallMuslimstoexecuteallthoseinvolvedinthepublicationofthenovel;the15KhordadFoundation,anIranianreligiousfoundationorbonyad,offersarewardof$US1 millionor200millionrialsforthemurderofRushdie,$3 millionifdonebyanIranian. 16February1989:ArmedIslamistgroups,suchasIslamicRevolutionaryGuardCorpandHezbollahofLebanon,expresstheirenthusiasmto"carryouttheImam'sdecree".[139]RushdieenterstheprotectionprogrammeoftheBritishgovernment.Thebountyonhisheadisraisedto$6 million.[39] 17February1989:IranianpresidentAliKhameneisaysRushdiecouldbepardonedifheapologises.[140] 17February1989:BookstorechainsincludingB.Dalton,Barnes&Noble,Waldenbooks,andColesBookStoressaythattheywillnolongersellthebook.[141] 18February1989:RushdieapologizesasPresidentKhameneisuggested;initially,IRNA(theofficialIraniannewsagency)saysRushdie'sstatement"isgenerallyseenassufficientenoughtowarranthispardon".[142] 19February1989:AyatollahKhomeiniissuesedictsayingnoapologyorcontritionbyRushdiecouldlifthisdeathsentence. 22February1989:ThenovelispublishedintheUS;majorbookstorechainsBarnes&NobleandWaldenbooks,underthreat,removethenovelfromone-thirdofthenation'sbookstores. 24February1989:Twelvepeopledieand40arewoundedwhenalargeanti-RushdieriotinBombay,Maharashtra,Indiastartstocauseconsiderablepropertydamageandpoliceopenfire.[143] 28February1989:Bookstores,includingCody'sandWaldenbooksinBerkeley,California,USA,arefirebombedforsellingthenovel.[144] 28February1989:1989firebombingoftheRiverdalePress:TheofficesoftheRiverdalePress,aweeklynewspaperintheBronx,isdestroyedbyfirebombs.Acallerto911saysthebombingwasinretaliationforaneditorialdefendingtherighttoreadthenovelandcriticisingthechainstoresthatstoppedsellingit.[145] 7March1989:IranbreaksdiplomaticrelationswithBritain. March1989:IndependentbookstoresincludingCody'sinBerkeley,California,UnitedStatesandPowell'sinPortland,Oregon,UnitedStatescontinuetosellthebook.[146] March1989:TheOrganisationoftheIslamicConferencecallsonits46membergovernmentstoprohibitthenovel.TheRevolutionaryGovernmentofZanzibarsetsthepunishmentforpossessionofthebookasthreeyearsinprisonandafineof$2,500;inMalaysia,threeyearsinprisonandafineof$7,400;inIndonesia,amonthinprisonorafine.TheonlynationwithapredominantlyMuslimpopulationwherethenovelremainslegalisTurkey.SeveralnationswithlargeMuslimminorities,includingPapuaNewGuinea,Thailand,SriLanka,Kenya,Tanzania,Liberia,andSierraLeone,alsoimposepenaltiesforpossessingthenovel. May1989:MusicianYusufIslam(formerlyknownasCatStevens)indicateshissupportforthefatwaandstatesduringaBritishtelevisiondocumentary,accordingtoTheNewYorkTimes,thatifRushdieshowsupathisdoor,he"mightringsomebodywhomightdomoredamagetohimthanhewouldlike...I'dtrytophonetheAyatollahKhomeiniandtellhimexactlywherethismanis".[147]YusufIslamlaterdeniedgivingsupporttothefatwa.FormoreonthistopicseeCatStevens'commentsaboutSalmanRushdie. 27May1989:15,000to20,000MuslimsgatherinParliamentSquareinLondonburningRushdieineffigyandcallingforthenovel'sbanning.[148] 3June1989:Khomeinidies.FormerpresidentKhameneitakesoverasthenewSupremeLeader. 31July1989:TheBBCbroadcastsTonyHarrison'sfilm-poemTheBlasphemers'BanquetinwhichHarrisondefendsRushdiebylikeninghimtoMolière,Voltaire,OmarKhayyamandByron. Followingthebroadcastofhisfilm-poem,HarrisonpublishedapoemtitledTheSatanicVersesinTheObserverinwhichhewrote:[149] Ishallnotceasefrommentalstrife norshallmypensleepinmyhand tillRushdiehasarighttolife andbooksaren'tburnedorbanned 3August1989:AmanusingthealiasMustafaMahmoudMazehaccidentallyblewhimselfupalongwithtwofloorsofacentralLondonhotelwhilepreparingabombintendedtokillRushdie.[150] KerstinEkmanandLarsGyllensten,membersoftheSwedishAcademy(whichawardstheNobelPrizeinLiterature),stoppedparticipatingintheAcademy'sworkinprotestattheAcademy'srefusaltosupportanappealtotheSwedishcabinetinsupportforRushdie.[151][152]Gyllenstendiesin2006,whileEkmanleavesin2018aftertheAcademychangeditsrules,permittingresignations.[153] 1990[edit] 1990:RushdieapologisestoMuslims. 1990:RushdiepublishesanessayonKhomeini'sdeath,"InGoodFaith",toappeasehiscriticsandissuesanapologyinwhichheseemstoreaffirmhisrespectforIslam;however,Iranianclericsdonotretractthefatwa. 1990:FivebombingstargetbookstoresinEngland. 24December1990:RushdiesignsadeclarationaffirminghisIslamicfaithandcallsforViking-Penguin,thepublisherofTheSatanicVerses,neithertoissuethebookinpaperbacknortoallowittobetranslated.[91] 1991[edit] 11July1991:HitoshiIgarashi,thenovel'sJapanesetranslator,isstabbedtodeath;[154]andEttoreCapriolo,itsItaliantranslator,isseriouslywounded. 1993–1994[edit] 2July1993:Thirty-sevenTurkishintellectualsandlocalsparticipatinginthePirSultanAbdalLiteraryFestivaldiewhentheconferencehotelinSivas,Turkey,isburntdownbyamobofradicalislamists.ParticipatingintheconferencewasAzizNesin,whohadpreviouslyannouncedthathewasgoingtogetthebooktranslatedandpublished.Themobdemandedhebehandedoverforsummaryexecution.ThemobsetthehotelalightwhenNesinwasnotturnedover.Nesinescapedthefireandsurvived.