Rushdie Laughs Off Threat Of Ban – “I don’t need a visa”

Salman Rushdie is back under the spotlight after Muslim leaders have asked for The Satanic Verses author to be denied entry to India. He is due to attend the DSC Jaipur Literature Festival, which is the largest literary festival in Asia-Pacific. Maulana Qasim Nomani, from the Darul Uloom Deoband seminary, has urged the authorities not to let Rushdie into the country.

Reuters also interviewed Maulana Khalid Rashid Farangi Mahali who said: “India is a country where the sentiments of each community and caste are respected and therefore such a man should not be permitted to come to the country,” no doubt referring to the long-lasting furore surrounding The Satanic Verses.

The Satanic Verses, a book still banned in India, was published in 1988 and is inspired by the life of Muhammad. At the time the book was seen as blasphemous by Muslim clerics and a fatwa was issued against Salman Rushdie in 1989. Rushdie was therefore placed under British police protection and the fatwa still remains in place. Controversy has surrounded the book and its author since publication.

In response, Salman Rushdie tweeted: “Re: my Indian visit, for the record, I don’t need a visa.” In support of his tweet, on Rushdie’s Twitter account, many have answered that they are looking forward to his visit. The Booker Prize winning author is a highly popular figure, who despite controversy, has maintained his popularity throughout the world and was knighted in 2007. Having survived decades of threats, it will take more than idle chatter to deny Sir Rushdie.