The notorious death fatwa that began to awaken the world to the nature of Islamic Sharia “” although most still slumber “” is still in effect. Even less well known is the fact that all “apostates” from Islam labor under the same death sentence, and that Islamic law mandates second-class status for non-Muslims and women. “Iran adamant over Rushdie fatwa,” from the BBC, with thanks to Twostellas:
Iran’s hard-line Revolutionary Guards have declared the death sentence on British author Salman Rushdie is still valid – 16 years after it was issued.
The military organisation, loyal to Iran’s supreme leader – said the order was “irrevocable” on the eve of the anniversary of the 1989 fatwa.
The order was issued after publication of Mr Rushdie’s novel “The Satanic Verses”, condemned as blasphemous.
Iran’s reformist government has in the past distanced itself from the fatwa.
The Revolutionary Guards, who answer directly to Iran’s current Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said: “This statement, while stressing the irrevocability of the death verdict against Salman Rushdie, says history shows that the Muslims have in no era accepted their sanctities being defiled.”
“The day will come when they will punish the apostate Rushdie for his scandalous acts and insults against the Koran and the Prophet (Mohammed),” they said, two days before the anniversary of the order.