A Divine Ruling Against a Criminal Assault
By: Kayhan Int’l Staff Writer
On February 13, 1988, the publication of blasphemous book “The Satanic Verses” by Salman Rushdie caused immediate uproar in the Islamic world for its irreverent depiction of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Later on, a fatwa (religious ruling) requiring Rushdie's execution was proclaimed by the late Imam Khomeini, Iran’s spiritual leader at the time, calling the book "blasphemous".
A bounty was offered for Rushdie's death and he was thus forced to live under police protection. On March 7, 1989, Britain and Iran broke diplomatic relations over the Rushdie controversy.
The publication of the blasphemous book and the ruling sparked protests across the globe, with bookstores being firebombed. Shia and Sunni Muslim communities in the West held public rallies in which copies of the sacrilegious book were burned.
Religious leaders in Iran and elsewhere have continued to reaffirm the death sentence. In 2005, the fatwa was reaffirmed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, in a message to Muslim pilgrims making the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
Ayatollah Khamenei said: "Rushdie is an apostate whose killing would be authorized by Islam. They talk about respect towards all religions, but they support such a "mahdour al-damm mortad” (an apostate whose blood may be shed with impunity) as Salman Rushdie.”
In Sharia or Islamic law, "mortad” is a reference to someone who has committed apostasy by leaving Islam while mahdour al-damm is a term applying to someone whose blood may be shed with impunity.
Additionally, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps has declared that the death sentence on Rushdie is still valid. Tehran has rejected requests to withdraw the ruling on the basis that only the person who issued it may withdraw it.
Rushdie equally continues to come under fire from much of the British academic establishment for his notorious political views. For instance, critic Terry Eagleton, a former admirer of Rushdie's work, once attacked him for his positions, saying: "Rushdie cheered on the Pentagon's criminal ventures in Iraq and Afghanistan.” Rushdie did the same when the French bi-weekly Charlie Hebdo recently published new blasphemous cartoons about Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).
The fact of the matter is that the late Imam Khomeini issued the fatwa to make certain that such blasphemous acts against Islam never happen again. He equally tried to ensure that the road Rushdie had taken would never be taken by anyone else and that it would remain blocked forever.
Just as importantly, the historic ruling asserted the sensitivity and the importance of such issues for Imam Khomeini. Into the bargain, it did highlight vigilance on the part of such a great spiritual leader.
Rushdie’s blasphemous book was published with the help of the Zionist lobby, the US and the UK, aimed at launching an all-out psychological campaign against Islam and its divine values. However, and much to their dismay, Imam Khomeini’s judicious ruling helped stop this menacing alliance from achieving such an unholy goal.
Fortunately, the majority of religious leaders, be it Shia or Sunni, as well as international Islamic organizations and centers backed Imam Khomeini and his revered ruling, consequently ensuring its effectiveness and success until this very day.
Another more recent example could be Charlie Hebdo, which under Muslim and international pressure, has been forced not to publish any more blasphemous cartoons. Certainly, it’s a testimony that in treacherous times as such real Muslims are united and will always remain so against such criminal assaults.
A bounty was offered for Rushdie's death and he was thus forced to live under police protection. On March 7, 1989, Britain and Iran broke diplomatic relations over the Rushdie controversy.
The publication of the blasphemous book and the ruling sparked protests across the globe, with bookstores being firebombed. Shia and Sunni Muslim communities in the West held public rallies in which copies of the sacrilegious book were burned.
Religious leaders in Iran and elsewhere have continued to reaffirm the death sentence. In 2005, the fatwa was reaffirmed by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, in a message to Muslim pilgrims making the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
Ayatollah Khamenei said: "Rushdie is an apostate whose killing would be authorized by Islam. They talk about respect towards all religions, but they support such a "mahdour al-damm mortad” (an apostate whose blood may be shed with impunity) as Salman Rushdie.”
In Sharia or Islamic law, "mortad” is a reference to someone who has committed apostasy by leaving Islam while mahdour al-damm is a term applying to someone whose blood may be shed with impunity.
Additionally, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps has declared that the death sentence on Rushdie is still valid. Tehran has rejected requests to withdraw the ruling on the basis that only the person who issued it may withdraw it.
Rushdie equally continues to come under fire from much of the British academic establishment for his notorious political views. For instance, critic Terry Eagleton, a former admirer of Rushdie's work, once attacked him for his positions, saying: "Rushdie cheered on the Pentagon's criminal ventures in Iraq and Afghanistan.” Rushdie did the same when the French bi-weekly Charlie Hebdo recently published new blasphemous cartoons about Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).
The fact of the matter is that the late Imam Khomeini issued the fatwa to make certain that such blasphemous acts against Islam never happen again. He equally tried to ensure that the road Rushdie had taken would never be taken by anyone else and that it would remain blocked forever.
Just as importantly, the historic ruling asserted the sensitivity and the importance of such issues for Imam Khomeini. Into the bargain, it did highlight vigilance on the part of such a great spiritual leader.
Rushdie’s blasphemous book was published with the help of the Zionist lobby, the US and the UK, aimed at launching an all-out psychological campaign against Islam and its divine values. However, and much to their dismay, Imam Khomeini’s judicious ruling helped stop this menacing alliance from achieving such an unholy goal.
Fortunately, the majority of religious leaders, be it Shia or Sunni, as well as international Islamic organizations and centers backed Imam Khomeini and his revered ruling, consequently ensuring its effectiveness and success until this very day.
Another more recent example could be Charlie Hebdo, which under Muslim and international pressure, has been forced not to publish any more blasphemous cartoons. Certainly, it’s a testimony that in treacherous times as such real Muslims are united and will always remain so against such criminal assaults.