Author Salman Rushdie in Mumbai Jihadi assassination threat

Sir Salman Rushdie has sensationally cancelled his appearance at India's Jaipur Literary Festival this weekend after Indian intelligence sources told him "paid assassins from the Mumbai underworld" were on their way to the city to kill him.

America first heard of the death fatwa issued by the Ayatollah Khomeini (then Supreme leader of Iran) on Salman Rushdie's head back in 1989, ten years  after the Islamic takeover of Iran. And we all thought, how prehistoric, how savage and ridiculous. No one gave it serious thought or consideration or ever imagined it would touch them so violently, so dearly, so close to home as it did in 1993 in lower Manhattan, in the attacks on American targets in the ensuing years, and then finally, horribly, on September 11, 2001. Jihad had come to America.

Who would have imagined when we first heard of the death threat against Rushdie in 1989 that close to 25 years later America would be electing pro-sharia politicians and subjugating herself to the blasphemy laws (under the sharia) that call for Rushdie's execution, under the guise of "hate speech"? And those of us speaking against this bloody tyranny would be the subject of a smear campaign of destruction imposed by a sharia complaint media.

It. is. staggering.

[Rushdie's] appearance at the festival, one of Asia's largest literary events, was to have been a major drawcard.

But his participation came under a cloud almost a fortnight ago after the vice-chancellor of India's Darul Uloom Deoband seminary, one of the country's most influential Islamic institutions, demanded the government deny Rushdie a visa due to the insult to Muslims caused by his 1988 book Satanic Verses.

Maulana Abdul Qasim Nomani also threatened to stage major demonstrations across the country unless Rushdie apologised to all Muslims for depicting the Prophet Muhammad in a bad light, began reciting the Koran and did penance for his mistakes.

Salman Rushdie in Mumbai underworld assassination threat The Telegraph (hat tip Atlas readers)

Sir Salman Rushdie has announced his withdrawal from a leading Indian literature festival after officials warned professional assassins were on their way to kill him.

He had been due to appear at the Jaipur Literature Festival in Rajasthan, Western India, along with leading authors and playwrights Tom Stoppard, Sir David Hare, Annie Proulx and Michael Ondaatje, despite threats of protests from Islamic fundamentalists.

Leaders of the Darul Uloom Deoband seminary, one of the most influential in the world, had earlier called for Sir Salman to be barred from India to stop him in appearing at the festival in protest over his controversial novel The Satanic Verses.

They said the author could never be forgiven for his narrator's claim blasphemous that disputed verses on the Koran were disclosed by the Archangel Gabriel.

The novel provoked anger throughout the Muslim world when it was published in 1988 and was also banned in India where the secular government feared it would cause communal tensions. Iran's then spiritual leader Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa calling for him to be killed.

The threat was later lifted and the author eventually emerged from hiding and heavy security to return to normality, but according to Indian officials the controversy over his visit has brought a new threat to his life.

Shortly after the five-day festival opened in Jaipur on Friday one of its producers read a statement on behalf of Sir Salman in which he explained why he would not now be appearing after all.

"I have now been informed by intelligence sources in Maharashtra and Rajasthan that paid assassins from the Mumbai underworld may be on their way to Jaipur to eliminate me.

"While I have some doubts as to the accuracy of this intelligence, it would be irresponsible of me to come to the festival in such circumstances."

Security for the popular festival, which attracts thousands of visitors, had already been escalated following the threat of protests.

News of his withdrawal brought anger from fellow authors at the festival and speculation that the warnings may have motivated by political considerations in Uttar Pradesh where the ruling Congress party is campaigning for Muslim votes.

Festival officials sought to quell a protest at Jaipur's Diggi Palace on Friday when leading British-Indian author Hari Kunzru and a leading Indian academic announced they would be reading from the Satanic Verses in defiance of "bigots".

"The absence of Rushdie from the Jaipur Literature Festival is a stain on India's international reputation," Hari Kunzru said on Twitter. "Assassins should not be allowed to stifle writers," said Amitava Kumar. Festival officials however asked them not to read from the Satanic Verses.

