Tehran University Professor Dr. Mohammad-Sadegh Koushki: Salman Rushdie Has Been A Dead Man Walking Since Khomeini's Fatwa, Which Was Wisely Issued To Prevent Further Insult To Islam

Dr. Mohammad Sadegh Koushki from the Faculty of Law and Political Science at the University of Tehran said in an August 15, 2022 show on Ofogh TV (Iran) that British-American author Salman Rushdie, who survived a recent assassination attempt, has already been a "dead man walking" since Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued the fatwa calling for his death after the publication of The Satanic Verses. Dr. Koushki said that Rushdie has been unhappy, sleepless, and tormented since the fatwa was issued, and he praised Khomeini's "wisdom" in issuing the fatwa to prevent further insults to Islam. He also said that Rushdie will go to Hell, and that Khomeini's fatwa had merely been an articulation of the Islamic punishment for apostasy.

Dr. Mohammad Sadegh Koushki: "[Salman Rushdie] is dead. He died when Imam [Khomeini] declared this verdict. He has been a dead man walking. This person who says that life only exists in this world and when a person dies it's all over has been unable to sleep for 33 years, whether at night or during the day. Imam [Khomeini] caused this man to suffer and be tormented for 33 years. For 33 years, his life has been a living hell. He did not have a single moment of happiness. Take a look now. This [assassination attempt] took place, and it is none of my business who did this, but people like [Rushdie] who want to do such a stupid thing, will not dare from now on. Imam [Khomeini] had the wisdom to issue this verdict back then, so that such a thing would never repeat itself. [Rushdie] will go to hell — and it doesn't matter who did this... If he goes to Hell, we still don't want anyone to dare to do similar acts of insolence.

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"Look, we respond to ideas with ideas, but when insults are hurled, we respond according to the law. According to Islamic Law, apostates are sentenced to execution. As I have said earlier, 57 Muslim countries that were members in the Organization of Islamic Conference had ratified this verdict.

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"Some people say that Imam [Khomeini] sentenced [Rushdie] to death. No. He was sentenced to death by Islam, and the Imam only articulated this verdict."