In the News: Defend Salman Rushdie Against Iranian Fatwa and Bounty

By jean.meslier -
BOMBAY, INDIA: An Indian Muslim wears a mask of Indian writer Salman Rushdie as he displays a placard condemning Rushdie during aprotest in Bombay, 12 January 2004. During the protest against Rushdie's presence in the city, organised by several Muslim organisations, a reward of Rs.100,000 (2,199 USD) to anyone who blackens the face of Rushdie,who in his book The Satanic Verses allegedly made remarks against Islam's holy prophet Mohammed. AFP PHOTO/Sebastian D'SOUZA. (Photo credit should read SEBASTIAN D'SOUZA/AFP/Getty Images)

In Defence of Salman Rushdie, Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB), 2016-02-25

We […] are outraged to learn that forty state-run media outlets in Iran have raised $600,000 (£420,000) to add as bounty to Ayatollah Khomeini’s death fatwa on the writer Salman Rushdie, because of his novel The Satanic Verses.

We condemn the Iranian regime, its fatwa and the added bounty. We stand with Salman Rushdie and the many Iranian freethinkers and writers languishing in prison, or facing the death penalty, for exercising their right to free expression and thought.

The Iranian regime must face global condemnation for its incitement to murder.

Moreover, democratic and secular governments should unequivocally condemn the regime’s fatwa and bounty, demand their immediate cancellation, prioritise human rights and free expression and side with freethinkers rather than appeasing a theocratic regime.

To sign the petition:

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