[155] 11August1993:RushdiemakesararepublicappearanceatU2'sconcertinWembleyStadiumontheirZooTVTourinLondon.Bono,donnedasstagecharacter/devilMr.MacPhisto,placedacalltoRushdieonlytofindhimselffacetofacewithRushdieonstage.RushdietoldBonothat"realdevilsdon'twearhorns". October1993:Thenovel'sNorwegianpublisher,WilliamNygaard,isshotandseriouslyinjured. 1997–1998[edit] 1997:Thebountyisdoubled,to$600,000. 1998:Iraniangovernmentpubliclydeclaresthatitwill"neithersupportnorhinderassassinationoperationsonRushdie".[63]ThisisannouncedaspartofawideragreementtonormaliserelationsbetweenIranandtheUnitedKingdom.Rushdiesubsequentlydeclaresthathewillstoplivinginhiding,andthatheisnot,infact,religious.AccordingtosomeofIran'sleadingclerics,despitethedeathofKhomeiniandtheIraniangovernment'sofficialdeclaration,thefatwaremainsinforce.Iran'sforeignministerKamalKharazistated, TheGovernmentoftheIslamicRepublicofIranhasnointention,norisitgoingtotakeanyactionwhatsoever,tothreatenthelifeoftheauthorofTheSatanicVersesoranybodyassociatedwithhiswork,norwillitencourageorassistanybodytodoso".[2] 1999[edit] 1999:AnIranianfoundationplacesa$2.8 millionbountyonRushdie'slife. 14February1999:onthetenthanniversaryoftherulingagainstRushdie,morethanhalfofthedeputiesin(Iranian)Parliamentsignastatementdeclaring,"TheverdictonRushdie,theblasphemer,isdeath,bothtodayandtomorrow,andtoburninhellforalleternity".[156] 2000–2004[edit] 14February2000:AyatollahHassanSaneii,theheadofthe15thofKhordadFoundation,reiteratesthatthedeathsentenceremainsvalidandthefoundation's$2.8 millionrewardwillbepaidwithinteresttoRushdie'sassassins.Persianstakethisnewswithsomescepticismasthefoundationis"widelyknown"tobebankrupt.[156] January2002:SouthAfricaliftsitsbanonTheSatanicVerses.[157] 16February2003:Iran'sRevolutionaryGuardsreiteratethecallfortheassassinationofRushdie.AsreportedbytheSundayHerald,"AyatollahHassanSaneii,headofthesemi-officialKhordadFoundationthathasplaceda$2.8 millionbountyonRushdie'shead,wasquotedbytheJomhuriIslaminewspaperassayingthathisfoundationwouldnowpay$3 milliontoanyonewhokillsRushdie".[158] 2005–2007[edit] Early2005:Khomeini'sfatwaagainstRushdieisreaffirmedbyIran'sspiritualleader,AyatollahAliKhamenei,inamessagetoMuslimpilgrimsmakingtheannualpilgrimagetoMecca.Iranhasrejectedrequeststowithdrawthefatwaonthebasisthatonlythepersonwhoissueditmaywithdrawit. 14February2006:Iran'sofficialstatenewsagencyreportsontheanniversaryofthedecreethatthegovernment-runMartyrsFoundationhasannounced,"ThefatwābyImamKhomeiniinregardtotheapostateSalmanRushdiewillbeineffectforever",andthatoneofIran'sstatebonyad,orfoundations,hasoffereda$2.8 millionbountyonhislife.[3] 15June2007:RushdiereceivesknighthoodforservicestoliteraturesparkinganoutcryfromIslamicgroups.SeveralgroupsinvokingTheSatanicVersescontroversyrenewcallsforhisdeath. 29June2007:BombsplantedincentralLondonmayhavebeenlinkedtotheKnighthoodofSalmanRushdie.[159] 2008–2012[edit] 24January2012:Thevice-chancellorofDarulUloomDeoband,anIslamicschoolinIndia,issuedademandthatRushdiebedeniedavisaforhisscheduledappearanceattheJaipurLiteratureFestivalattheendofJanuary.TheIndiangovernmentrepliedthattherewerenoplanstobarRushdiefromenteringthecountry,andthatRushdie,whohadvisitedIndiaseveraltimesinthepast,didnotneedavisabecauseheheldaPersonsofIndianOriginCard"thatentitlesholderstotraveltothecountryoftheiroriginwithoutotherdocumentation".[160]Rushdieultimatelydecidednottoattendthefestival,citingreportsofpossibleassassinationattempts.[161]Rushdieinvestigatedpolicereportsofpaidassassinsandsuggestedthatthepolicemighthavelied.[162]Meanwhile,policewereseekingRuchirJoshi,JeetThayil,HariKunzruandAmitavaKumarwhofledJaipurontheadviceofofficialsattheJaipurLiteratureFestivalafterreadingexcerptsfromTheSatanicVerses,whichisbannedinIndia.[163]AproposedvideolinksessionbetweenRushdieandtheJaipurLiteratureFestivalranintodifficultyafterthegovernmentpressuredthefestivaltostopit.[162] 17September2012:RushdieexpresseddoubtthatTheSatanicVerseswouldbepublishedtodaybecauseofaclimateof"fearandnervousness".[164] 2016[edit] 22February2016:Agroupoffortystate-runmediaorganisationsinIranraised$600,000toaddtotheFatwaonRushdie.[165] 2022[edit] Mainarticle:StabbingofSalmanRushdie 12August2022:RushdiewasstabbedintheneckandabdomenwhenhewassettogivealectureinChautauqua,NewYork.[166][167]Commentingontheextentofhisinjuries,Rushdie'sagentsaidthathehadlikelylostaneye,inadditiontosustainingliverdamageandseverednervesinonearm.[168][169]Rushdiewasplacedonaventilatorthedayoftheattack,butwithin48hours,hewastakenoffofitandreportedlyabletospeak.