Publication of The Satanic Verses and the global response
The release of Salman Rushdie’s novel The Satanic Verses in 1988 ignited protests around the world. The book sparked fierce debate among communities and governments, leading to bans in several countries and serious threats against Rushdie and those involved in publishing, translating, or defending the work. The episode remains a stark example of how literature can provoke deep religious and political reactions and how societies respond to perceived blasphemy. This overview traces the sequence of events and the violent consequences that followed in the months after its publication.
The interest centered on Rushdie’s fourth novel, published in the United Kingdom on September 26, 1988, which quickly drew condemnation from many Muslims in multiple countries and was banned in India, Rushdie’s homeland.
The work received the Whitbread Award on November 8, marking a controversial literary achievement amid ongoing protests.
On November 22, a prominent religious leader at Al-Azhar University in Cairo urged British Muslims to pursue legal action against Rushdie, describing the book as blasphemous and calling for a response from the Muslim community.
December saw the novel banned in South Africa, and posters opposing it appeared in Muslim neighborhoods in England. On December 28, the publishing house Viking faced a bomb threat at its headquarters, adding to the climate of fear surrounding the book’s publication.
January 1989 brought demonstrations and public burnings of the novel in cities such as Bradford on the 14th. The WH Smith bookstore chain removed the book from its shelves the following day, and by January 27 demonstrations continued in London urging the removal of the Penguin group from circulation and distribution. These events underscored the global reach of the controversy and the intensity of public sentiment. This period is widely studied as a case of how literature can intersect with religious sensibilities and political power.
On February 14, the controversy intensified as protests spread to Pakistan and India, resulting in casualties and injuries. In response, Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa directing Muslims to oppose the book. The European Economic Community withdrew ambassadors from Iran, and Iran reciprocated by pulling its diplomats from Europe. Canada banned the import of the novel, while the United States withdrew it from bookstores, reflecting the international dimension of the crisis.
February 18 marked the publication of the novel in Italy, the first non-English speaking country to do so. Rushdie issued an apology to Muslims, and the book was released in the United States on February 22. Two days later, protests in Mumbai led to deaths and many injuries. Reports indicated that Khomeini offered a substantial reward for Rushdie’s death, intensifying the danger faced by the author and those around him. The era highlighted the volatile intersection of religious leadership, national policy, and press freedom. This is documented in various contemporary accounts and scholarly analyses of the period.
February 28 saw two bookstore explosions in Berkeley, California, following earlier protests in New York, amplifying the sense of threat that surrounded publishing during this time.
On March 2, a broad show of support for Rushdie appeared in a manifesto endorsed by thousands of intellectuals worldwide, signaling solidarity with the author and defense of liberty of expression. A few days later, the Vatican condemned the novel, labeling it disrespectful while also criticizing Khomeini. Diplomatic ties between Iran and Britain deteriorated, and both countries closed or reduced formal diplomatic channels in the crisis.
March 29 recorded the killing of religious opponents of censorship in Brussels, illustrating the harsh, violent consequences of the controversy far from its origin. By May 19, a coalition of eighteen publishing houses undertook joint publication of the book with support from cultural authorities, underscoring the global press community’s stance on literary freedom. A demonstration against 50,000 Muslims in London on May 27 further reflected how the issue mobilized both local and international publics, revealing the depth of political and social fault lines involved.
Around June 3, Ayatollah Khomeini died, yet his fatwa continued to influence events and public debate. On August 3, a bombing in London emerged as another dramatic act of protest during this period, illustrating how the controversy persisted beyond any single event.
Salman Rushdie and the assault on freedom of expression
The following years brought ongoing concern for Rushdie and his supporters as the public discourse shifted toward protecting authors and translators. In 1990 the author published In Good Faith, a piece that expressed respect for Islam while affirming that his work did not intend to insult the Muslim faith. This period marked a turning point in Rushdie’s public life, balancing artistic responsibility with personal safety, and it is frequently cited in discussions about authorial risk and freedom of speech. Critics and supporters alike debated whether the artist’s voice could be preserved in perilous circumstances without compromising sensitivity toward religious communities.
July 3, 1991, saw a knife attack on an Italian translator of The Satanic Verses, reflecting the continued threats against those involved in bringing the work to new audiences. On July 12, the Japanese translator Hitoshi Igarashi was killed, a stark reminder of how translators face danger when they work on controversial texts. The torch of threat extended to Turkey on July 3, 1993, when 37 people died in an attack linked to opposition to censorship, and on July 11 attempts were made to assassinate William Nygaard, the book’s Norwegian publisher. The price on Rushdie’s head rose to around four million dollars by 1997, a chilling indicator of the lasting impact of the fatwa. In 1998 the Iranian government agreed not to pursue Rushdie’s execution as part of diplomatic talks with the United Kingdom aimed at normalizing relations, allowing Rushdie to leave underground life. In 2010, Kurdish translator Behdad Beshgar faced accusations of blasphemy connected to the novel.
By January 2012, safety concerns led Rushdie to cancel his participation in the Jaipur Literature Festival following intelligence indications of planned assassinations. The long arc of the Rushdie affair demonstrates the enduring tension between creative expression and violent extremism, a debate that continues to shape conversations about censorship, security, and the responsibilities of publishers and institutions in protecting authors and readers alike. The narrative remains a touchstone for scholars studying the intersections of religion, politics, and free speech, and it continues to inform discussions about how societies respond to perceived offenses while balancing democratic rights with public safety. Attributions: contemporary reporting and subsequent scholarly analyses provide the basis for this synthesis.