Why Salman Rushdie’s ‘The Satanic Verses’ remains so controversial

kAmk6>mpFE9@C $2=>2? #FD95:6 :D :? E96 9@DA:E2= H:E9 D6C:@FD :?;FC:6D 27E6C 36:?8 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^D2=>2?\CFD95:6\2EE24<65\h626hh262ga43_5bheaggd`645caaaf2QmDE23365 3J 2 >2? 2E 2? 2CED 76DE:G2=k^2m :? }6H *@C< $E2E6 @? pF8] `a[ a_aa] %96 7@==@H:?8 2CE:4=6 H2D AF3=:D965 :? $6AE6>36C a_`g @? E96 b_E9 2??:G6CD2CJ @7 E96 C6=62D6 @7 Q%96 $2E2?:4 '6CD6D]Qk^6>mk^Am

kAm~?6 @7 E96 >@DE 4@?EC@G6CD:2= 3@@<D :? C646?E =:E6C2CJ 9:DE@CJ[ k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]D2=>2?CFD95:6]4@>Qm$2=>2? #FD95:6’Dk^2m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3@@<D]8@@8=6]4@>^3@@<D^23@FE^%960$2E2?:40'6CD6D]9E>=n:5lr$'H!v`z5=grQm“%96 $2E2?:4 '6CD6D[”k^2m H2D AF3=:D965 E9C66 564256D 28@ 2?5 2=>@DE :>>65:2E6=J D6E @77 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH];DE@C]@C8^DE23=6^cb_gecanD6Bl`RA2860D42?0E2304@?E6?EDQm2?8CJ 56>@?DEC2E:@?Dk^2m 2== @G6C E96 H@C=5[ D@>6 @7 E96> G:@=6?E]k^Am

kAmp J62C =2E6C[ :? `hgh[ xC2?’D DFAC6>6 =6256C[ E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]334]4@]F<^9:DE@CJ^9:DE@C:407:8FC6D^<9@>6:?:02J2E@==29]D9E>=QmpJ2E@==29 z9@>6:?:k^2m[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?JE:>6D]4@>^`hgh^_a^`e^H@C=5^:C2?:2?D\AC@E6DE\@G6C\32??65\3@@<]9E>=Qm:DDF65 2 72EH2k^2m[ @C C6=:8:@FD CF=:?8[ @C56C:?8 |FD=:>D E@ <:== E96 2FE9@C] q@C? :? x?5:2 E@ 2 |FD=:> 72>:=J[ 3FE 3J E96? 2 qC:E:D9 4:E:K6? =:G:?8 :? E96 &]z][ #FD95:6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?JE:>6D]4@>^`hh_^``^_c^>282K:?6^CFD95:6\:?\9:5:?8]9E>=QmH2D 7@C465 E@ 8@ :?E@ AC@E64E:G6 9:5:?8k^2m 7@C E96 8C62E6C A2CE @7 2 564256]k^Am

kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^abef_e^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_`g_h`f\`dga`h\?J2b3_];A8n:I=:3lC3\`]`]_U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>AjHlfdcU2>Aj7:El4=:AQ ^mk^Am

kAmp?8CJ 56>@?DEC2E@CD AC@E6DE 282:?DE E96 3@@< :? `hgh]k^Am

kAmk2 4=2DDlQD@FC46Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7=:4<C]4@>^A9@E@D^4C@>2^cadaecchcQm#@36CE rC@>2k^2m[ k2 4=2DDlQ=:46?D6Q 9C67lQ9EEAi^^4C62E:G64@>>@?D]@C8^=:46?D6D^3J\?4\D2^c]_^Qmrr q*\}r\$pk^2mk^Am

kAm(92E H2D — 2?5 DE:== :D — 369:?5 E9:D @FEC286nk^Am

k9am%96 4@?EC@G6CDJk^9am

kAm%96 3@@<[ “$2E2?:4 '6CD6D[” 8@6D E@ E96 962CE @7 |FD=:> C6=:8:@FD 36=:67D H96? #FD95:6[ :? 5C62> D6BF6?46D[ 492==6?86D 2?5 D@>6E:>6D D66>D E@ >@4< D@>6 @7 :ED >@DE D6?D:E:G6 E6?6ED]k^Am

kAm|FD=:>D 36=:6G6 E92E E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]@I7@C5:D=2>:4DEF5:6D]4@>^2CE:4=6^@AC^E`ad^6`dffQm!C@A96E |F92>>65k^2m H2D G:D:E65 3J E96 2?86= v:3C66= — v23C:6= :? t?8=:D9 — H9@[ @G6C 2 aa\J62C A6C:@5[ C64:E65 v@5’D H@C5D E@ 9:>] x? EFC?[ |F92>>65 C6A62E65 E96 H@C5D E@ 9:D 7@==@H6CD] %96D6 H@C5D H6C6 6G6?EF2==J HC:EE6? 5@H? 2?5 3642>6 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^F?:G6CD2=:DE7C:6?5D]@C8^D6==D]9E>=QmG6CD6Dk^2m 2?5 492AE6CD @7 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3@@<D]8@@8=6]4@>^3@@<D^23@FE^%960"FC02?]9E>=n:5la{>Dr:GgH2trQm"FC2?k^2m]k^Am

