Salman Rushdie

Sir Ahmed Salman Rushdie is the controversial author of the book The Satanic Verses. The book has angered many Muslims who believe that Rushdie's portrayal of the Prophet Muhammad (an illustration of a legend surrounding the prophet) is 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 declared a fatwa on Rushdie, mandating his execution under Islamic law. Because of this, Rushdie was forced to live under police protection for many years.

Rushdie was knighted in his adopted country of the United Kingdom in June of 2007.