Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Salman Rushdie

A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Salman Rushdie.

Sir Ahmed Salman Rushdie is an Indian-born British and American novelist known for blending magic realism with historical fiction. His work explores the connections and disruptions between Eastern and Western civilizations, often focusing on the Indian subcontinent. His second novel, Midnight's Children, won the Booker Prize in 1981 and was later recognized as the "best novel of all winners" during the prize's 25th and 40th anniversary celebrations, solidifying his place as a significant literary figure.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

September 1988: Publication of The Satanic Verses and Subsequent Controversy

In September 1988, The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie was published by Viking Penguin Publishing, causing immediate controversy in the Islamic world due to perceived irreverent depictions of Muhammad. The book was banned in many countries with large Muslim communities.

The Satanic Verses: A Novel

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1988: Publication of The Satanic Verses

In 1988, Rushdie's most controversial work, The Satanic Verses, was published and won the Whitbread Award.

The Satanic Verses: A Novel

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January 1989: Rushdie's Column in The Observer

On January 22, 1989, in response to protests against 'The Satanic Verses', Salman Rushdie published a column in The Observer calling Muhammad 'one of the great geniuses of world history', while maintaining that the novel is an attempt to write about migration and its stresses.

February 1989: Fatwa Issued Against Salman Rushdie

On February 14, 1989, Ayatollah Khomeini proclaimed a fatwa on Radio Tehran ordering Salman Rushdie's execution for blasphemy against Islam due to his book 'The Satanic Verses'.

The Satanic Verses: A Novel

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March 1989: UK and Iran Break Diplomatic Relations

On March 7, 1989, the United Kingdom and Iran broke diplomatic relations over the Salman Rushdie controversy following the fatwa issued against him.

August 1989: Book Bomb Explosion in London

On August 3, 1989, Mustafa Mahmoud Mazeh, using an alias, died in a London hotel when a book bomb he was priming with RDX explosives detonated prematurely. The Organization of the Mujahidin of Islam claimed he died preparing an attack on Salman Rushdie. He is considered the first martyr in the mission to kill Rushdie.

1989: Publication of 'Words For Salman Rushdie'

In 1989, The New York Times published 'Words For Salman Rushdie', featuring 28 distinguished writers from 21 countries expressing solidarity with Rushdie in the face of the fatwa.

1989: Christopher Hitchens Defends Salman Rushdie

In 1989, following the fatwa against Salman Rushdie, Christopher Hitchens voiced his strong support for Rushdie, seeing it as a battle between everything he loved (literature, freedom) versus everything he hated (dictatorship, censorship).

December 1990: Statement Reaffirming Muslim Faith

In December 1990, Salman Rushdie issued a statement reaffirming his Muslim faith, distancing himself from statements in "The Satanic Verses" that cast aspersion on Islam or Prophet Mohammad, and opposing the release of the paperback editing of the novel.

The Satanic Verses: A Novel

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1990: Release of International Gorillay

In 1990, a Pakistani film entitled International Gorillay (International Guerillas) was released. The film depicted Rushdie as a villain plotting Pakistan's downfall and ends with his death. The British Board of Film Classification initially refused it a certificate, but Rushdie later said he would not sue if it were released.

1991: Attack on Italian and Japanese Translators

In 1991, the Italian translator of "The Satanic Verses" was stabbed but survived. Days later, Hitoshi Igarashi, the Japanese translator, was stabbed to death.

The Satanic Verses: A Novel

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1992: Regret of Reaffirming Muslim Faith

In 1992, Salman Rushdie cited the release of his 1990 statement reaffirming his Muslim faith as perhaps his lowest point, regretting its language.

August 1993: Public Appearance at Wembley Stadium

On August 11, 1993, despite the fatwa against him, Salman Rushdie made a public appearance at London's Wembley Stadium during a U2 concert. This event occurred amidst violence sparked by the publication of his book and the fatwa, with bookstores firebombed and attacks on those associated with the book.

1993: Publication of For Rushdie

In 1993, 100 writers and intellectuals from the Muslim world expressed solidarity with Salman Rushdie in the collection 'For Rushdie'.

February 1997: Blood Money Increased

In February 1997, Ayatollah Hasan Sane'i, leader of the Fifteenth of Khordad Foundation, announced that the blood money offered for the assassination of Salman Rushdie would be increased from $2 million to $2.5 million. Subsequently, another religious foundation in Iran increased its reward from $2.8 million to $3.3 million.

September 1998: Iranian Government Commitment

On September 24, 1998, as a precondition for restoring diplomatic relations with the UK, the Iranian government, led by Mohammad Khatami, publicly committed to neither support nor hinder assassination operations against Salman Rushdie.

1998: Fatwa Proclaimed Finished by Khatami

In 1998, Iran's former president Mohammad Khatami proclaimed the fatwa "finished"; however, it was never officially lifted.

