SHAFAQNA –
Iran boycotted the forthcoming Frankfurt book fair because organizers have invited Salman Rushdie, one of the most hated figures in the Islamic world, to deliver his speech at the opening press conference.
In response to this anti-Islamic act, Iran’s Ministry for Culture and Islamic Guidance released a statement and called on other Muslim nations to join the boycott.
“Frankfurt International Book Fair under the pretext of freedom of speech, invited one of the most hated figures in the Islamic world, Salman Rushdie, to make a speech at the event and to present his last book,” the statement said.
“It is unfortunate that the organizers of this event are serving anti-Islamic elements and Zionists and try to hurt the feelings of Muslims all over the world,” the statement added.
“Iran’s Ministry for Culture and Islamic Guidance on behalf of the great nation that has always been respectful toward other religions and cultures, and despite its readiness and spending lots of money, condemns this act and refuses to take part in this event. We also call on other Islamic countries to take a strong stance against the issue,” the statement said at the end.
Rushdie, an apostate Muslim and British citizen who lives in the US, was made subject of a 1988 fatwa (religious edict) that called for his killing after his fourth novel, The Satanic Verses, was published. The Islamic republic’s founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, issued the order after he and many others in the Muslim world said Rushdie had depicted Muslim prophet Muhammad irreverently.
Sources – ABNA