IRGC Commander-In-Chief Gen. Salami Threatens Charlie Hebdo: Look What Happened To Rushdie; Sooner Or Later, We Will Exact Our Revenge; Arresting Or Killing The Avengers Will Not Bring Back The People Who Will Be Killed

IRGC Commander-in-Chief General Hossein Salami said in a January 14, 2023 public address in which he spoke about the publication of cartoons mocking Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei by French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, that the Muslims will "sooner or later" exact revenge, like they had against author Salman Rushdie. He added: "Do not mess with the Muslims." General Salami’s address aired on Hamoon TV (Iran).

Hossein Salami: "With regard to the issue of Charlie Hebdo, I refer the French people and the executives of this institution to the fate of Salman Rushdie. Look, do not mess with the Muslims.

"More than 30 years ago, Salman Rushdie insulted the Quran and acted with insolence towards the Prophet of Islam. Following that, they kept him in dreadful hiding places.

"Ultimately, however, after 30 years, a young zealous Muslim exacted courageous revenge on him. Salman Rushdie will never be back. Now you [at Charlie Hebdo] have made this big mistake. No matter when, sooner or later, the Muslims will exact revenge. Say: 'Allah Akbar!'"

Audience: "Allah Akbar! Allah Akbar!"

Salami: "Perhaps, you will arrest the avengers or turn them into martyrs, but this will not bring back the dead, the people who are killed, no matter what. It does not matter when this will take place. It will be done so that no one, anywhere in the world, will dare to harm the sanctities of the Muslims ever again."