Fatwa on the Killing of Salman Rushdie

Fatwa on the Killing of Salman Rushdie was a religious decree issued by Imam Khomeini, declaring Salman Rushdie, author of The Satanic Verses, an apostate and sentencing him and any publishers aware of the book’s content to death. The fatwa was issued on 14 February 1989. It has been regarded as a demonstration of the authority of Shia religious leadership in defending Islam. All Islamic schools of thought expressed support for the fatwa. Following its issuance, Rushdie fled his home in London and, under police protection, changed his residence 57 times over the course of five months.

Following the issuance of the fatwa against Salman Rushdie, a day of public mourning was declared in Iran on 15 February 1989. Citizens across the country expressed anger over the publication of The Satanic Verses through marches and gatherings in mosques and religious centers, voicing support for Imam Khomeini’s decree.

Muslims in various countries expressed support for the fatwa by issuing statements and organizing public gatherings. Mustafa Mazih, a young Lebanese man, and Ibrahim Ata'i both attempted to assassinate Rushdie in 1989 but were unsuccessful and lost their lives in the process. In 2022, Hadi Matar attacked Salman Rushdie in New York, resulting in the loss of sight in his right eye and loss of sensation in some fingers.

Some jurists have justified the ruling based on Islamic legal principles concerning those who insult the Prophet (s) and the concept of innate apostasy (murtadd fiṭrī).

The fatwa and its significance

In 1988, The Satanic Verses, a novel viewed as containing offensive depictions of Islam and the Prophet Muhammad (s), was published. On 14 February 1989, Imam Khomeini, Shia religious authority and leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, issued a fatwa sentencing Salman Rushdie, the author, and any publishers aware of its content to death.

The text of his fatwa reads as follows:

In the Name of God

“Indeed we belong to God, and to Him we shall return.” I hereby inform all zealous Muslims around the world that the author of The Satanic Verses, a book compiled, printed, and published in opposition to Islam, the Prophet, and the Qur’an, as well as those publishers who were aware of its content, are sentenced to death. I call upon all committed Muslims to execute them swiftly, wherever they may be found, so that no one will dare insult the sanctities of Muslims again. Whoever is killed in this cause shall be considered a martyr, God willing. Furthermore, if anyone has access to the author but lacks the means to carry out the execution, they should introduce him to the people so that he may face the consequences of his actions. Peace be upon you, and God’s mercy and blessings.

—Ruhollah Mousavi Khomeini

Significance

Imam Khomeini’s fatwa has been described as a historic ruling that demonstrated the strength and strategic insight of Shia religious authority in confronting anti-Islamic conspiracies and defending sacred values. Sayyid Abdullah Bukhari, a Sunni imam in Delhi, regarded it as a reflection of Imam Khomeini’s awareness and brilliance, and Ahmad Kuftaro, then Grand Mufti of Syria, issued a separate ruling on 1 March 1989 calling for Rushdie’s trial and punishment.

According to Ayatollah Khamenei, the fatwa represented a powerful blow to Western supporters of The Satanic Verses, forcing them into a defensive stance and weakening their morale. Sayyid Muhammad Husayn Fadlallah in Lebanon similarly described it as a major strike against Western imperialism. The ruling drew global attention to the Islamic legal punishment for insulting the Prophet Muhammad (s).

Jurisprudential foundations

Some Islamic jurists have considered the ruling on Salman Rushdie’s execution to be derived from Islamic jurisprudence. According to Sayyid Hadi Khosrowshahi, the death sentence corresponds to the rulings concerning both those who insult the Prophet Muhammad (s) and the apostates issue, on which scholars of all Islamic schools are in consensus. In his interpretation of the fatwa, Musawi Ardabili stated that Salman Rushdie is a murtadd fiṭrī (innate apostate), whose repentance is not accepted under Islamic law.