[170] 14August2022:TwodaysafterRushdie'sstabbing,thegovernment-runnewspaperofIrancalledtheattackan"implementationofdivinedecree".[171] Seealso[edit] Allahasalunardeity CensorshipinSouthAsia CriticismofIslam Freedomofspeech TaslimaNasrin(Lajja,novelwhichledtoprotestsanddeaththreats,1993,Bangladesh) TheCalcuttaQuranPetition(acontroversyaboutapetitiontobantheQuran,1985,India)[172] MariwanHalabjaee TheSudaneseteddybearblasphemycase;thearrest,trial,conviction,andimprisonmentofaBritishschoolteacherinSudanin2007,forallegedlyinsultingIslambyallowingherclasstonameateddybear"Muhammad" RichardWebster'sbookABriefHistoryofBlasphemy,whichdiscussesthecontroversyoverTheSatanicVerses InternationalGuerillas,1990PakistaniactionfilmdepictingSalmanRushdieasitsmainvillain InnocenceofMuslims,2012filmthatdisparagesIslamandMuhammad,whichledtoviolentprotestsagainstWesterninstitutionsinseveralMuslimcountries,anumberofdeaths,andhundredsofinjuries EverybodyDrawMohammedDay,aneventheldin2010insupportoffreespeechandfreedomofartisticexpressionofthosethreatenedwithviolencefordrawingrepresentationsofMuhammad Fitna,2008DutchfilmaboutIslam,whichledtoworldwideMuslimprotestsandahatespeechtrial Jyllands-PostenMuhammadcartoonscontroversy;beganafter12editorialcartoons,mostofwhichdepictedIslamicprophetMuhammad,werepublishedintheDanishnewspaperJyllands-Postenin2005 LarsVilksMuhammaddrawingscontroversy;beganinJuly2007withaseriesofdrawingsbySwedishartistLarsVilksthatdepictedtheIslamicprophetMuhammadasaroundaboutdog References[edit] ^JessicaJacobson.Islamintransition:religionandidentityamongBritishPakistaniyouth.1998,p.34 ^abCrossette,Barbara(25September1998)."IranDropsRushdieDeathThreat,AndBritainRenewsTeheranTies".TheNewYorkTimes.Archivedfromtheoriginalon24February2009. ^abc"IransaysRushdiefatwastillstands".IranFocus.14February2006.Archivedfromtheoriginalon17April2009.Retrieved22January2007. ^"AyatollahKhamenei'sfatwaonSalmanRushdie'sapostasyfromIslam[sic]".Khamenei.ir.13February2017.Archivedfromtheoriginalon15February2017. ^Khamenei.ir[@Khamenei_ir](14February2019)."ImamKhomeini'sverdictregardingSalmanRushdieisbasedondivineversesandjustlikedivineverses,itissolidandirrevocable.1990-06-05"(Tweet).Archivedfromtheoriginalon15February2019–viaTwitter. ^abPipes,1990,p.133 ^FromFatwatoJihad:TheRushdieAffairandItsAftermathByKenanMalikArchived9May2016attheWaybackMachine,introduction,nopagenumbers ^TimothyGartonAsh(22June2007)."Noifsandnobuts".TheGuardian.London.Archivedfromtheoriginalon19December2007.Retrieved27January2012. ^"PakistanblastsRushdiehonour".AlJazeera.Retrieved27January2012. ^"LookingbackatSalmanRushdie's'TheSatanicVerses'".TheGuardian.London.14September2012.Archivedfromtheoriginalon8October2014.Retrieved14September2012. ^Rushdie,Salman,JaguarSmile;NewYork:Viking,1987,p.50 ^abcdefghijkIanRichardNetton(1996).TextandTrauma:AnEast-WestPrimer.Richmond,UK:RoutledgeCurzon.ISBN 0-7007-0325-X. ^Pipes,1990,p.236 ^Rushdie,JaguarSmile,Viking,1987 ^"Thebook'sauthorisinEnglandbuttherealsupporteristheUnitedStates" –InteriorMinisterMohtashemi(IRNA17February1989)"AnIraniangovernmentstatementcalledRushdie"aninferiorCIAagent"andreferredtothebookasa"provocativeAmericandeed".(IRNA14February1989)(Pipes,1990,p.129) ^"SurahAn-Najm–18–22".Archivedfromtheoriginalon6March2016.Retrieved28February2016. ^"SurahAn-Najm–1-62". ^AlMuraghi.TafsirMuraghi,vol.17,pg.130,undertheabovementionedverse. ^Ayatullahal-'Uzmaal-Hajjash-ShaykhNasirMakarimShirazi."WhatistheMythofGharaniqor'TheSatanicVerses'?".TheIslamicEducationBoardoftheWorldFederationofKhojaShiaIthna-AsheriMuslimCommunities.Archivedfromtheoriginalon1July2015.Retrieved1September2018. ^DanielPipes ^JohnD.Erickson(1998).IslamandPostcolonialNarrative.Cambridge,UK:CambridgeUniversityPress.ISBN 0-511-00769-8. ^abcPipes,1990,p.65 ^abcAnthonyMcRoy(1July2007)."WhyMuslimsfeelangryabouttheRushdieknighthood".ReligiousIntelligence.Archivedfromtheoriginalon15February2009. ^MichaelM.J.Fischer;MehdiAbedi(May1990)."BombayTalkies,theWordandtheWorld:SalmanRushdie'sSatanicVerses".CulturalAnthropology.5(2):124–132.doi:10.1525/can.1990.5.2.02a00010. ^abPipes,1990,p.67 ^"SalmanRushdie(Author),Fiction(Booksgenre),Publishing(Books),Books,Culture,BlakeMorrison,HariKunzru(author),IanMcEwan(Author),PeterCarey(Author),HanifKureishi(Author),FayWeldon(Author),Religion(Booksgenre),Religion(News),MichaelHolroyd".TheGuardian.London.14September2012.Archivedfromtheoriginalon21January2017. ^Pipes,1990,p.42 ^AbdolkarimSoroush'sspeechintheUS,November2002,FarsiText,ithasbeenpublishedinAftabmonthlymagazineinApril2003Archived13June2013attheWaybackMachine ^"Reading'SatanicVerses'legal".TheTimesofIndia.25January2012.Archivedfromtheoriginalon29April2013.Retrieved2February2012. ^RobinLustig,MartinBailey,SimondeBruxellesandIanMatherTheGuardiannewspapersstoryofeventsaroundtheBook"1989:TheSatanicVerses".TheGuardian.com.19February1989.Archivedfromtheoriginalon8October2014.Retrieved7July2014. ^Winder,Robert.BloodyForeigners:TheStoryofImmigrationtoBritain.Abacus,London:2013:p.414 ^Crossette,Barbara(13February1989)."MuslimsStormU.S.MissioninPakistan".NewYorkTimes.Retrieved28December2020. ^Pitt,DavidE.