The late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini has pronounced a fatwa in 1989 that called on Muslims to kill Salman Rushdie, the author of Satanic Verses. The book was considered by many Muslims to be blasphemous and its author to be an apostate. His book, which was published in 1988, had caused a storm of protest on its first publication, almost 20 years ago.

There had been book-burnings and riots, death threats and indeed actual deaths. A reward was offered of £1.6m to kill him. The book’s Italian translator was stabbed and his Norwegian publisher shot, but both survived.

However, its Japanese translator was stabbed to death, and another would-be assassin blew himself up, at a London hotel, with a Bond-like ‘book-bomb’ intended for Salman Rushdie. The author himself is still alive but for several years he was virtually kept under house arrest by the security services, for his own protection.

The first ever stage play based on The Satanic Verses was played in Germany on last Sunday 30th March 2008. There had been fears that Sunday’s play might become another flashpoint in tensions between Europe and the Muslim world. Although there were no threats of violence, police mounted guard at the theater as a precaution. No incident was reported.

This is pure provocation towards Muslims around the world.