The Issue of Blasphemy

THE AUTHOR’S ADVICE there were reports that the Iranian leaders were retracting the fatwa, calling for the assassination of Salman Rushdie. Finally, on March 12, 1996, the headline in the ‘Abu Dhabi Dateline’ read: “Iran drops death sentence on Rushdie.” The following day, newspapers published editorial notes stating Iran had withdrawn the “uncivilized” fatwa a year later. The Hindustan Times (March 13, 1996), in its editorial note titled “End of a fatwa,” concluded with the following words: “The Iranian decision must be welcomed with the hope that the twentieth-century world will turn a leaf on the medieval practices of burning books and sending their authors to the stake.” (Hindustan Times, March 13, 1996) THE AUTHOR’S ADVICE On a broader scale, the Muslim community experienced a similar shift. Initially, after Ayatollah Khomeini’s fatwa against Salman Rushdie, the Muslim press worldwide stood in support. However, today, all these writers and speakers remain entirely silent. If the previous stance of Muslim leaders that Salman Rushdie should be killed for writing his book was indeed correct, then according to Shariah, it is not permissible for them to allow Salman Rushdie to remain alive while they remain silent on the matter. They are obligated to write, speak, and even put their lives at risk to enforce the fatwa.