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| Iran shuns Frankfurt book fair over Salman Rushdie invitation | Iran shuns Frankfurt book fair over Salman Rushdie invitation |
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| Iran has announced that it will boycott next week’s Frankfurt book fair after organisers invited the author Salman Rushdie, whom Iranian scholars said should be killed, as a guest speaker. The foreign ministry said the fair had, “under the pretext of freedom of expression, invited a person who is hated in the Islamic world and create the opportunity for Salman Rushdie ... to make a speech”. | Iran has announced that it will boycott next week’s Frankfurt book fair after organisers invited the author Salman Rushdie, whom Iranian scholars said should be killed, as a guest speaker. The foreign ministry said the fair had, “under the pretext of freedom of expression, invited a person who is hated in the Islamic world and create the opportunity for Salman Rushdie ... to make a speech”. |
| Related: Iran threatens Frankfurt book fair boycott over Rushdie speech | |
| It said the Islamic republic “strongly protests” Rushdie’s appearance and had decided against participating in the fair, which is one of the world’s largest such events. The ministry called on other Muslim nations to join its boycott. | It said the Islamic republic “strongly protests” Rushdie’s appearance and had decided against participating in the fair, which is one of the world’s largest such events. The ministry called on other Muslim nations to join its boycott. |
| For his part, deputy culture minister Abbas Salehi said: “Fair officials chose the theme of freedom of expression, but they invited someone who has insulted our beliefs.” | For his part, deputy culture minister Abbas Salehi said: “Fair officials chose the theme of freedom of expression, but they invited someone who has insulted our beliefs.” |
| Rushdie, a Muslim and British citizen who lives in the US, was made subject of a 1988 fatwa (religious edict) that called for his killing after his fourth novel, The Satanic Verses, was published. The Islamic republic’s founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, issued the order after he and many others in the Muslim world said Rushdie had depicted Muslim prophet Muhammad irreverently. | Rushdie, a Muslim and British citizen who lives in the US, was made subject of a 1988 fatwa (religious edict) that called for his killing after his fourth novel, The Satanic Verses, was published. The Islamic republic’s founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, issued the order after he and many others in the Muslim world said Rushdie had depicted Muslim prophet Muhammad irreverently. |
| The fatwa forced the writer into hiding and led the British government to place him under police protection. In recent years, the author has attended many public events, though has sometimes cancelled at short notice. | The fatwa forced the writer into hiding and led the British government to place him under police protection. In recent years, the author has attended many public events, though has sometimes cancelled at short notice. |
| Khomeini died in 1989, but his successor, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said in 2005 that the fatwa still stands, describing Rushdie as an apostate who can be killed with impunity. | Khomeini died in 1989, but his successor, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said in 2005 that the fatwa still stands, describing Rushdie as an apostate who can be killed with impunity. |
| Related: Salman Rushdie on Islam: 'We have learned the wrong lessons' |