(1March1989)."OfficeofWeeklyPaperinRiverdaleIsFirebombed".TheNewYorkTimes.Archivedfromtheoriginalon25May2015.Retrieved9April2015. ^Anthony,Andrew(10January2009)."Howonebookignitedaculturewar".TheGuardian.Retrieved28December2020. ^Pipes,1990,pp.169–171 ^"Ayatollahsentencesauthortodeath".BBC.14February1989.Archivedfromtheoriginalon17February2008.Retrieved22January2007. ^abcJosephBernardTamney(2002).TheResilienceofConservativeReligion:TheCaseofPopular,ConservativeProtestantCongregations.Cambridge,UK:ThePressSyndicateoftheUniversityofCambridge. ^Appignanesi,Lisa(1February1990).TheRushdieFile.SyracuseUniversityPress.ISBN 9780815602484.Archivedfromtheoriginalon20January2016–viaGoogleBooks. ^abcTheMonthofRushdiesArchived20August2016attheWaybackMachine,EliotWeinberger.BostonReview,15March1989.Retrieved29July2016. ^abcdfromMoin,Khomeini,(2001),p.284,(Issued18February,ObtainedbyBaqerMoinfromtheArchbishopofCanterbury'saides.)] ^Moin,Khomeini,(2001),p.284 ^Pipes,1990,pp.182–183 ^abcWatson,Russell;Foote,Donna;Wilkinson,Ray;Whitmore,Jane(27February1989)."A'Satanic'Fury:Iran'sAyatollahKhomeiniordersthemurderofanovelistinBritainasthe'blasphemy'inacontroversialnewbookconvulsestheIslamicworld".Newsweek.Vol. 113,no. 9.ProQuest 1866754374.Retrieved14August2022. ^"BBC,23September1998".BBCNews.23September1998.Archivedfromtheoriginalon26September2014.Retrieved27January2012. ^"TheIndependent,13February2000".Independent.co.uk. ^"Time,27February1989,p.159".Archivedfromtheoriginalon15November2012. ^Ranstorp,Hizb'allahinLebanon,(1997),p.103 ^"Iran:WesttoBlameIslamforForthcomingTerrorism",PhiladelphiaInquirer,24February1989,p.5A ^BernardLewiscommentingonRushdiefatwainTheCrisisofIslam :HolyWarandUnholyTerror,2003byBernardLewis,pp.141–142 ^ab"Ab'adHarbal-Kitab"AlMajalla,1March1989,quotedinPipes,1990,p.93 ^LeNouvelObservateur23February1989 ^Pipes,1990,p.91 ^RadioTehran,16March1989,quotedinPipes,1990,p.135 ^Khomeini,IslamandRevolution(1980),p.127 ^Moin,Baqer,Khomeini,(2001),p.267, ^TheGulfWar :ItsOrigins,HistoryandConsequencesbyJohnBullochandHarveyMorris,1989,(p.xvi)] ^PeopleoftheCentury,byCBSNews,p.220. ^Wright,RobinIntheNameofGod,(1989),p.201 ^abPipes,1990,133–134 ^Kepel,Jihad,(2001),p.135 ^Pipes,1990,p.207 ^abCrowley,John."RushdieandMe".Livejournal.Archivedfromtheoriginalon20January2016.Retrieved15October2012. ^abAnthonyLoyd(8June2005)."TomboftheunknownassassinrevealsmissiontokillRushdie".TheTimes.London.Archivedfromtheoriginalon1June2010. ^"26December1990:IranianleaderupholdsRushdiefatwa".BBCNews:OnThisDay.26December1990.Archivedfromtheoriginalon8April2008.Retrieved10October2006. ^abWebster,Philip;Hoyle,Ben;Navai,Ramita(20January2005)."AyatollahrevivesthedeathfatwaonSalmanRushdie".TheTimes.London.Archivedfromtheoriginalon16October2006.Retrieved10October2006. ^"IranadamantoverRushdiefatwa".BBCNews.12February2005.Archivedfromtheoriginalon6February2006.Retrieved10October2006. ^"Rushdie'sterm".Archivedfromtheoriginalon12October2007.Retrieved15February2007.{{citeweb}}:CS1maint:unfitURL(link) ^abcGelles,David;Root,Jay;Harris,Elizabeth(12August2022)."LiveUpdates:SalmanRushdieIsStabbedDuringSpeechinWesternNewYork".TheNewYorkTimes.ISSN 0362-4331.Archivedfromtheoriginalon12August2022.Retrieved12August2022. ^Goodman,Joshua(12August2022)."AuthorSalmanRushdieattackedonlecturestageinNewYork".AssociatedPress.Archivedfromtheoriginalon12August2022.Retrieved12August2022. ^Staniszewski,EugeneJ.(12August2022)."StatePoliceareinvestigatinganattackonauthorSalmanRushdie".NewYorkStatePoliceNewsroom.Archivedfromtheoriginalon12August2022.Retrieved12August2022. ^"SalmanRushdie&HenryReese".ChautauquaInstitution.Archivedfromtheoriginalon12August2022.Retrieved13August2022. ^Jones,Dustin(12August2022)."AuthorSalmanRushdiewasattackedonalecturestageinNewYork".NPR.Archivedfromtheoriginalon12August2022.Retrieved12August2022. ^Hurley,Bevan(18August2021)."SalmanRushdiemoderatorHenryReeserevealsblackeyeandknifewoundfromattackonauthor".Independent. ^"PoliceidentifySalmanRushdieattacksuspectas24-year-oldfromNewJersey".TheGuardian.12August2022.Archivedfromtheoriginalon13August2022.Retrieved12August2022. ^AntonioVargas,Ramon(13August2022)."'Truth,courage,resilience':BidenhailsSalmanRushdieafterattack".TheGuardian.Archivedfromtheoriginalon14August2022.Retrieved13August2022. ^Marzorati,Gerald,"SalmanRushdie:Fiction'sEmbattledInfidel",TheNewYorkTimesMagazine,29January1989 ^AnthonyHarly,"SavingMr.Rushdie?"Encounter,June1989,p.74 ^15February1989 ^TheIndependent,16March1989 ^LeaguefortheSpreadofUnpopularViews.WestGermanorganization,BundzurVerbreitungunerwunschterEinsichten[Hamburg],"DerFallRushdieunddieFeigheitdesWesterns,"pamphlet,p.3.quotedinPipes1990,p.250 ^PeregrineWorsthorne,"TheBloodingoftheLiterati",TheSundayTelegraph,19February1989 ^IslamicRevolutionNewsAgency,7March1989 ^KayhanHavai,18April1989 ^LenRiggioiquotedinPublishersWeekly,10March1989 ^Pipes,1990,pp.200–201 ^Pipes,1990,p.205 ^"Rushdie:Hauntedbyhisunholyghosts"(PDF).Archived(PDF)fromtheoriginalon4February2012.Retrieved27January2012. ^SalmanRushdie,"BeginningofaNovelist'sThralldom"TheObserver,26February1989 ^6March1989publishedinGranta,Autumn1989 ^Pipes,1990,p.203 ^abDanielPipes(28December1990)."RushdieFailstoMovetheZealots".LosAngelesTimes.Archivedfromtheoriginalon8April2007. ^ShikhaDalmiafromtheAugust/September2005issue(August2005)."TheIconoclast".Reason.Archivedfromtheoriginalon3September2009.Retrieved27January2012. ^AlisonFlood(12April2012)."SalmanRushdierevealsdetailsoffatwamemoir".TheGuardian.London.Archivedfromtheoriginalon26December2013.Retrieved27April2012. ^Pipes,1990,p.85 ^SyedAliAshraf,writinginImpactInternational,28October1988 ^adbytheBirminghamCentralMosqueinBritishnewspapers ^DawudAssad,presidentoftheU.S.CouncilofMasajidquotedinTrentonTimes,21February1989 ^ayoungFrenchMuslimquotedinLeNouvelObservateur,23March1989 ^M.RafiqulIslam,TheRushdieAffair:AConflictofRightsunpublishedmanuscript,April1989,p.3 ^SalmanRushdie,TheSatanicVerses,RandomHouse,1988,p.393 ^MirHusaynMusavi,primeministerofIran,quotedonRadioTehran21February1989 ^(MuhammadHusaynFadlallah,AgenceFrancePress,27February1989) ^(ShaykhAhmadKaftaru,muftioftheSyrianArabRepublic,source:SyrianArabNewsAgency,1March1989 ^ReligiousaffairsdirectorofTurkishgovernment,MustafaSaitYazicioglu,RadioAnkara14March1989 ^SayedM.Syeed,secretarygeneraloftheAssociationofMuslimSocialScientistsintheUnitedStates,PhiladelphiaInquirer,14February1989 ^LibyanambassadortotheUnitedNationsCommissiononHumanRights ^editorialinTheJordanTimes,5March1989] ^abbroadcastRadioTehran,7March1989quotedinPipes,1990,pp.124–125 ^FromFatwatoJihad:TheRushdieAffairandItsAftermathByKenanMalikArchived9May2016attheWaybackMachine,chapterone,(nopagenumbers) ^FromFatwatoJihad:TheRushdieAffairandItsAftermathByKenanMalikArchived9May2016attheWaybackMachine,introduction,part5,n.p. ^Pipes,1990p.108 ^abPipes,1990pp.108,118–119 ^JohnUpdike,TheWallStreetJournal,10August1989 ^Rushdie,Salman,JaguarSmile,p.50 ^"TheImportanceofBeingEarnestAboutSalmanRushdie"bySadeqal-'Azm,inM.D.Fletcher,ReadingRushdie:PerspectivesontheFictionofSalmanRushdie,Amsterdam,RodopiB.V.,1994 ^Pipes,1990,pp.148,175 ^abAndrewAnthony(11January2009)."Howonebookignitedaculturewar".TheObserver.Archivedfromtheoriginalon6January2017. ^"InternationalHeraldTribune",4July2007 ^JimmyCarter,"Rushdie'sBookIsanInsult",TheNewYorkTimes,5March1989 ^abRachelDonadio(4July2007)."SalmanRushdie:Fightingwordsonaknighthood".TheNewYorkTimes.Archivedfromtheoriginalon21July2017. ^"LeCarréregretsRushdiefatwafeud".TheDailyTelegraph.12November2012.Archivedfromtheoriginalon7October2014. ^"3dAnniversaryofEdictAgainstRushdie".TheNewYorkTimes.13February1992.Archivedfromtheoriginalon5March2016. ^BarbaraBradleyHagerty(16December2011)."ForHitchens,InLifeAndDeath,AnUnawareCosmos".NPR.Archivedfromtheoriginalon6October2014. ^Longworth,R.C.(11March1989)."Britain'sblasphemylawsgettingrenewedattention".TheFreeLance–Star.Fredericksburg,Virginia.p. 5.Retrieved16November2009.[permanentdeadlink] ^MichaelWalzer,"TheSinsofSalman",TheNewRepublic,10April1989 ^TheTimes,4March1989 ^"BeingGod'sPostmanIsNoFun,Yaar":SalmanRushdie'sTheSatanicVerses.SrinivasAravamudan.Diacritics,Vol.19,No.2(Summer,1989),pp.3–20 ^PostmodernistPerceptionsofIslam:ObservingtheObserver.AkbarS.Ahmed.AsianSurvey,Vol.31,No.3(Mar.1991),pp.213–231 ^Shahabuddin,Syed."Youdidthiswithsatanicforethought,Mr.Rushdie".TheTimesofIndia.13October1988. ^Shourie,Arun(1998)."Howshouldwerespond?".InGoel,SitaRam(ed.).FreedomofExpression –SecularTheocracyVersusLiberalDemocracy.ISBN 81-85990-55-7. ^Goel,SitaRam,ed.