Salman Rushdie
Why are not Western religious leaders expressing outrage at Iran’s renewal of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s fatwa (death edict) against Rushdie?
Back in 1989, they condemned Rushdie for offending the religious sensibilities of Muslims. They made no or only a weak condemnation of Khomeini’s action.
They are repeating that “circle the wagons” mentality that says “an offense to any religious sensibility is an offense to all,” despite the fact that their own teachings about religions not their own, including Islam, are as offensive as can be made!
Moderate Islamic authorities have done nothing to question or to oppose Khomeini’s edict. This makes their claims that Islam supports human rights and democracy a mockery.
Only the governments of Britain and Germany have taken steps to oppose Iran in this matter, and they deserve our support.
KENNETH H. BONNELL
Vice President, Atheists United
Sherman Oaks
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