Salman Rushdie’s reaction

Following the issuance of the fatwa, outrage across the Islamic world intensified. On 18 February 1989, fearing for his future, Salman Rushdie issued a statement apologizing to Muslims. After the fatwa was announced, he fled his home in London and, under police protection, changed his residence 57 times over the course of five months.

In an interview with the British newspaper Daily Mail, Rushdie described his initial reaction upon hearing the death sentence:

“It didn’t feel good. I felt like I was a dead man… Walking without a bodyguard, going shopping, seeing my family, flying on a plane, none of that was possible for me at the time.”

Later Reflections and Rejection of Earlier Concessions

Despite spending nearly a decade in hiding, Rushdie stated that he had no regrets about writing The Satanic Verses, describing it as “as important in my body of work as any of my other books.” He later recanted his 1990 claim of embracing Islam, acknowledging that the statement had been made in an attempt to have the fatwa lifted. Reflecting on that period, he referred to his effort to appease extremists as “the biggest mistake of my life.” When asked about his religious beliefs, he stated: “I am happy to say that I am not [a Muslim].”

Global and Domestic Reactions

The death sentence sparked widespread reactions both inside and outside Iran.

Domestic response in Iran

Following the announcement of the fatwa, the Iranian government, acting on the directive of Imam Khomeini, declared February 15, 1989, a national day of mourning. Across the country, people held marches and gathered in mosques and religious centers to express anger over the publication of The Satanic Verses and to show support for Imam Khomeini’s ruling.

The Iranian Parliament, in a double-urgency vote, approved the complete severance of diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom. Additionally, 170 members signed a letter urging the Inter-Parliamentary Conference to take appropriate action regarding the publication of The Satanic Verses.

On 16 February 1989, Hassan Sani'i, head of the 15 Khordad Foundation, announced a reward of 20 million tumans (then claimed to be approximately $200,000) for an Iranian who would kill Salman Rushdie, and US$1 million for a non-Iranian. The bounty was later increased, reaching US$3.5 million in September 2012.

International response

The fatwa received widespread international attention. Following its coverage in global media, Rushdie, his supporters, and the publishers of The Satanic Verses in various countries faced threats and attacks.

Muslims in numerous countries—including the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Italy, France, Guinea, Turkey, Argentina, Sudan, Australia, Hong Kong, Denmark, Canada, Spain, and Finland—as well as organizations such as the American Muslim Union, the Council of Scholars of Jabal Amel, the Congress of Sri Lankan Muslims, the Islamic Council of Uganda, and the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs of Nigeria—issued statements and held rallies in support of the fatwa.

In Algeria, a book titled The Devil of the West was published in opposition to The Satanic Verses, reflecting the fatwa and praising Imam Khomeini. The sale of The Satanic Verses was banned in India, South Africa, Tanzania, Malaysia, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. Penguin Books, the UK publisher, increased its security measures. Offices of some publishers in the United States and the United Kingdom were also attacked. On 19 August 1989, China officially banned the publication of The Satanic Verses.

Meanwhile, on 22 February 1989, U.S. President George H. W. Bush expressed support for Salman Rushdie and described Iran’s death threat against him as a threat to American interests. Geoffrey Howe, the British foreign secretary, commented on the fatwa’s publication and impact, emphasizing the British government’s respect for Islam while distancing itself from The Satanic Verses.

Twelve member states of the European Economic Community recalled their ambassadors or heads of mission from Iran and suspended high-level official visits and contacts. The United States urged the Soviet Union to condemn the fatwa; however, Soviet foreign minister Eduard Shevardnadze responded that the West should show respect for Iran’s values.

Mustafa Mazih, a young Lebanese man, was the first to attempt carrying out the fatwa, but the explosive device he was carrying detonated prematurely. In 1989, Ibrahim Ata'i, a young Iranian, also attempted to assassinate Rushdie and was killed by Rushdie’s security team.

On 12 August 2022, Rushdie was stabbed in the neck while delivering a lecture in New York by a 24-year-old man from New Jersey, Hadi Matar, resulting in the loss of sight in his right eye and nerve damage affecting some fingers.