(1998)."StatementbyIndianintellectualsonSyedShahabuddin'sattempttomaketheauthoritiesimposeabanonthebookHinduViewofChristianityandIslambyRamSwarup,Delhi,18November.".FreedomofExpression –SecularTheocracyVersusLiberalDemocracy.ISBN 81-85990-55-7.Archivedfromtheoriginalon30September2007. ^Pipes,1990,p.22 ^Pipes,1990,p.21 ^abPipes,1990,p.23 ^Malik,Kenan.FromFatwatoJihad:TheRushdieAffairandItsAftermath.MelvilleHouse(2010):p.4 ^Pipes,1990,p.25 ^"FreedomofInformationandExpressioninIndia".London:Article19.October1990.Archivedfromtheoriginalon20August2002.Retrieved27June2007. ^Pipes,1990,p.26 ^Pipes,1990,pp.28–29 ^Article"IransuggestsanapologycouldsavelifeofRushdie;Rushdiecontroversy".TheTimes(London,England),18February1989,accessedviaInfotrac. ^EdwinMcDowell(18February1989)."FurorOverSatanicVersesRisesAs2MoreBookChainsHaltSales".TheNewYorkTimes.Archivedfromtheoriginalon6March2016. ^Article"IraniansinconfusionafterRushdieapologizes;Rushdiecontroversy".TheSundayTimes(London,England),19February1989,accessedviaInfotrac. ^MarkS.Hoffman(1990).WorldAlmanacandBookofFacts,1990.WorldAlmanacBooks.ISBN 0-88687-559-5. ^KevinRoderick&JohnJ.Goldman(1March1989)."FirebombsDamage2BerkeleyBookShops :AnotherHitsN.Y.Newspaper;BushWarnsAgainstViolentProtestsOverRushdieNovel".LosAngelesTimes.Archivedfromtheoriginalon28March2013. ^SamuelG.Freedman(30May2009)."TwoRabbisFindThey'reSeparatedOnlybyDoctrine".TheNewYorkTimes.Archivedfromtheoriginalon8November2015. ^Ross,Andy(19November2009)."RememberingtheRushdieAffair".AsktheAgent:NightThoughtsaboutBooksandPublishing.wordpress.com.Archivedfromtheoriginalon4September2012.Retrieved6October2012. ^R.Whitney,Craig(23May1989)."CatStevensGivesSupportToCallforDeathofRushdie".TheNewYorkTimes.Archivedfromtheoriginalon10March2009.Retrieved22January2006. ^Pipes,1990,p.181 ^JohnGabriel(2012).Racism,Culture,Markets.Routledge.p. 35.ISBN 978-1-134-86775-2.Archivedfromtheoriginalon20January2016.Retrieved5June2013. ^Bremner,Charles(8June2005)."TomboftheunknownassassinrevealsmissiontokillRushdie".TheTimes.London.Archivedfromtheoriginalon1June2010.Furtherinformation:SalmanRushdie§ Failedassassinationattempt(1989) ^"NobelJudgeStepsDowninProtest".BBCNews.11October2005.Archivedfromtheoriginalon18October2006.Retrieved13October2007. ^AssociatedPress,"WhoDeservesNobelPrize?JudgesDon'tAgree"Archived5May2020attheWaybackMachine,MSNBC,11October2005.Retrieved13October2007. ^"SwedishAcademymembersgrantedleaveafterscandal".7May2018. ^Weismann,StevenR.(13July1991)."JapaneseTranslatorofRushdieBookFoundSlain",TheNewYorkTimes. ^"Afterword:TheRushdieAffair'sLegacy".Archivedfromtheoriginalon30September2007. ^abSciolino,PersianMirrors2000,2005pp.182–183) ^"SAunbansSatanicVersesatlibrary'srequest".Star.15January2002.[deadlink] ^Hamilton,James(16February2003)."Revivedfatwaputs$3mbountyonRushdie".SundayHerald.Archivedfromtheoriginalon4April2003.Retrieved4April2003. ^"WasLondonBombPlotHeraldedonWeb?".CBSNews.29June2007.Archivedfromtheoriginalon1July2007. ^"Despitecontroversy,govtsayswon'tstopRushdie".HindustanTimes.India.10January2012.Archivedfromtheoriginalon13January2012.Retrieved16January2012. ^Singh,AkhileshKumar(20January2012)."SalmanRushdienottoattendJaipurLiteratureFestival".TheTimesofIndia.India.Archivedfromtheoriginalon20January2012.Retrieved20January2012. ^abSingh,AkhileshKumar(24January2012)."JaipurLiteratureFestival:EvenavirtualRushdieisunwelcomeforRajasthangovt".TheTimesofIndia.India.Archivedfromtheoriginalon24January2012.Retrieved24January2012. ^Singh,AkhileshKumar;Chowdhury,ShreyaRoy(23January2012)."SalmanRushdieshadowonJaipurLiteratureFestival:4authorswhoreadfromTheSatanicVersessentpacking".TheTimesofIndia.India.Archivedfromtheoriginalon24January2012.Retrieved23January2012. ^"SalmanRushdie:SatanicVerses'wouldnotbepublishedtoday'".BBCNews.17September2012.Archivedfromtheoriginalon17September2012.Retrieved17September2012. ^Cain,Sian(22February2016)."SalmanRushdie:Iranianmediaraisemoremoneyforfatwa".TheGuardian.ISSN 0261-3077.Archivedfromtheoriginalon24February2016.Retrieved25February2016. ^"AuthorSalmanRushdieattackedonstageinNewYork".BBCNews.12August2022.Retrieved12August2022. ^Goodman,Joshua(12August2022)."AuthorSalmanRushdieattackedonlecturestageinNewYork".AssociatedPress.Retrieved12August2022. ^"AuthorSalmanRushdieattackedonlecturestageinNewYork".APNews.12August2022.Archivedfromtheoriginalon12August2022.Retrieved12August2022. ^"SalmanRushdieUpdates:UpdatefromElizabethA.Harris".TheNewYorkTimes.12August2022.ISSN 0362-4331.Archivedfromtheoriginalon12August2022.Retrieved12August2022. ^Pietsch,Bryan;Jennifer,Hassan."SalmanRushdietakenoffventilatoras'roadtorecovery'begins,agentsays".WashingtonPost.Retrieved15August2022. ^"SalmanRushdieoffventilator,conditionimprovingafterattackonstage,agentsays".CBC.ThomsonReuters.Retrieved15August2022. ^"FreedomofSpeech:Wilders,Orwell,andthe"KoranBan"".Dr.AndrewBostom.Archivedfromtheoriginalon12May2012. Furtherreading[edit] Karolides,NicholasJ.;Bald,Margaret;Sova,DawnB.(1999).100BannedBooks:CensorshipHistoriesofWorldLiterature.NewYork:CheckmarkBooks.ISBN 0-8160-4059-1. Ahsan,M.M.;Kidwai,A.R.