Yesterday was 14th of February, the day happens to be the 23rd anniversary of the historic fatwa or edict issued by the Father of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini (may his soul rest in peace) calling for execution of the Indian-born apostate Salman Rushdie, for writing the blasphemous novel The Satanic Verses, a few days after this devilish book spilled Muslim blood in India and Pakistan. We have prepared a special feature in this regard.

Islam, whose literary meaning is peace, submission to none but the Almighty Creator, and healthy way of life, is the culmination of the missions of all previous Prophets. In other words, Islam is the universal religion for all mankind that was revealed by God to the Last and Greatest of Divine Messengers, Prophet Mohammad (SAWA). Thus, Islam is the most perfect and most comprehensive code for the guidance of all human beings irrespective of the superficial differences of race, colour of skin, languages spoken, social status, and geographical area of living. In view of these undeniable facts, the practical implementation of the tenets of Islam in society ensures security and saves people from waywardness, oppression, exploitation of others, corruption, physical abuse, psychological trauma, and various devilish designs including drugs, promiscuity, unnatural relations between the same gender, and insulting of the sanctities in the name of freedom of expression. To check and counter-check such ills and sins in society, Islam has instituted dynamic punishments that serve as deterrence against evil and thus safeguards the life, property and beliefs of mankind. One such law calls for execution of an apostate born and raised as a Muslim, while in the case of an apostate, who is a convert to Islam from another faith, the law differs.

In accordance with the laws of God for betterment of the society, Imam Khomeini issued the death sentence against Salman Rushdie, who ever since is hiding in Britain in a bid to escape divine justice. Thus, the Muslim-born Rushdie who was commissioned by the enemies of Islam and humanity to write the sacrilegious book in which he has insulted the Prophets of God, rightly deserves the death sentence, irrespective of whether he repents of his sin or not, since in his case any repentance is a matter solely concerning divine mercy in afterlife, depending on the sincerity of intention. These factors indicate the dynamism of Islamic laws, violation of which has brought nothing but endless shame and ignominy for Rushdie and his backers, who have tried in vain to tarnish the image of Islam. As a matter of fact, it were the Zionists who commissioned Rushdie to write the devilish book ‘The Satanic Verses’ in 1988 by portraying imaginary characters that bear resemblance to the Prophet, his companions and some of his wives, in the form of a novel. Although he has hasn’t used the name of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) in his blasphemous work, Rushdie has not only explicitly mentioned the names of some of the Prophet’s wives and companions in foul language, but has openly insulted Prophet Abraham by name in obscene language. This is not just an affront to Muslims but also to devoted Christians and Jews, and clearly shows the handiwork of the Godless Zionists.

Thanks to Imam Khomeini’s dynamic fatwa the plot of the enemies of Islam failed, and today Rushdie, continues to live in hiding. Recently, when he tried to visit India to attend the Literary Festival in Jaipur, where he intended to read parts of his blasphemous novel, the Muslims of India and other conscientious people strongly objected. As a result of the protests, his visit was cancelled, and he could not visit the country in which he was born and where he is intensely hated for his cardinal sin. The Zionist-controlled western media along with segments of the Indian press that are against Muslims tried to make an issue out of it. They, however, failed as the Indian government said it cannot protect his wretched life. This shows the effectiveness of the Late Imam’s fatwa and the endless ignominy Rushdie suffers. It is a shame indeed for the British regime as well, in view of the fact that conscientious English writers, such as Thomas Carlyle, Edward Gibbons and others, have all admitted the peerless personality of the Prophet of Islam by paying him glowing tributes. This is while, the present authorities ruling Britain, have sold themselves to the Zionists, or properly to the devil, by using the British taxpayers’ money to obstruct the course of justice against Rushdie. Today Islam is the world’s fastest growing religion, which means blasphemous incidents like Rushdie’s writing of The Satanic Verses or last year’s burning of copies of the holy Qur’an by some ungodly elements in the US, will have no effect on the rapid growth of this rational faith. Islam is the religion of peace, and the Imam’s fatwa, which is irrevocable, has drawn the permanent line between truth and falsehood.