Calls for Rushdie’s death renewed. While the fatwa, or death edict, issued against Rushdie on February 14, 1989 for alleged blasphemy against Islam in his book The Satanic Verses has largely lapsed, it cannot be rescinded because under Islamic law only its author can do so; the Ayatollah Khomeini has since died. Now one hard-line Islamic daily observed the twelfth anniversary of the edict by renewed calls for Rushdie’s death.

The daily said in an editorial that Rushdie’s move to the
United States would make his killing easier, saying his
new location offered “more possibilities of executing this
traitor in America.”

The foundation that funded the $2.8 million bounty on Rushdie’s head affirmed that it would be paid with interest to anyone enforcing the decree. Salon