(1991).SacrilegeversusCivility:MuslimPerspectivesonTheSatanicVersesAffair.TheIslamicFoundation.ISBN 0-86037-211-1. Appignanesi,Lisa;Maitland,Sara(1990).TheRushdieFile.SyracuseUniversityPress.ISBN 9780815602484. Bulloch,John(1989).TheGulfWar :ItsOrigins,HistoryandConsequencesbyJohnBullochandHarveyMorris.MethuenLondon.ISBN 0-413-61370-4. Elst,Koenraad:TheRushdieRulesMiddleEastQuarterly,June1998 Harris,David(2004).TheCrisis:thePresident,theProphet,andtheShah –1979andtheComingofMilitantIslam.Little,Brown.ISBN 0-316-32394-2. Hoveyda,Fereydoun(2003).TheShahandtheAyatollah:IranianmythologyandIslamicrevolution.Praeger.ISBN 0-275-97858-3. Keddie,Nikki(2003).ModernIran:RootsandResultsofRevolution.YaleUniversityPress.ISBN 0-300-09856-1. Kepel,Gilles(2002).Jihad:ontheTrailofPoliticalIslam.HarvardUniversityPress.ISBN 0-674-00877-4. Mackey,Sandra(1996).TheIranians:Persia,IslamandtheSoulofaNation.Dutton.ISBN 0-452-27563-6. Mendes,AC.(2018)."SalmanRushdie:TheAccidentalIntellectualintheMediascape”.PostcolonialIntellectualsinEurope:Academics,Artists,ActivistsandtheirPublics.RowmanandLittlefield,143–157.ISBN 978-1-78660-412-5. Mendes,AC. (2016)."CulturalWarfareRedux:SalmanRushdie’sKnighthood”,SalmanRushdie:AnAnthologyof21st-centuryCriticism. Atlantic,3–19.ISBN 8126920971. Moin,Baqer(2000).Khomeini:LifeoftheAyatollah.ThomasDunneBooks.ISBN 0-312-26490-9. Pipes,Daniel(1990).TheRushdieAffair:TheNovel,theAyatollah,andtheWest(2003 ed.).TransactionPublishers.ISBN 0-7658-0996-6.withapostscriptbyKoenraadElst. Ruthven,Malise(2000).IslamintheWorld.OxfordUniversityPress.ISBN 0-7012-0928-3. Schirazi,Asghar(1997).TheConstitutionofIran.Tauris.ISBN 1-86064-253-5. Shirley,Edward(1997).KnowThineEnemy.Farra.ISBN 0-8133-3588-4. Wright,Robin(1989).IntheNameofGod:TheKhomeiniDecade.SimonandSchuster.ISBN 0-671-67235-5. Externallinks[edit] RushdieAffairinOxfordIslamicStudiesOnline ISBN 0-312-27082-8 NotesonSalmanRushdie:TheSatanicVerses TheRusdhie'sAffairLegacybyKoenraadElst SwordstosellagodbyRamSwarup Rushdie:Hauntedbyhisunholyghosts SalmanRushdieinterviewedbyShikhaDalmiaReason,AugustSeptember2005 "LookingbackatSalmanRushdie'sTheSatanicVerses" –Writers,broadcasters,friendsandpublishinginsidersrecallwhatitwasliketobecaughtupinthemostcontroversialstoryinrecentliteraryhistory vteDepictionsofMuhammadHistory MuhammadinIslam AniconisminIslam Hadith collections IbnIshaq IbnHisham MuhammadibnJariral-Tabari Hilya Controversies LarsVilksdrawings EverybodyDrawMohammedDay TheSatanicVersescontroversy TrialofGhaziBejiandJabeurMejri 2006Idomeneocontroversy Jyllands-Postencartoons Descriptions Reprints Opinions Timeline Akkari-Labandossier ProtestoutsidetheDanishembassyinLondon BombingofDanishembassyinIslamabad CharlieHebdo 2015shooting 2020stabbingattack IssueNo.1011 IssueNo.1178 JesuisCharlie BooksBiographiesofMuhammad(Category) SirahRasulAllah Shama'ilMuhammadiyah Sirat-un-Nabi Al-SiraAl-Nabawiyya(IbnKathir) Al-Bidayawa'l-Nihaya Al-Khasais-ul-Kubra Siyer-iNebi Marzban-nama Ar-RaheeqAl-Makhtum Muhammad:ABiographyoftheProphet Muhammad:AProphetforOurTime Muhammad:HisLifeBasedontheEarliestSources TheLifeandReligionofMohammed Muhammad MuhammadatMecca MuhammadatMedina CaptainStormfield'sVisittoHeaven Inferno Izharul-Haqq KalkiAvatarAurMuhammadSaheb Mahomet Muhammad:The"Banned"Images RangilaRasul SeeingIslamasOthersSawIt The100:ARankingoftheMostInfluentialPersonsinHistory TheCartoonsthatShooktheWorld TheJewelofMedina TheQuestfortheHistoricalMuhammad TheTruthAboutMuhammad VitaMahumeti Films(Category) Muhammad:LegacyofaProphet Muhammad:TheLastProphet TheMessage Islam:EmpireofFaith InnocenceofMuslims Islam:WhattheWestNeedstoKnow Fetih1453 Muhammad:TheMessengerofGod Bilal Television Muhammad:TheFinalLegacy TheLifeofMuhammad Islam:TheUntoldStory Omar Khaybar SouthPark "SuperBestFriends" "CartoonWarsPartI" "CartoonWarsPartII" "200" "201" Videogames Quraish MuslimMassacre FaithFighter Category Commons  Islamportal vteIran–UnitedKingdomrelationsDiplomaticposts EmbassyofIran,London AmbassadorsofIrantotheUnitedKingdom EmbassyoftheUnitedKingdom,Tehran AmbassadorsoftheUnitedKingdomtoIran PersianembassytoEurope(1599–1602) PersianembassytoEurope(1609–1615) Diplomacy Anglo-PersianTreatyof1801 TreatyofParis(1857) Reuterconcession D'ArcyConcession Anglo-RussianConvention Anglo-PersianAgreement TehranConference P5+1 JointComprehensivePlanofAction Conflicts Anglo-PersianWar PersianCampaign Anglo-SovietinvasionofIran BritishmilitarynetworkinIran Iran–IraqWar BritishsupportforIraq 2019–2021PersianGulfcrisis Incidents Anglo-PersiancaptureofOrmuz BritishOccupationofBushehr TobaccoProtest ZainabPasha 1921Persiancoupd'état Anglo-IranianOilCo.case 1953Iraniancoupd'état NationalizationoftheIranianoilindustry AbadanCrisis Timeline IranianRevolution GuadeloupeConference Conspiracytheory IranianEmbassysiege SalmanRushdie TheSatanicVersescontroversy 2004IranianseizureofRoyalNavypersonnel 2007IranianarrestofRoyalNavypersonnel 2011attackontheBritishEmbassyinIran 2011–2012StraitofHormuzdispute Individuals KameelAhmady AnooshehAshoori RogerCooper AbbasEdalat