1999: Support of NATO bombing of Yugoslavia

In 1999, Salman Rushdie supported the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, leading to Tariq Ali labeling him as part of a group of "warrior writers".

2001: Support of US-led campaign in Afghanistan

In 2001, Salman Rushdie supported the US-led campaign to remove the Taliban in Afghanistan.

2003: Criticism of the Iraq War

In 2003, Salman Rushdie criticized the war in Iraq, stating that while there was a case for removing Saddam Hussein, the US unilateral military intervention was unjustifiable.

2003: Statement that 'Pakistan sucks'

In 2003, Salman Rushdie stated that "Pakistan sucks" during an interview when asked why he felt more like an outsider there than in India or England.

August 2005: Call for Reform in Islam

In mid-August 2005, Salman Rushdie called for a reform in Islam in a guest opinion piece printed in The Washington Post and The Times, advocating the application of higher criticism.

2005: Khomeini's Fatwa Reaffirmed

In early 2005, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's leader, reaffirmed Khomeini's fatwa against Salman Rushdie in a message to Muslim pilgrims in Mecca. The Revolutionary Guards also declared the death sentence still valid.

March 2006: Signing of 'Together Facing the New Totalitarianism' manifesto

In March 2006, Salman Rushdie signed the manifesto "Together Facing the New Totalitarianism", a statement warning of the dangers of religious extremism, which was published in Charlie Hebdo.

2006: Hezbollah Leader's Statement

During the 2006 Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah stated that if a Muslim had carried out Khomeini's fatwa against Salman Rushdie, the insults against Prophet Mohammed in Denmark, Norway, and France would not have occurred.

2006: Support of Jack Straw's comments on the niqab

In 2006, Salman Rushdie supported Jack Straw's comments criticizing the wearing of the niqab, a veil covering the face except for the eyes. Rushdie stated his support for Straw's position, viewing it as part of a long battle against the limitation of women. He mentioned that his three sisters would never wear the veil.

January 2007: Lakshmi requests a divorce

In January 2007, Padma Lakshmi asked Salman Rushdie for a divorce, which they later filed in July of the same year.

June 2007: Knighthood Awarded

On June 16, 2007, Salman Rushdie was knighted for services to literature in the Queen's Birthday Honours. This honor was met with protests from many Muslim-majority nations and sparked controversy.

2009: Pia Glenn slams Rushdie

In 2009, actress Pia Glenn slammed Salman Rushdie as "cowardly, dysfunctional, and immature" after he dumped her via email.

2010: Al-Qaeda Hit List Inclusion

In 2010, Anwar al-Awlaki published an Al-Qaeda hit list in Inspire magazine, including Salman Rushdie along with other figures claimed to have insulted Islam.

January 2012: Cancelled Jaipur Literature Festival Appearance

In January 2012, Salman Rushdie cancelled his appearance at the Jaipur Literature Festival in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, citing a possible threat to his life. He later suggested that state police agencies lied about paid assassins being sent to Jaipur to kill him.

July 2012: Blaming Colorado cinema shooting on gun rights

In July 2012, Salman Rushdie blamed a shooting at a Colorado cinema on the American right to keep and bear arms.

2012: Criticism of Imran Khan

In 2012, Salman Rushdie was critical of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan after Khan took personal jabs at him in an interview.

November 2015: Chidambaram Acknowledges Banning Was Wrong

In November 2015, former Indian minister P. Chidambaram acknowledged that banning The Satanic Verses was wrong.

The Satanic Verses: A Novel

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February 2016: Bounty Increased

In February 2016, more money was added to the bounty for the assassination of Salman Rushdie.

August 2019: Criticism of revocation of special status of Jammu and Kashmir

In August 2019, Salman Rushdie criticized the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, tweeting that what was happening there was an atrocity.

July 2020: Signing of the "Harper's Letter"

In July 2020, Salman Rushdie was one of the 153 signers of the "Harper's Letter", also known as "A Letter on Justice and Open Debate", that expressed concern that "the free exchange of information and ideas, the lifeblood of a liberal society, is daily becoming more constricted."

August 2022: Attack at Chautauqua Institution

On August 12, 2022, Salman Rushdie was attacked while about to start a lecture at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, New York. He was stabbed repeatedly and airlifted to UPMC Hamot in Erie, Pennsylvania, for surgery.

October 2023: Expression of horror at Hamas' attack and Israel's retaliation

In October 2023, Salman Rushdie expressed his "horror" at both Hamas' attack on Israel and Israel's retaliation in the Gaza Strip and called for a "cessation in hostilities".

May 2024: Comments on potential Palestinian state and support for Hamas

In May 2024, Salman Rushdie argued that if a Palestinian state ever came into being, it would resemble a "Taliban-like state" and become a client state of Iran. He also voiced his puzzlement regarding the current support of progressive students for what he described as a "fascist terrorist group".