kAm#FD95:6’D ?@G6= E2<6D FA E96D6 4@C6 36=:67D] ~?6 @7 E96 >2:? 492C24E6CD[ v:3C66= u2C:D9E2[ 92D 2 D6C:6D @7 5C62>D :? H9:49 96 364@>6D 9:D ?2>6D2<6[ E96 2?86= k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E9@F89E4@]4@>^2?86=\;:3C66=\823C:6=\:?\:D=2>\a__c_b`Qmv:3C66=k^2m] x? E96D6 5C62>D[ v:3C66= 6?4@F?E6CD 2?@E96C 46?EC2= 492C24E6C :? H2JD E92E 649@ xD=2>’D EC25:E:@?2= 244@F?E @7 E96 2?86=’D 6?4@F?E6CD H:E9 |F92>>65]k^Am

kAm#FD95:6 49@@D6D 2 AC@G@42E:G6 ?2>6 7@C |F92>>65] %96 ?@G6=’D G6CD:@? @7 E96 !C@A96E :D 42==65 |29@F?5 — 2? 2=E6C?2E:G6 ?2>6 7@C |F92>>65 D@>6E:>6D FD65 5FC:?8 E96 |:55=6 p86D 3J r9C:DE:2?D H9@ 4@?D:56C65 9:> k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E6=68C2A9]4@]F<^4F=EFC6^3@@<D^hdabhgb^%96\$2E2?:4\'6CD6D\2?5\>6]9E>=Qm2 56G:=k^2m]k^Am

kAmx? 255:E:@?[ #FD95:6’D |29@F?5 AFED 9:D @H? H@C5D :?E@ E96 2?86= v:3C66=’D >@FE9 2?5 56=:G6CD 65:4ED E@ 9:D 7@==@H6CD E92E 4@?G6?:6?E=J 3@=DE6C 9:D D6=7\D6CG:?8 AFCA@D6D] tG6? E9@F89[ :? E96 3@@<[ |29@F?5’D 7:4E:@?2= D4C:36[ $2=>2? E96 !6CD:2?[ C6;64ED E96 2FE96?E:4:EJ @7 9:D >2DE6C’D C64:E2E:@?D[ 96 C64@C5D E96> 2D :7 E96J H6C6 v@5’D]k^Am

kAmk:>8 DC4lQ9EEADi^^:>286D]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^7:=6D^abc`cf^@C:8:?2=^7:=6\a_`g_gah\`hdb`h\G`GICA];A8n:I=:3lC3\`]`]_U2>AjBlcdU2>Aj2FE@l7@C>2EU2>AjHlfdcU2>Aj7:El4=:AQ ^mk^Am

kAmqC:E:D9 2FE9@C $2=>2? #FD95:6]k^Am

kAmk2 4=2DDlQD@FC46Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]7=:4<C]4@>^A9@E@D^e`gbg`dao}_e^`c`h`bd__e`QmuC@?E6:C2D 5@ !6?D2>6?E@k^2m[ k2 4=2DDlQ=:46?D6Q 9C67lQ9EEAi^^4C62E:G64@>>@?D]@C8^=:46?D6D^3J\D2^c]_^Qmrr q*\$pk^2mk^Am

kAmx? #FD95:6’D 3@@<[ $2=>2?[ 7@C 6I2>A=6[ 2EEC:3FE6D 46CE2:? 24EF2= A2DD286D :? E96 "FC2? E92E A=246 >6? “:? 492C86 @7 H@>6?” 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^BFC2?]4@>^c^bcQm8:G6 >6? E96 C:89Ek^2m E@ DEC:<6 H:G6D 7C@> H9@> E96J “762C 2CC@82?46[” E@ |29@F?5’D D6I:DE G:6HD]k^Am

kAm%9C@F89 |29@F?5[ #FD95:6 2AA62CD E@ 42DE 5@F3E @? E96 5:G:?6 ?2EFC6 @7 E96 "FC2?]k^Am

k9amr92==6?8:?8 C6=:8:@FD E6IEDnk^9am

kAmu@C >2?J |FD=:>D[ #FD95:6[ :? 9:D 7:4E:@?2= C6E6==:?8 @7 E96 3:CE9 @7 xD=2>’D <6J 6G6?ED[ :>A=:6D E92E[ C2E96C E92? v@5[ E96 !C@A96E |F92>>65 :D 9:>D6=7 E96 D@FC46 @7 C6G62=65 ECFE9D]k^Am

kAmx? #FD95:6’D 5676?D6[ D@>6 D49@=2CD 92G6 2C8F65 E92E 9:D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^;@FC?2=D]@A6?65:E:@?]@C8^6C62^chbQm“:CC6G6C6?E >@4<6CJ”k^2m :D :?E6?565 E@ 6IA=@C6 H96E96C :E :D A@DD:3=6 E@ D6A2C2E6 724E 7C@> 7:4E:@?] {:E6C2EFC6 6IA6CE k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HA]F4=2]65F^A6CD@?^8C68\CF3:?D@?^QmvC68 #F3:?D@?k^2m A@:?ED @FE E92E v:3C66= :D F?23=6 E@ 564:56 H92E :D C62= 2?5 H92E :D 2 5C62>]k^Am