ArthurEdwards KamalForoughi GhonchehGhavami FowziBadaviNejad RoyaSaberiNegadNobakht NazaninZaghari-Ratcliffe Related Anglo-PersianOilCompany Bahrainprovince BBCPersian EastIndiaCompany ImperialBankofPersia PersianGulfResidency Rhumgasfield GholhakGarden TehranWarCemetery NedaAgha-SoltanGraduateScholarship Oldfox GreatGame TheNewGreatGame Category:Iran–UnitedKingdomrelations vteRuhollahKhomeiniPolitics 1963demonstrationsinIran Lifeinexile Neauphle-le-Château ReturntoIran IranianRevolution ConsolidationoftheIranianRevolution IranianCulturalRevolution SupremeCouncil CounciloftheIslamicRevolution IslamicRevolutionaryCourt InterimGovernment 1979Referendum EngagementwithJimmyCarter IranianRevolutionconspiracytheory Americacan'tdoadamnthingagainstus SupremeLeaderofIran Iran–IraqWar Israelisupport TheSatanicVersescontroversy Positions Anti-Zionism Shiiteclericalism DeathtoAmerica GreatSatan LittleSatan Sexsegregation compulsoryhijab Islamicdemocracy Imam'sLine LettertoGorbachev Khomeini's8-articlecommand Books IslamicGovernment:GovernanceoftheJurist(Velayat-efaqih) Tahriral-Wasilah Kashfal-Asrar FortyHadithofRuhullahKhomeini IslamandRevolution TheGreatestJihad Family KhadijehSaqafi(wife) MostafaKhomeini(son) ZahraMostafaviKhomeini(daughter) FaridehMostafaviKhomeini(daughter) AhmadKhomeini(son) HusseinKhomeini(grandson) HassanKhomeini(grandson) ZahraEshraghi(granddaughter) SeyyedAhmadMusaviHindi(grandfather) Related JamaranHussainiya Mausoleum Deathandstatefuneral Alef-LaamKhomeini Fajrdecade RefahSchool HomafaranAllegiance ImamKhomeiniInternationalAirport Category:RuhollahKhomeini vteSalmanRushdieNovels Grimus(1975) Midnight'sChildren(1981) Shame(1983) TheSatanicVerses(1988) TheMoor'sLastSigh(1995) TheGroundBeneathHerFeet(1999) Fury(2001) ShalimartheClown(2005) TheEnchantressofFlorence(2008) TwoYearsEightMonthsandTwenty-EightNights(2015) TheGoldenHouse(2017) Quichotte(2019) Storycollections East,West(1994) Nonfiction TheJaguarSmile:ANicaraguanJourney(1987) ImaginaryHomelands:EssaysandCriticism1981–1991(1992) HomelessbyChoice(1992) StepAcrossThisLine:CollectedNonfiction1992–2002(2002) JosephAnton:AMemoir(2012) LanguagesofTruth(2021) Plays HarounandtheSeaofStories(withTimSuppleandDavidTushingham) Midnight'sChildren(withTimSuppleandSimonReade) Screenplays Midnight'sChildren(withDeepaMehta) Children'sbooks HarounandtheSeaofStories(1990) LukaandtheFireofLife(2010) Anthology TheVintageBookofIndianWriting(co-editor) Shortstories "IntheSouth"(2009) Essays TheEastIsBlue(2004) Seealso TheSatanicVersescontroversy(1988–) CatStevenscomments(1989) AnEssayonCensorship(1989) TheBlasphemers'Banquet(1989) ABriefHistoryofBlasphemy(1990) TheRushdieAffair:TheNovel,theAyatollah,andtheWest(1990) InternationalGuerillas(1990) HitoshiIgarashi(1947–1991) "TheGroundBeneathHerFeet"(2000) Knighthood(2007) Stabbing(2022) Retrievedfrom"https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Satanic_Verses_controversy&oldid=1106911412" Categories:1988controversies1988inIslamBlasphemyCensorshipinIslamIslamintheUnitedKingdomIslam-relatedcontroversiesObscenitycontroversiesinliteratureReligiouscontroversiesinliteratureIran–UnitedKingdomrelationsSalmanRushdieRuhollahKhomeiniBritishIndianhistoryControversiesinIndiaHiddencategories:WebarchivetemplatewaybacklinksCS1maint:unfitURLAllarticleswithdeadexternallinksArticleswithdeadexternallinksfromJune2022ArticleswithpermanentlydeadexternallinksArticleswithdeadexternallinksfromJune2016ArticleswithshortdescriptionShortdescriptionisdifferentfromWikidataUseBritishEnglishfromDecember2015UsedmydatesfromAugust2022PagesusingmultipleimagewithautoscaledimagesAllarticleswithunsourcedstatementsArticleswithunsourcedstatementsfromFebruary2017ArticleswithunsourcedstatementsfromAugust2021ArticleswithunsourcedstatementsfromFebruary2019ArticleswithunsourcedstatementsfromApril2019ArticleswithunsourcedstatementsfromFebruary2021WikipediaarticlesneedingclarificationfromJanuary2012ArticleswithunsourcedstatementsfromSeptember2015ArticlestobeexpandedfromAugust2022AllarticlestobeexpandedArticlesusingsmallmessageboxesAllaccuracydisputesArticleswithdisputedstatementsfromSeptember2012ArticleswithunsourcedstatementsfromAugust2022PagesusingnavboxcolumnswithoutthefirstcolumnACwith0elements Navigationmenu Personaltools NotloggedinTalkContributionsCreateaccountLogin Namespaces ArticleTalk English Views ReadEditViewhistory More Search Navigation MainpageContentsCurrenteventsRandomarticleAboutWikipediaContactusDonate Contribute HelpLearntoeditCommunityportalRecentchangesUploadfile Tools WhatlinkshereRelatedchangesUploadfileSpecialpagesPermanentlinkPageinformationCitethispageWikidataitem Print/export DownloadasPDFPrintableversion Inotherprojects WikimediaCommons Languages বাংলাفارسیFrançaisไทย Editlinks