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Iran Repudiates Salman Rushdie Death ThreatIt has been nearly 10 years since librarians, publishers, and booksellers joined to denounce the death threat imposed on Salman Rushdie by the Ayatollah Khomeini. On September 24, Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Khatami announced Iran "has no intention, nor is it going to take any action whatsoever, to threaten the life of the author of The Satanic Verses or anybody associated with his work, nor will it encourage or assist anybody to do so." An Iranian foundation, however, continues to offer a $2.5-million bounty for the death of Rushdie, whose book was seen as blasphemous by many Muslims. Association of American Publishers President Patricia Schroeder issued a statement calling for the bounty to be withdrawn. Judith Krug, director of the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom, said that "Despite the efforts to suppress totally the thoughts and ideas presented in the book, Rushdie's work has never left America's libraries and bookstores. For 10 years it has been a symbol of our commitment to free expression." Posted October 5, 1998. |
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