Rushdie cancels India visit after death threats

[Dawk]

The great novelist just can't be left alone.

Salman Rushdie will not attend a literature festival in India after authorities warned the controversial author he was a potential target of assassins at the event.

Opposition from some Indian Muslim groups erupted this month after Rushdie was invited to attend Asia's largest literature festival, and senior Muslim leaders called on the government to prevent the 65-year-old author from entering the country.

Of course people are just going to blame him for stirring the pot and not the thugs who threaten him. Pricks.

[Darwinsbulldog]

Originally Posted by Dawk

The great novelist just can't be left alone.

Of course people are just going to blame him for stirring the pot and not the thugs who threaten him. Pricks.

bastards, arn't they?

[Mithridates]

This seems particularly ironic to me, as earlier today in Melbourne, I was handed a small folded pamphlet which was headed "Peace, Loyalty, Equality, Freedom, Respect".

When I opened it, it turned out to be from the "Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Australia", proclaiming that "Islam is Peace".

One of the bolded sub-headings was "Protecting the Sanctity of Life", which informed me that "Islam emphasises the sanctity of life and unequivocally rejects violence and terrorism in any form (including suicide bombings) and for any reason (my bolding). All Muslims must promote peace at every level and shun hatred and discord."

I think Mr Rushdie would be very surprised to learn this.

Regards

Mithridates

[Dawk]

Cheers for the link, TIMB.

Rushdie has weighed in on the issue, stating he does indeed believe it to be an underworld plot:

"I've investigated, & believe that I was indeed lied to. I am outraged and very angry," Rushdie said on Twitter after newspaper reports that Rajasthan police had concocted the death threat.

[Logic please]

Originally Posted by Dawk

Rushdie has weighed in on the issue, stating he does indeed believe it to be an underworld plot (my emphasis)

Hmmm, I read your linked article somewhat differently. Salman Rushdie's twitter feed apparently no longer refers to an "underworld plot" at all, just:

Originally Posted by Salman Rushdie twitter

Here's the story. Astonishing. The Hindu : News / National : ‘Rajasthan police invented plot to keep away Rushdie' http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2820796.ece
22 Jan

The linked local news article on twitter also only refers to "local intelligence officials", AFAIK. Even the names of the alleged *intended hitmen* appear to have been concocted.

Unless there's evidence that "underworld figures" were conspiring with intelligence officials?

[Dawk]

@LP

Sorry, a bit of a slip there. I meant to say the story was concocted to look like an underworld plot. He believes the story was made up by the police, and not underworld figures. My apologies.

[Logic please]

Originally Posted by Dawk

@LP

Sorry, a bit of a slip there. I meant to say the story was concocted to look like an underworld plot. He believes the story was made up by the police, and not underworld figures. My apologies.

No worries Dawk.

Your post and the articles/reports seemed directly at odds on this point, so the possiblity of an inadvertent "typo" also crossed my mind. Thanks for clarifying.

[Dawk]

Update: Rushdie was instead scheduled to give his address via video link, but this now has also been cancelled.

There is still speculation over death threats, but organisers have also decided to cancel the address over growing unrest brought by Muslim protests.