Back in 1988, the content of Salman Rushdie's book 'The Satanic Verses' received major backlash as the members of the Muslim community raised objections, claiming that it was blasphemous and offensive to the Islamic faith.
Over a month after Delhi Court overturned the ban on British author Salman Rushdie바카라™s controversial novel, The Satanic Verses in India, a few Muslim organisations in India have strongly condemned the renewed sale of the book while seeking a reimposition of the ban.
Back in 1988, the content of the book received major backlash as the members of the Muslim community raised objections, claiming that it was blasphemous and offensive to the Islamic faith.
After 36 long years, Rushdie's book returned to Indian market since it was banned by the Rajiv Gandhi government in 1988. Currently, a limited stock of the book is available at Bahrisons Booksellers in Delhi-NCR.
Expressing serious concern over the book's reappearance in India market following the Delhi HC ruling, Maulana Kaab Rashidi, legal advisor for the Uttar Pradesh unit of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind (AM) said, "If the freedom of expression hurts someone's sentiments, it is a legal offence. 'The Satanic Verses' is a blasphemous book. Selling such a controversial book under the pretext of freedom of expression cannot be accepted in any form. It goes against the spirit of the Constitution."
"The foundation of India's Constitution allows for freedom of expression, but it does not grant anyone the right to hurt sentiments. Resuming the sale of 'The Satanic Verses' is an attempt at provocation. It is the government's responsibility to stop this. If the government allows it, it would amount to shirking its constitutional duties", Rashidi further added.
"We urge the government to protect constitutional values and reinstate the ban on this book as it hurts the sentiments of a large section of the population. The government has taken an oath to uphold the Constitution, and banning this book is its duty," he said.
Maulana Yasub Abbas, general secretary of the All India Shia Personal Law Board, also criticised the renewed availability of the book, stating, "There is talk of lifting the ban after 36 years. On behalf of the Shia Personal Law Board, I appeal to the Indian government to ensure the ban remains firmly in place."
"The book mocks Islamic views, insults Prophet Muhammad and his companions, and hurts sentiments. Allowing its sale poses a threat to the country's harmony. I urge the prime minister to impose a complete ban on this book in India," he said.
Commenting on the same matter National President of the All India Muslim Jamaat Maulana Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi said,"The ban on The Satanic Verses had expired. Now, some publishers are planning to reprint the book in India. Back in 1988, Rajiv Gandhi's government immediately banned it, but now preparations are underway to reintroduce it in India after the expiration of the ban."
"This book insults Islam, Prophet Muhammad, and several Islamic figures. Its content is so offensive that it cannot be repeated. Allowing this book in the market will disturb the nation's atmosphere. No Muslim can tolerate seeing this hateful book on any bookstore shelf," Razvi added.
He demanded that the central government reimpose the ban and warned of significant protests from the Muslim community if the book becomes widely available.
Back in November, the Delhi Court overturned the ban on British author Salman Rushdie바카라™s controversial novel after authorities failed to produce the original notification banning it when hearing a petition challenging the ban. The HC said the notification must hence be presumed non-existent.
In 1988, the Congress government under Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had imposed a ban on the import of the book after members of the Muslim community raised objections, claiming that it was blasphemous and offensive to the Islamic faith.
Rushdie had responded to the ban saying the book wasn바카라™t actually about Islam, but about 바카라śmigration, metamorphosis, divided selves, love, death, London and Bombay.바카라ť
The book was also banned in several other countries, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, and Iran's Supreme Leader at the time, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, issued a fatwa ordering Muslims to kill Salman Rushdie.