Khomeini’s fatwa globalized the Rushdie affair without his ever reading the novel

Evidence

Causing some controversy at the time of its publication, the book was interpreted by many Muslims as being blasphemous due to its analogous storylines denigrating Muhammad, his prophet-hood and wives. Similar accusations were also made against the theological tenets and beliefs of Islam. Following India’s lead in being the first to ban the book, Khomeini however took the matter to a new and unprecedented level by issuing a fatwa that called for the death of Rushdie. The fatwa was not merely for the people of Iran though. Khomeini declared that the fatwa insisted that it was the duty of every Muslim around the world to obey his pronouncement. Somewhat amazingly, Khomeini confessed to having never read the book and confirmed that those who were to uphold the fatwa were not to read the book either. — Chris Allen, Islamophobia, 228

Categorization

• SHARE: The irony that the pivotal fatwa was issued by someone who never read the book is a striking detail for a friend interested in the Rushdie affair.

Related

• Rushdie’s public conversion to Islam failed to lift the fatwa (similarity 0.83)