[mazabotman]

Lucknow, Jan 21 (ANI): Muslims clerics have welcomed controversial author Salman Rushdie's decision not to visit India to attend the Jaipur Literary Festival.

Muslim cleric, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Mahali, said that Rushdie had written blasphemous material about Prophet Mohammad and Islam and that is why his visit was protested against.

"We had asked the Government of India to stop Salman Rushdie from coming to India because he had hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims. We used our democratic right for it. The Darul Uloom had also asked for a similar move from the government," Maulana told reporters here on Friday.

"We had also released a 'fatwa' (religious sermon) against him. Importantly, all the protests carried out by us were well within the law. No one had threatened to kill him. Anyway, whoever asked him not to come, be it the state government or the organizers, we welcome the fact that he is not coming," he added.

Salman Rushdie called off his visit to India for the Jaipur Literature Festival citing security grounds.

Festival organisers read out a statement by Rushdie on Friday, which said: "For several days I have made no public comments on this issue at the request of local authorities hoping that they would put in place arrangements to allow me to come and speak."

"But I have been informed by intelligence sources in Maharashtra and Rajasthan that paid assassins from Mumbai underworld might be on their way to eliminate me. While I have doubts about these intelligence inputs, it would be irresponsible for me to come and endanger the life of fellow authors and others," the statement added

Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband and various Muslim groups had earlier opposed his visit to the country.

India-born internationally acclaimed author had earned the wrath of Muslims worldwide due to the alleged blasphemous content in his novel "The Satanic Verses" which was published in 1988.

The novel, which was banned by India, had sparked outrage in the Muslim world, including a fatwa against him by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the Supreme Leader of Iran. (ANI)

[dodsCooggipsehome]

May ALLAH TA'AALA reward the ulama and all those who protested and spoke against him. Ameen.
Rushdie.... Arrrrggggghhhhh!!!