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Salman Rushdie

[b]Do you feel 'The Satanic Verses' book Salmon Rushdie wrote is a reason for Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini's decree that he (Salmon) should be put to death?

"The book that is worth killing people and burning flags for is not the book that I wrote," Salmon Rushdie, 41-year-old author of The Satanic Verses, told Time Magazine. Shortly after its publication in 1988.

Rushdie's book caused deep rumblings among faithful Muslims offended by its content, prompting protests and book burnings and even riots in which several people were killed.

For review of book:
Source 6h

Image from Wikimedia public domain.

Rushdie Salman

There is only two reasons you write a book like the Satanic Verses. One, because you really believe them and what to spread your belief to others. Two, because you want attention and publicity. I believe his was the latter due to the enormous amount of interview that he made sure to do afterward.

As for burning the book or putting him to death, that doesn't accomplish anything. No one deserves to be put to death simply because their book is offensive to some one else. The Koran is considered offensive by Jews due to its anti-semitic material, but I don't think burning the book or putting others to death will stop the intent of those who harbor those feelings. Calling for someones death because your beliefs offend another religion is extremist and uncalled for.

Salman Rushdie Islam Studies

Rushdie knighted in honours list

Salman Rushdie, who went into hiding under threat of death after an Iranian fatwa, is knighted by the Queen.
Ref. https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6756149.stm

Rushdie Salman

I must admit that I am surprised that none of Muslim Members have attacked this Thread with their thoughts, however we can always depend on Iran to say something:

Attached is the front cover of the book that has caused so much uproar in the world of Islam.

Rushdie Salman

This is absolutely amazing. I feel completely betrayed by the British Government. Blair has managed to completely insult muslims as a parting gift before his tenure draws to a close. This knighthood proves nothing. He remains a selfish coward who will sell his own religion to prostitution for fame and money.

I dont think non-muslims will ever appreciate how offensive and how insulting "Satanic Verses" was. I don't think non-muslims will ever know how much muslims hate this man. He has to be one of the most detested figures in the islamic world. For me he is nothing but a coward, an apostate and a blasphemer. He deliberately profited off insulting his own religion. This man will burn in hell he deserves a lot worse.

Salman Rushdie

What I do not understand is this... why be offended? I mean so many people say the Bible is not true or Jesus was just a cult leader, but I do not go out with the idea of burning the books of the non-believer or even seeking an assassination.

On another note. Didn't Rushdie also author many other works? Maybe the award is for a sum of his abilities / skill and not merely the 'Satanic Verses' itself.

Salman Rushdie

First of all, the Satanic Verses is a fictional novel as most of Rushdie's work so I do not understand what is all this fuss about or offense...not to mention the craziness of getting this guy killed over a book. Non-sense! Barbaric! .

For me, this proves how intolerant are some Muslims, I know Karbala and others here won't agree but this is exactly how I see it.

Ruhollah Khomeini, who was the spiritual leader of Iran at the time is the one who requested his execution in public radio...with "spiritual" leaders like that, who needs enemies? Even two years ago Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reaffirmed the execution. Even people who were involved in the publication of this book have been injured or killed ( Hitoshi Igarashi, the Japanese language translator of the book was stabbed to death on July 11, 1991; Ettore Capriolo, the Italian language translator, was seriously injured in a stabbing the same month, and William Nygaard, the publisher in Norway, survived an attempted assassination in Oslo in October of 1993.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Satanic_Verses

These people are literally mad. I hope they are not saying they are doing it in Allah's name, for me it would be sacrilegious in every sense. He was even forced to apologize in the 90's (well..who wouldn't after so many deaths and threats!) but Iran said it "wasn't enough". These type of things from Muslims (as well as ANY other religion) make my blood literally boil.

Salman Rushdie Studies Islam

I can understand why you might be suprised that muslims want this man dead. But to defend Satanic Verses? This clearly shows how far apart some people in the western world are from the sentiments of Muslims. It doesnt take a genius to see how offensive, insulting and blasphemous that book was to muslims. Fictional or not fictional the book clearly contains extremely offensive material.

These people are doing it in Gods name and for good reason. The punishment for proven Apostacy in Islam is death. If that makes your blood boil then I suggest you take issue with the author of Deutoronomy and the God of Israel from whom these laws came about.

Edited: Karbala on 18th Jun, 2007 - 6:34pm