Salman Rushdie and Khomeini’s Outrage

As American writers we believe in free speech, and defend Salman Rushdie’s right to publish his books without fear of physical reprisal.

Although many Muslims are genuinely distressed and offended by Rushdie’s book, they should be equally outraged by the terrorist fanatics in Iran who have put a bounty on his head. Islam teaches moderation. The bullying actions of Khomeini and other fundamentalist clerics who have offered money to murder an author is a greater outrage than anything Rushdie may have written.

If Rushdie’s book is offensive to Muslims, they have the right to protest against it, to write letters of complaint to his publishers, to shun him or despise him in any way they want. But to threaten to kill him or bomb his publishers is an immoral act, an affront to democratic principles, and to international law.

We believe that freedom of expression is the very atmosphere of democracy, the cornerstone of our liberty. The principle at stake here is an important one to us, for as writers we exercise it every day of our lives. We are not judging the merits or defects of Rushdie’s book, but are voicing the sentiments of John Stuart Mill, who said: “If all mankind, minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, then he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind.”

Signed by 14 Orange County writers:

JEROME ROTH

San Juan Capistrano

FRANK McADAMS

Dana Point

DOUGLAS MUIR

Balboa Island

BERNARD HIMES

T. JEFFERSON PARK

Laguna Beach

ANN and EVAN MAXWELL

E.M. NATHANSON

Laguna Niguel

ROBERT J. RAY

OAKLEY HALL

GWYNETH CRAVENS

TED SOLOTAROFF

Irvine

TED TAYLOR

Laguna Beach

McDONALD HARRIS

Newport Beach