There's more.

Backgrounder here:

Sir Ahmed Salman Rushdie (Kashmiri: अहमद सलमान रुशदी (Devanagari), احمد سلمان رشدی (Nastaleeq);  /sælˈmɑːn ˈrʊʃdi/^[2]; born 19 June 1947) is a British Indian novelist and essayist. His second novel, Midnight's Children (1981), won the Booker Prize in 1981. Much of his fiction is set on the Indian subcontinent. His style is often classified as magical realism mixed with historical fiction, and a dominant theme of his work is the story of the many connections, disruptions and migrations between the Eastern and Western worlds.

His fourth novel, The Satanic Verses (1988), was the centre of a major controversy, drawing protests from Muslims in several countries. Some of the protests were violent, in which death threats were issued to Rushdie, including a fatwā against him by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the Supreme Leader of Iran, on February 14, 1989.

He was appointed a Knight Bachelor by Queen Elizabeth II for "services to literature" in June 2007.^[3] He holds the rank Commandeur in the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres of France. He began a five-year term as Distinguished Writer in Residence at Emory University in 2007.^[4] In May 2008 he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In 2008, The Times ranked Rushdie thirteenth on their list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945".^[5] His latest novel is Luka and the Fire of Life, published in November 2010. In 2010, he announced that he has begun writing his memoirs.^[6]

Comments

[Perfected democrat]

I heard him at a D.U. lecture in Denver. When he advocated for the Daily Beast I was totally disappointed. Screw the left and their betrayal of Israel. - I am easily targeted at ascint@yahoo.com, if you are a dedicated moron.

[Edward Cline]

Rushdie’s novels are unintelligible, bizarre, and eclectically haphazard in construction – call them fairy tales for adults – and certainly instances of “magical realism,” much as the Harry Potter novels are. However, they are his novels and he ought to be able to write them without risk of retribution from ghost-worshippers and to speak about them and anything else without having to appear in public accompanied by a phalanx of armed security. But that, unfortunately, has been the destiny of anyone who has irreverently written about Mohammad.

[Guy Macher]

The fatwa increased sales of his books. Once again Islam is responsible for crapping up the world!

Still, it has been heartening to hear the millions of moderate Muslims supporting Rushie's right to write such crap.

Yeah, right.

[Frank]

Re: AUTHOR SALMAN RUSHDIE IN MUMBAI JIHADI ASSASSINATION THREAT

There are fractures in the Muslim world. For example: both Saudi Arabia and Israel have a common enemy in Iran. In fact, last night Mayor Ed Koch correctly pointed out, on his Friday radio program, that the King in Saudi Arabia recently said "cut off the head of the snake" re Iran's nuclear program. Not all Muslims are singing the same song on the matter of Iran.

However, there is one theme (Pamela harps on it) in the matter of Islam that is true everywhere Muslims dominate, or wish to dominate: free political speech (the expression of ideas and opinions) is a very dangerous thing to do because of Muslims who believe in real Islam. It is especially dangerous to express any ideas and opinions that are critical of Islam because of Islamic dogma.

There is no tolerance for free political speech in real Islam. The PC crowd had better wake up to that fact. Real Islam is a threat (everywhere) to free political speech.

[James Pawlak]

Insult Mohammed? How? After all he was a murderer, bandit, liar, treaty breaker and the perverted sexual abuser of a nine-year-young girl-child.

[Seraph]

Muslims are waging a war against freedom of expression and the Leftist appeasers are letting them win.

[joetote]

Rushdie aside, news reports are now out that the Muslim Brotherhood and the Radical Muslim fanatics have won a big majority in the Egyptian Parliament.

Thanks President BOZO! Another completely screwed up foreign policy fiasco on yours and Hillary's doorstep! and you have the utter gall to defend your administration as to foreign policy, the economy, jobs and every other disaster you have forced upon the American people the last three years? I don't know what it is you and your supporters are drinking but to defend the undefendable is only done by either complete out of touch morons or the usual druggies or alkies! Your policies, whether you want to hear it or not are pushing the Middle East to the Abyss and Israel with it. Never in my sixty years have I seen an American leader (hell, Carter was and is a complete idiot, but at least he was honest and god fearing in his own asinine way, not an Anti-American Muslim loving Socialist as this guy is) with his head so far up his ass that he feels he can B.S. the public with his open lies as to his record!

