The Satanic Verses (book)
Artist: Salman Rushdie
Year: 1989
Date of Action: February 1989
Region: Middle East
Location: Iran
Subject: Religion
Medium: Literature
Confronting Bodies: Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini of Iran
Description of Artwork: The Satanic Verses is an extremely controversial novel written by Salman Rushdie. The book is set in a modern world and begins with a terrorist bombing on a London-bound jet while inflight. Two Indian men fall to earth and are transformed into living symbols for what is good and what is evil. The book uses elements of magical realism to tell the story of the two men and their return to India.
The Incident: Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was extremely offended by the book and deemed it an attack on Islam. The Teheran radio quoted Khomeini asking Muslims to execute the author and publishers of the blasphemous book. He said that carrying out this order would make these people martyrs. This statement lead to numerous violent protests and forceful action, causing many injuries and a number of deaths.
Results of Incident: Not provided yet.
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