Salman Rushdie - Victim or Blasphemous?

Society Religion & Philosophy
1

Just the other day, I stumbled across a few sites that started talking about the works of Salman Rushdie. Some in a positive way, and some in a negative way. This reminded me about the whole thing that was going on with him, and how Iran issued a bounty (fatwa) for his head.

Now, this is my question, considering Muslims would understand this position than I ever would.

From what I understand, Salman Rushdie is a fictional author, and only wrote of fictional stories, which were clearly stated as being fictional, however using many themes and characters from the Q’uran.

Having said that, he just wrote books that were viewed as being controversial, but what I don’t understand is, even if they are controversial, or degrading (there are always one bad apple in a hundred!).

Why isn’t he allowed to express his own opinion in any sense, without having to fear death? He just wrote a popular books that were controversial, but if we were to put a bounty on everyone’s head who raises a controversial topic about Islam, we well know that half of India would have a bounty on their head, and Iran would be in a bounty defecit!

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/smile.gif

Having said that, doesn’t the Q’uran allow this freedom of speech, and contestment of the Q’uran? Because to contest the Q’uran is really the only way to understand it? (what I read in previous posts on this site) So, when a person like Rushdie comes around and tries to make Muslims and Islam look bad, shouldn’t you just compare his works and understand a furthur truth in Islam, and how wrong Rushdie actually is?

I am just amazed that one author like Rushdie could stir up so much problems, when there are NUMEROUS of books and authors who’ve wrote many controversial things about Hinduism and Sikhism also, but we do allow freedom of speech of those people, because we simply can distinguish the ignorant and misinformed from the true people who understand the religions..

By putting a bounty on his head, to me really seems like Islam’s or Iran’s desperate attempt and FEAR of exposition of Islam, even if the ideas and opinions are untrue! This seems like a really weak attempt, and just gives the American and Western Media another chance to portray Islam as a culture where it doesn’t allow people their own opinions without being executed for it, or being convicted of blasphemy! And I think, collectively, us non-muslims and muslims have had it with Americans!

give me your opinion!

Arai

2

**From what I understand, Salman Rushdie is a fictional author, and only wrote of fictional stories, which were clearly stated as being fictional, however using many themes and characters from the Q’uran.
**

I am not if this is true, I don’t think he ever wrote any fictional based on Quran before Senatic Verses.

** Having said that, he just wrote books that were viewed as being controversial, but what I don’t understand is, even if they are controversial, or degrading (there are always one bad apple in a hundred!).
**

** Why isn’t he allowed to express his own opinion in any sense, without having to fear death?

He just wrote a popular books that were controversial,

but if we were to put a bounty on everyone’s head who raises a controversial topic about Islam, we well know that half of India would have a bounty on their head, and Iran would be in a bounty defecit!

http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/smile.gif

Having said that, doesn’t the Q’uran allow this freedom of speech, and contestment of the Q’uran?

Because to contest the Q’uran is really the only way to understand it?
**

Islam and Quran give everyone a freedom of speech but with some boundaries to write. Islam and Quern does not allow portraying one’s religious leaders to such extent that it offensive. This is so that all the religion can live in harmony.

What Salman Rushdie did was writing such a commentary about the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H) that let alone the prophet, you even wont accept such commentary for your own close family members. I do not wish to quote verse from his book because I think they are absolutely rubbish and full of filth from his mind.

**
(what I read in previous posts on this site) So, when a person like Rushdie comes around and tries to make Muslims and Islam look bad, shouldn’t you just compare his works and understand a furthur truth in Islam, and how wrong Rushdie actually is?
**

We know true beauty of Islam anyway, we do not need comparing writing of rushdie to see it.

** I am just amazed that one author like Rushdie could stir up so much problems, when there are NUMEROUS of books and authors who’ve wrote many controversial things about Hinduism and Sikhism also, but we do allow freedom of speech of those people, because we simply can distinguish the ignorant and misinformed from the true people who understand the religions..

By putting a bounty on his head, to me really seems like Islam’s or Iran’s desperate attempt and FEAR of exposition of Islam, even if the ideas and opinions are untrue! This seems like a really weak attempt, and just gives the American and Western Media another chance to portray Islam as a culture where it doesn’t allow people their own opinions without being executed for it, or being convicted of blasphemy! And I think, collectively, us non-muslims and muslims have had it with Americans!
**

[This message has been edited by Insaaniat (edited October 20, 2000).]

3

First of all I have to admit, that I haven't read "The Satanic Verses", so I just know, the fractions told by the media. As a Muslim, I tought it was not right to encourage Salman Rushdie by buying or renting his book.
However, in my opinion the reaction of Iran and especially Ayatollah Khomeini was totally wrong. By putting the fatwa on him, he and his book were made popular. Without taking that step, Salman Rushdie wouldn't be famous at all.
I'm sure there have been a lot of books by various authors, that may be even more blasphemic against Islam or other religions than the "Satanic Verses" and nobody knows about them. In fact the "Satanic Verses" and together with it Salman Rushdie were made famous by the Irani leaders.

Umer, the Pakistani Brain of Austria