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His later novel ''The Satanic Verses'' aroused controversy, angering many radical [[Muslim]]s who believed that Rushdie's portrayal of the [[Prophet Muhammad]] (an illustration of a legend surrounding the prophet) was heretical and irreverent. Rushdie's book tells the story of original instructions from Muhammad that the Muslim people should worship three ancient pagan goddesses that had been worshiped in Mecca before the time of [[Islam]]. According to the story, Muhammad later recanted the verses, saying that the devil had persuaded him to add them as blasphemies. In 1989, [[Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini]] of [[Iran]] declared a [[fatwa]] on Rushdie, mandating his execution under Islamic law. Because of this, Rushdie was forced to live in fear for his life,  under police protection for more than a decade.

His later novel ''The Satanic Verses'' aroused controversy, angering many radical [[Muslim]]s who believed that Rushdie's portrayal of the [[Prophet Muhammad]] (an illustration of a legend surrounding the prophet) was heretical and irreverent. Rushdie's book tells the story of original instructions from Muhammad that the Muslim people should worship three ancient pagan goddesses that had been worshiped in Mecca before the time of [[Islam]]. According to the story, Muhammad later recanted the verses, saying that the devil had persuaded him to add them as blasphemies. In 1989, [[Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini]] of [[Iran]] declared a [[fatwa]] on Rushdie, mandating his execution under Islamic law. Because of this, Rushdie was forced to live in fear for his life,  under police protection for more than a decade.

Although Rushdie was born a Muslim, he has made many public comments in support of atheism. That, combined with his largely liberal politics, means his writing should be approached with caution by Conservatives and their families. After the terror attacks against the satirical magazine [[Charlie Hebdo]] he said: "Religion, a mediaeval form of unreason, when combined with modern weaponry becomes a real threat to our freedoms".<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2900976/Salman-Rushdie-condemns-Charlie-Hebdo-attack-sign-deadly-mutation-heart-Islam.html</ref> However Rushdie does not observe the danger of [[Millitant atheism]].

Although Rushdie was born a Muslim, he has made many public comments in support of atheism. That, combined with his largely liberal politics, means his writing should be approached with caution by Conservatives and their families. After the terror attacks against the satirical magazine [[Charlie Hebdo]] he said: "Religion, a mediaeval form of unreason, when combined with modern weaponry becomes a real threat to our freedoms".<ref>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2900976/Salman-Rushdie-condemns-Charlie-Hebdo-attack-sign-deadly-mutation-heart-Islam.html</ref> However Rushdie does not observe the danger of [[Militant atheism]].

Rushdie was knighted in his adopted country, the atheistic and socialist [[United Kingdom]], in June of 2007.

Rushdie was knighted in his adopted country, the atheistic and socialist [[United Kingdom]], in June of 2007.