abstract:The Satanic Verses is Salman Rushdie's fourth novel, first published in 1988 and inspired in part by the life of Muhammad. As with his previous books, Rushdie used magical realism and relied on contemporary events and people to create his characters.
Twenty years ago, Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomenei issued a fatwa, or religious edict, calling on the faithful to kill author Salman Rushdie, a British citizen, over his book The Satanic Verses.
VOA: standard.2009.07.02
Sir Salman is considered a controversial figure in India where his 1988 book TheSatanicVerses remains banned.