kAm$:?46 E96 AF3=:42E:@? @7 “%96 $2E2?:4 '6CD6D[” #FD95:6 92D 2C8F65 E92E C6=:8:@FD E6IED D9@F=5 36 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^;@FC?2=D]@A6?65:E:@?]@C8^6C62^chbQm@A6? E@ 492==6?86k^2m] “(9J 42?’E H6 5632E6 xD=2>n” k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E968F2C5:2?]4@>^3@@<D^a_`d^;F=^ab^D2=>2?\CFD95:6\@?\:D=2>\H6\92G6\=62C?65\E96\HC@?8\=6DD@?DQm#FD95:6 D2:5 :? 2 a_`d :?E6CG:6Hk^2m] “xE :D A@DD:3=6 E@ C6DA64E :?5:G:5F2=D[ E@ AC@E64E E96> 7C@> :?E@=6C2?46[ H9:=6 36:?8 D<6AE:42= 23@FE E96:C :562D[ 6G6? 4C:E:4:D:?8 E96> 76C@4:@FD=J]”k^Am

kAm%9:D G:6H[ 9@H6G6C[ 4=2D96D H:E9 E96 G:6H @7 E9@D6 7@C H9@> E96 "FC2? :D E96 =:E6C2= H@C5 @7 v@5]k^Am

kAmp7E6C z9@>6:?:’D 562E9[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2C49:G6]?JE:>6D]4@>^HHH]?JE:>6D]4@>^3@@<D^hh^_c^`g^DA64:2=D^CFD95:6\7C66]9E>=QmxC2?’D 8@G6C?>6?E 2??@F?465k^2m :? `hhg E92E :E H@F=5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]334]4@>^?6HD^F<\`dhchagdQm?@E 42CCJ @FE 9:D 72EH2k^2m @C 6?4@FC286 @E96CD E@ 5@ D@] #FD95:6 ?@H =:G6D :? E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D 2?5 >2<6D C68F=2C AF3=:4 2AA62C2?46D]k^Am

kAm$E:==[ b_ J62CD =2E6C[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?JE:>6D]4@>^a_`e^_a^ab^H@C=5^>:55=662DE^:C2?D\92C5\=:?6\AC6DD\255D\E@\3@F?EJ\@?\D2=>2?\CFD95:6]9E>=QmE9C62ED 282:?DE 9:D =:76 A6CD:DEk^2m] p=E9@F89 >2DD AC@E6DED 92G6 DE@AA65[ E96 E96>6D 2?5 BF6DE:@?D C2:D65 :? 9:D ?@G6= C6>2:? 9@E=J 5632E65]k:>8 DEJ=6lQ3@C56Ci ?@?6 P:>A@CE2?Ej 3@I\D925@Hi ?@?6 P:>A@CE2?Ej >2C8:?i _ P:>A@CE2?Ej >2I\96:89Ei `AI P:>A@CE2?Ej >2I\H:5E9i `AI P:>A@CE2?Ej >:?\96:89Ei `AI P:>A@CE2?Ej >:?\H:5E9i `AI P:>A@CE2?Ej @A24:EJi _ P:>A@CE2?Ej @FE=:?6i ?@?6 P:>A@CE2?Ej A255:?8i _ P:>A@CE2?EjQ DC4lQ9EEADi^^4@F?E6C]E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^4@?E6?E^`_aba`^4@F?E]8:7n5:DEC:3FE@ClC6AF3=:D9\=:89E3@I\32D:4Q 2=ElQ%96 r@?G6CD2E:@?Q H:5E9lQ`Q 96:89ElQ`Q ^mk^Am

kAmk6>mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^AC@7:=6D^>JC:2>\C6?2F5\bcb_dgQm|JC:2> #6?2F5k^2m[ p77:=:2E65 u24F=EJ @7 r@?E6>A@C2CJ (@C=5 #6=:8:@?D[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^:?DE:EFE:@?D^F?:@?\:?DE:EFE6\2?5\F?:G6CD:EJ\bedbQm&?:@? x?DE:EFE6 U2>Aj &?:G6CD:EJk^2m]k^6>mk^Am

kAmk6>m%9:D 2CE:4=6 :D C6AF3=:D965 7C@> k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>Qm%96 r@?G6CD2E:@?k^2m F?56C 2 rC62E:G6 r@>>@?D =:46?D6] #625 E96 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E964@?G6CD2E:@?]4@>^H9J\D2=>2?\CFD95:6D\E96\D2E2?:4\G6CD6D\C6>2:?D\D@\4@?EC@G6CD:2=\564256D\27E6C\:ED\AF3=:42E:@?\`_aba`Qm@C:8:?2= 2CE:4=6k^2m]k^6>mk^Am