By DEAN NELSON - THE TELEGRAPH
Added: Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:52:57 UTC

Sir Salman Rushdie faces the threat of reprisals from Indian Muslims after a leading Islamic institute demanded the government ban his scheduled appearance at the Jaipur Literature Festival.

Sir Salman was forced into hiding after Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa for his execution
Photo: AFP

The demand from the Islamic body revived divisions over 'The Satanic Verses,' his 1988 novel that Muslim groups have condemned as blasphemous.

The Rajasthan festival later this month is due to host leading writers and playwrights, including Annie Proulx, Ben Okri, David Hare and Richard Dawkins.

Fatwas from the Darul Uloom seminary in Deoband are observed throughout the world. Its vice chancellor said tens of millions of muslims remain 'hurt' the novel.

The Statanic Verses provoked outrage throughout the Muslim world over the narrator's claim that disputed verses in the Koran had been revealed by the Archangel Gabriel.

Sir Salman was forced into hiding after Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa for his execution. India was one of the many countries which banned the book.
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TAGGED: ISLAM