[Samarth (India)]

All this happened because of a spineless, corrupt, pro-muslim, pro-terrorist Congress party ruling at the central govt in India. A strong hindu-nationalist govt wouldn't have allowed this and would have given strong message to these Satanic Islamists.
They have washed their hands of 26/11 attack and blamed everything totally on Pakistan (Shitistan)...no Indian muslims' hands disclosed for votebank politics.

I guess the same appeasement policies are taking place in America and Europe. They must learn from the example of how muslims carved out 2 separate nations out of Undivided India (Bangladesh is the third). Islam only calls for "Muslim brotherhood" and hence a call for separtism and intolerance (an understatement actually !!).

[CallingAllAngels]

@jotote. Well said. I agree 100% with you.

[Samarth (India)]

America, India, China, Israel & Russia all have stand up against the Islamic forces. Else slowly all would convert into Darul-Harabs (land of war). India, Israel are already. Europe is on the verge of becoming one. Russia has already secceded Chechnya/Georgia & Central Asia. China is starting to face in its western province of Xinjiang. America & Canada too are starting to face domestic issues.

Once, these jihadists get hold of the nuclear arsenal (or any other WMD type), they are not going to hold back. Then the whole world will be chaos.

I bet Israel and India are the primary targets as they break the Islamic chain of countries from middle east to south east asia.

THOSE WHO THINK THAT SAUDI ARABIA IS WITH ISRAEL AGAINST IRAN, THINK AGAIN. THEY ARE SUNNIS AND CONSIDER THE PERSIAN MUSLIMS AS KAFIRS. ONCE THEY GET RID OF THEM, ISRAEL IS THEIR NEXT TARGET (Israel won't be able to blackmail them with nukes as Saudis have Nukes too...covert). India is already the UNFINISHED CHAPTER OF ISLAMIC HISTORY (800yrs of Muslim invasion and still India has close to 80% hindus) as declared by OBL !!!

[ahem]

The west has been demoralized by 60 years of marxist bullsh*t. It no longer has the courage of its convictions.

[Nelson Abdullah]

Salman Rushdie aside, I have often wondered how an ignorant merchant like Mohammad could tell the difference between the Archangel Gabriel and the Archangel Lucifer. And certainly, if we are to believe Mohammad's version that an angel appeared to him with a message, we are certain that Lucifer would not be carrying his trademark pitchfork for that might have been a dead giveaway. There is so much hatred contained in the Koran that it seems more like it was inspired by Satan than by God.

[John]

162 killed in Nigeria Islamist attacks
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/162-killed-in-Nigeria-Islamist-attacks/articleshow/11582173.cms

Gunmen kidnap American in north Somalia: Police
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/Gunmen-kidnap-American-in-north-Somalia-Police/articleshow/11580391.cms

Attackers kill five foreign tourists in Ethiopia: state TV
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/Attackers-kill-five-foreign-tourists-in-Ethiopia-state-TV/articleshow/11532028.cms

Terror threat: Thailand's two main international airports put on high alert
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/Terror-threat-Thailands-two-main-international-airports-put-on-high-alert/articleshow/11513702.cms

North African al-Qaida warns against hostage rescue bid
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/North-African-al-Qaida-warns-against-hostage-rescue-bid/articleshow/11468510.cms

And more.....
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/middle-east/articlelist/1898272.cms

PS: Your blog takes too long to load because its too big. Can you export old posts/archives from 2011 and prior to another blog name? Or rename a new blog??

[joetote]

Follow up on my earlier comment. The crap is going to hit the fan soon kids!

From the Telegraph U.K.

"The party of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood has won a sweeping victory in the country's parliamentary election, taking 47 percent of the seats in the new assembly.

The head of Egypt's election commission, Abdel Moez Ibrahim, announced the final results on Saturday.

The Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) won 235 of the 498 seats in the People's Assembly, including a 108 in the first-past-the-post constituency votes.

Two-thirds of the seats in the new lower house are allocated to registered parties, with the remainder won by individual candidates. The ruling military council will appoint 10 other members.

The hardline Islamist Al-Nur party is the assembly's second largest bloc, with 29 percent of the seats won on party lists. The liberal Wafd party came in third and the Egyptian Bloc coalition came in fourth.

Banned under former President Hosni Mubarak, the Brotherhood will now play a major role in drafting the country's new constitution."

[Samarth (India)]

America !!! Go the English way...English Defense League (Most non-muslims support it in UK)

Here in India, We are having our own EDLs in RSS/VHP/Shiv Sena and many more.
It's just that a spineless, pro-muslim govt is in power. They are going to be screwed v soon !!
Set up community unity !!!

[juniper]

Pam, what do you make of this horror?? http://astuteblogger.blogspot.com/2012/01/photo-newt-doesnt-want-you-to-see.html

[Ajay]

Samarth, China has been behind a lot of the Islamic terrorist groups active in Asia. They have no problem using them to weaken other Asian countries, such as India. Who do you think is Pakistans go to country? China. Pakistan's never ending Islamic terrorism groups against India and Afghanistan serves China's geopolitics for regional dominance.

[Ajay]

Samarth, neither Europe or America will recognize the partition of India into an Islamic state and secular democratic India for all religions as harbinger of what is coming for them with their increasing Muslim population. They think it is a unique event in South Asia - limited to a certain place, people, and time in history that has nothing to do with Europe or America. But it really has to do more with the size of the Muslim population within a country. Once they hit the same demographics as was in India before partition they too will hear Muslims ask for separation of land for themselves if they are unable to take over the entire country. By then it will be too late. But no one will believe it now, or not enough people will believe it now. That could never happen here will be people's reaction. Europe and America have been so powerful for so long, they do not believe they could fall. They believe that it is all within their power, and all they have to do is change their behavior to not provoke Muslims and then there will be no more terrorism, and no one will overthrow their government and replace it with Sharia rule. Problem solved. It is this arrogance, pride and belief that ultimately they are untouchable that makes them so vulnerable. Formerly colonized countries know their civilizations can be brought down.

[Perfected democrat]

At the lecture in Denver, Rushdie also went out of his way to snidely bash Bush out of context of the lecture (from my point of view anyway, of course it was his lecture...). That said, and whatever the merits of his writing, he did everyone a big favor by inadvertently sparking and exposing the quagmire associated with Muslim censorship. But when a little solidarity would go a long way, the Rushdie-left are mostly interested in their own muddled left-wing agenda for the world, and not so different in many respects from the Islamic world's plans for us. Thanks Samarth (India) for that link!

[KKKK]

Salman Rushdie was right not to go when he was getting death threats. i feel sorry for him. his life is under a fatwa.

[Samarth (India)]

China and India existed in harmony for more than millennia (barring 1962). Instability in one country is bound to affect the other. China's policy of breaking India is wrong and the sooner it realizes the better. Because the Frankenstein Islamic monster would come for China next. They will never stop. The Islamic ummah is their ultimate goal. America & most of west are lucky in the aspect that they generally don't share borders with hostile neighbors like India & Israel.

But the Arabs have been funding the Wahabi extremism throughout the world. So they are actually making boundaries unimportant. It would be more like a ghetto community vs the rest.

[joy52]

I'm on page 64 of 547 pages of the Satanic Verses. Decided to read it and got it used to see for myself what somebody had to do to get a fatwah. Frankly, the writing style is too different for me and so far I'm wondering if this was a PR scheme on Rushdie's and an assistant to Khomenni to make everybody buy the book(though, I'll accept Rushdie's word on the fatwah, given what we know about the influence of islam on its followers). By page 64, I don't see anything "fatwah-worthy" and I'm still waiting for the plot to develop. I'm sticking it out. Will add a comment later.

[Ajay]

Samarth, don't hold your breath about China. If they see the light, it won't be in time for India, or anyother Asian country.