The Rushdie Fatwa, 33 Years Later
On August 12, the heinous stabbing of celebrated author Salman Rushdie left the literary world reeling. Despite "life-changing" injuries, he survived the attack, carried out by a 24-year-old man with reported "Shi'ite extremist" sympathies.
Rushdie, long an outspoken supporter of liberal values and free expression, has had a target on his back for more than three decades—ever since the release of his "blasphemous" novel, The Satanic Verses, and the subsequent "death sentence" issued him by the Supreme Leader of Iran.
It's now more important than ever to understand why this happened. What was the "blasphemy" of The Satanic Verses? Why did it provoke such an intense reaction? And, especially in light of this latest attempt to carry out Iran's fatwa, what can this ordeal reveal to us today, as we live with its consequences?
EXMNA has a new documentary-style video out exploring these questions in depth. Watch it below:
