Salman RushdieSalman Rushdie

A Life in LiteratureA Life in Literature

Dan Brown’s FatwaDan Brown’s Fatwa

The Catholic church took exception The Catholic church took exception to to The Davinci CodeThe Davinci Code this is a this is a suggested course of action…suggested course of action…

Point out the offensive claims made by the book, particularly the ones regarding Jesus and early Christianity. Point out that the claims are false-that Brown does not have the evidence to support them. The idea that Jesus had a wife is absurd. One of the major themes of the New Testament is that of the Church as the Bride of Christ. This theme would never have arisen in Christian circles if Jesus had a human wife. It was the fact that he was not married in the ordinary sense that led to the Church being described as his Bride. What Brown is doing amounts to smearing the most important and sacred beliefs of millions of people for the sake of getting his novel on the bestseller list.

To help others understand how offensive these are, encourage fans of the novel to imagine parallel situations involving other religions or groups of people. For example, a major publisher would never produce a novel that portrayed the Jewish faith as perpetrating a murderous, centuries-long, global conspiracy. Such a book would be met immediately with outraged protests and the author and publishers publicly branded as religious bigots. By producing this novel smearing Christianity, Brown and Doubleday show that they have a double standard and harbor anti-Catholic, anti-Christian prejudice.

Early YearsEarly Years

Salman Rushdie was Salman Rushdie was born in Bombay, India born in Bombay, India (now Mumbai) on June (now Mumbai) on June 19, 1947. He went to 19, 1947. He went to school in Bombay and school in Bombay and at Rugby in England, at Rugby in England, and read History at and read History at King's College, King's College, Cambridge, where he Cambridge, where he joined the Cambridge joined the Cambridge Footlights theatre Footlights theatre company. company.

The Young ActorThe Young Actor

After graduating, he After graduating, he lived with his family lived with his family who had moved to who had moved to Pakistan in 1964, and Pakistan in 1964, and worked briefly in worked briefly in television before television before returning to England, returning to England, beginning work as a beginning work as a copywriter for an copywriter for an advertising agency. advertising agency. His first novel, His first novel, GrimusGrimus, , was published in 1975.was published in 1975.

Science Fiction??Science Fiction?? Rushdie's first published Rushdie's first published

book, book, GrimusGrimus (1975), (1975), was classified as was classified as science fiction by many science fiction by many critics. It is the story of critics. It is the story of Flapping Eagle, a Native Flapping Eagle, a Native American who is given American who is given the gift of immortality the gift of immortality (eternal life) and goes (eternal life) and goes on a journey to find the on a journey to find the meaning of life. meaning of life. Although the book Although the book received positive received positive reviews, it did not sell reviews, it did not sell very well…very well…

Persistence…Persistence…

Rushdie continued Rushdie continued working as a part-working as a part-time ad writer over time ad writer over the five years it the five years it took him to write took him to write Midnight's Midnight's Children.Children. He quit He quit his job after his job after finishing the novel finishing the novel without even without even knowing if it would knowing if it would be published. be published.

A Second Chance…Twice A Second Chance…Twice Removed…Removed…

Released first in the United Released first in the United States in 1981, States in 1981, Midnight's Midnight's ChildrenChildren is in part the story of is in part the story of a baby who was not only the a baby who was not only the result of an extramarital result of an extramarital affair, but who was then affair, but who was then switched at birth with a switched at birth with a second child from a similar second child from a similar situation. The hero is also situation. The hero is also caught between the two great caught between the two great Indian religions, Islam and Indian religions, Islam and Hinduism. Hinduism.

The novel narrates key events The novel narrates key events in the history of India through in the history of India through the story of pickle-factory the story of pickle-factory worker Saleem Sinai, one of worker Saleem Sinai, one of 1001 children born as India 1001 children born as India won independence from won independence from Britain in 1947. Britain in 1947.

And the Award goes to…And the Award goes to… Midnight's ChildrenMidnight's Children, won , won

the Booker Prize for Fiction the Booker Prize for Fiction 1981. In 1993, it was 1981. In 1993, it was judged to have been the judged to have been the 'Booker of Bookers‘- the 'Booker of Bookers‘- the best novel to have won the best novel to have won the Booker Prize for Fiction in Booker Prize for Fiction in the award's 25-year the award's 25-year history. The critic Malcolm history. The critic Malcolm Bradbury acclaimed the Bradbury acclaimed the novel's achievement in novel's achievement in The The Modern British NovelModern British Novel (Penguin, 1994): 'a new (Penguin, 1994): 'a new start for the late-twentieth-start for the late-twentieth-century novel.' century novel.'

Political Controversy Begins…Political Controversy Begins…

Rushdie followed this Rushdie followed this up with up with ShameShame (1983), (1983), the story of a the story of a Pakistani woman, who Pakistani woman, who blushes so hotly with blushes so hotly with embarrassment at her embarrassment at her nation's history that nation's history that her body boils her her body boils her bath water and burns bath water and burns the lips of men who the lips of men who attempt to kiss her. attempt to kiss her.

Rushdie Angers Muslim Leaders Rushdie Angers Muslim Leaders ……

Rushdie’s next Rushdie’s next novel, novel, The Satanic The Satanic VersesVerses (1988) (1988) would take the would take the world by storm…world by storm…and create a and create a controversy that controversy that world literature has world literature has rarely seen….rarely seen….

Anger and Precognition…Anger and Precognition… Rushdie's Rushdie's The Satanic The Satanic

VersesVerses (1988) opens with (1988) opens with the survival of two Indian the survival of two Indian men who fall out of the sky men who fall out of the sky after their jumbo jet to after their jumbo jet to England is blown up in England is blown up in midair by terrorists. These midair by terrorists. These two characters then gain two characters then gain divine and demonic divine and demonic powers. powers.

Rushdie's habit of using the Rushdie's habit of using the atrocities of history—atrocities of history—especially involving religionespecially involving religion—made —made The Satanic VersesThe Satanic Verses a book of frightening a book of frightening precognition: another precognition: another character in the novel is a character in the novel is a writer sentenced to death writer sentenced to death by a religious leader…by a religious leader…

Fatwa…Fatwa… The title of the novel refers The title of the novel refers

to verses from the Koran to verses from the Koran (the holy book of the (the holy book of the Islamic faith), which were Islamic faith), which were removed by later Islamic removed by later Islamic historians, describing a historians, describing a time when the Arab time when the Arab prophet, Mohammed (the prophet, Mohammed (the founder of Islam), briefly founder of Islam), briefly changed his belief in a changed his belief in a single god and allowed single god and allowed mention to be made of mention to be made of three local goddesses. three local goddesses.

This was considered This was considered offensive to Islam by the offensive to Islam by the Iranian leader Ayatollah Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini, who issued a Khomeini, who issued a Fatwa,Fatwa, or religious order, or religious order, calling for Rushdie's death. calling for Rushdie's death.

The Fallout…The Fallout…

Rushdie went into hiding Rushdie went into hiding and received round-the-and received round-the-clock protection from clock protection from British security guards. British security guards. Rushdie's wife of Rushdie's wife of thirteen months, author thirteen months, author Marianne Wiggins, went Marianne Wiggins, went into hiding with him into hiding with him when the death threat when the death threat was announced. She was announced. She soon emerged and soon emerged and announced that their announced that their marriage was over. marriage was over.

Who would go into hiding Who would go into hiding with you?with you?

Lena Dunham (@lenadunham)

2012-10-09 12:43 AMThe Salman Rushdie excerpt in the New Yorker really makes you wonder who would go into hiding with you

The Fallout Spreads…The Fallout Spreads… Khomeini's death threat Khomeini's death threat

extended not only to Rushdie extended not only to Rushdie himself, but to the publishers himself, but to the publishers of of The Satanic Verses,The Satanic Verses, booksellers who carried it, and booksellers who carried it, and any Muslim who publicly any Muslim who publicly approved of its release. approved of its release. Several bookstores in England Several bookstores in England and America received bomb and America received bomb threats, and the novel was threats, and the novel was briefly removed from the briefly removed from the shelves of America's largest shelves of America's largest book-selling chains. book-selling chains.

Two Islamic officials in Two Islamic officials in London, England, were London, England, were murdered for questioning the murdered for questioning the correctness of Rushdie's death correctness of Rushdie's death sentence on a talk show. Many sentence on a talk show. Many book-burnings were held book-burnings were held throughout the world.throughout the world.

Infamy…Infamy… Despite the serious nature of the Fatwa, Rushdie (and his possible Despite the serious nature of the Fatwa, Rushdie (and his possible

disguises in hiding), became the subject of many jokes. For disguises in hiding), became the subject of many jokes. For example, during the 1990 Academy Awards presentation, which was example, during the 1990 Academy Awards presentation, which was seen worldwide by an estimated one billion viewers, comedian Billy seen worldwide by an estimated one billion viewers, comedian Billy Crystal joked that "the lovely young woman" who usually hands Crystal joked that "the lovely young woman" who usually hands Oscar statuettes to their recipients "is, of course, Salman Rushdie!“ Oscar statuettes to their recipients "is, of course, Salman Rushdie!“ He’s also mentioned in countless TV shows and movies, including He’s also mentioned in countless TV shows and movies, including episodes of the Simpsons, Seinfeld, and Family Guy.episodes of the Simpsons, Seinfeld, and Family Guy.

Working Under a Death Working Under a Death Sentence…Sentence…

In 1990 Rushdie released the In 1990 Rushdie released the fantasy novel fantasy novel Haroun and the Haroun and the Sea of Stories,Sea of Stories, written for his written for his son by his first marriage. It is a son by his first marriage. It is a warning about the dangers of warning about the dangers of story-telling and in attempting story-telling and in attempting to stifle personal and political to stifle personal and political truth(s). truth(s).

That same year Rushdie That same year Rushdie publicly embraced Islam and publicly embraced Islam and apologized to those offended. apologized to those offended. He made several appearances He made several appearances in London bookstores to in London bookstores to autograph his newest work.autograph his newest work.

But, even after the Ayatollah's But, even after the Ayatollah's death, his successor, Iran's death, his successor, Iran's President Rafsanzani, refused to President Rafsanzani, refused to lift the death sentence. Rushdie lift the death sentence. Rushdie continued to appear in public continued to appear in public only occasionally, and then only occasionally, and then under heavy security.under heavy security.

Controversy Continues…Controversy Continues… Rushdie continued to live Rushdie continued to live

an isolated life. He an isolated life. He remarried, however, and remarried, however, and became a father for the became a father for the second time. Occasionally second time. Occasionally he made radio he made radio appearances, but they appearances, but they were usually unannounced. were usually unannounced.

Rushdie's novel entitled Rushdie's novel entitled The Moor's Last SighThe Moor's Last Sigh was was published in 1995. This published in 1995. This book drew angry reactions book drew angry reactions from Hindu militants (those from Hindu militants (those engaged in war) in India. engaged in war) in India.

Time Marches On…Time Marches On… The subjects in a newer The subjects in a newer

work, work, Step Across This Line: Step Across This Line: Collected Non-fiction 1992-Collected Non-fiction 1992-20022002 (2002), range from (2002), range from popular culture and football popular culture and football to twentieth-century to twentieth-century literature and politics. literature and politics.

Another novel is Another novel is Shalimar Shalimar The ClownThe Clown (2005), is a book (2005), is a book that focuses on the that focuses on the psychology of terrorism, psychology of terrorism, while also telling the story while also telling the story of Max Ophuls, his killer of Max Ophuls, his killer and daughter, and a fourth and daughter, and a fourth character who links them character who links them all.all.

Rushdie Today…Rushdie Today…

Recently, he was Recently, he was Knighted by the Knighted by the British Crown.British Crown.

Not long after, he Not long after, he announced that his announced that his third marriage was third marriage was over.over.

Salman RushdieSalman Rushdie

In 2007, he began a In 2007, he began a five-year term as five-year term as Distinguished Writer in Distinguished Writer in Residence at Emory Residence at Emory University.University.

The Fatwa on his life The Fatwa on his life has never been has never been withdrawnwithdrawnbut Iran's former President Mohammad Khatami said the threat was "finished" in 1998.

Fatwa Renewed?Fatwa Renewed?In September, Ayatollah Hassan Sanei offered a £320,000 reward for murdering Rushdie, blaming the British author for an amateur US film which insults the Prophet Muhammed.

He said the film, Innocence of Muslims, would not have been made if Rushdie had been killed after his novel The Satanic Verses was published in 1988.

The Innocence of Muslims, has sparked rioting across the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia. Violent protests last week saw the American ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, killed in a rocket attack on the US Embassy in Benghazi, along with three other American staff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZYyBZE1GKsv=QZYyBZE1GKs

The Ayatollah Hassan Sanei said in a statement the film would not "be the last insulting act as long as Imam Khomeini's historic order on executing the blasphemous Salman Rushdie is not carried out."