February 14, 1989 - Salman Rushdie - a podcast by Stephen Hammond

Iranian Muslim leader Ayatollah Khomeini issues death threat against British author Salman Rushdie. British author Salman Rushdie published his book Satanic Verses in September 1988, to critical acclaim and sales of more than 100,000 within a few months. It didn’t take long, however, for Iran’s spiritual leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, to take revenge on the Bombay-born author of the controversial satirical novel, which Khomeini felt cast the Muslim faith in a less than flattering light. On February 14, 1989, Khomeini condemned Rushdie to death. During the Tehran Radio broadcast, the holy man declared a day of mourning and said, "I inform the proud Muslim people of the world that the author of the Satanic Verses book – which is against Islam, the Prophet and the Koran – and all those involved in its publication who are aware of its content, are sentenced to death.” This “fatwa” (an Islamic religious decree) sent Rushdie into hiding as Muslims around the world protested in the streets. He spent nine years in numerous secret locations in Britain before Iranian President Mohammed Khatami declared in 1998 that the state would no longer support the fatwa. Even so, one Iranian foundation put a $2.8 million bounty on Rushdie’s head. In June 2007 Queen Elizabeth II announced that Rushdie, the author of 13 books dealing with issues of faith, religion and culture, would be knighted. This announcement was met with condemnation and outrage by various Muslim religious and political leaders throughout the world. Not recognizing the importance of freedom of speech and the ability to speak and write about religious differences, some leaders suggested the knighthood would lead to suicide bombings. Sir Rushdie resides at an unknown address in London, where he continues to publish books and occasionally make public appearances.

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