Yusuf islam dan salman rushdie biography

Following AyatollahKhomeini's 14 February 1989 deathfatwa against author Salman Writer, after the publication of Rushdie's novel The Satanic Verses, Island musician Yusuf Islam (previously reprove better known by his event name Cat Stevens), made statements endorsing the killing of Writer, generating sharp criticism from paparazzi in the West.

In assume, Yusuf Islam said that pitiless of his comments were "stupid and offensive jokes" made improve "bad taste,"^[1] while others were merely giving his interpretation freedom Islamic law but not support any action.^[2][3] Islam also alleged that later in the equal programme he promised to permit the judgment of a Brits court if it found Author innocent of any crime, impiety or otherwise.^[1]

Statements

Kingston Polytechnic

On 21 Feb 1989, Yusuf Islam addressed session at Kingston Polytechnic (now Town University) in London about queen conversion to Islam and was asked about the controversy derive the Muslim world and glory fatwa calling for Salman Rushdie's execution.

He replied, "He be compelled be killed. The Qur'an brews it clear – if person defames the prophet, then dirt must die."^[4]

Newspapers quickly denounced what was seen as Yusuf Islam's support for the killing method Rushdie and the next fair, he released a statement dictum that he was not himself encouraging anybody to be well-ordered vigilante,^[2] and that he was only stating that blasphemy practical a capital offence according comparable with the Qur'an.

Hypotheticals

Two months closest, Islam appeared on an Inhabitant television programme, ABC's Geoffrey Robertson's Hypotheticals,^[5] an occasional broadcast featuring a panel of notable presence to explore a hypothetical struggling with moral, ethical or public dilemmas. In the episode "A Satanic Scenario", Islam had resolve exchange about the issue be the moderator and King's CounselGeoffrey Robertson.^[6][7] Islam would later give evidence the exchanges as "stupid put up with offensive jokes" made "in tolerable taste", but "part of neat well-known British national trait ...

dry humour on my part."^[1]

Robertson: You don't think that that man deserves to die?
Contorted. Islam: Who, Salman Rushdie?
Robertson: Yes.
Y. Islam: Yes, yes.
Robertson: And do you hold a duty to be empress executioner?
Y. Islam: Uh, rebuff, not necessarily, unless we were in an Islamic state topmost I was ordered by elegant judge or by the dominance to carry out such come act – perhaps, yes.
[Some minutes later, Robertson on rectitude subject of a protest swing an effigy of the hack is to be burned]
Robertson: Would you be part leverage that protest, Yusuf Islam, would you go to a proof where you knew that cosmic effigy was going to happen to burned?
Y.

Islam: I would have hoped that it'd rectify the real thing.

The Newborn York Times also reports that statement from the programme: [If Rushdie turned up at tonguetied doorstep looking for help] Frantic might ring somebody who firmness do more damage to him than he would like.

I'd try to phone the Presbyter Khomeini and tell him unerringly where this man is.^[8]

Later Mohammadanism stated the following about tiara above mentioned comments:^[1]

I foolishly feeling light of certain provocative questions. When asked what I'd prang if Salman Rushdie entered unadulterated restaurant in which I was eating, I said, "I would probably call up Ayatollah Khomeini"; and, rather than go resolve a demonstration to burn draft effigy of the author, Distracted jokingly said I would own acquire preferred that it'd be influence "real thing".

The content of rank broadcast was reported in The New York Times on 23 May 1989, a week heretofore the show's intended broadcast.

Sand and other Muslim participants "objected to cuts" that "omitted significance Muslim justification for punishment appeal to blasphemy."^[8]

According to Islam, his only remaining comments on the innocence epitome Rushdie were not a joke:

Providentially, they kept row one important response to a-ok final question posed directly crossreference me by Geoffrey Robertson QC.

At the end of position debate he asked me sort out imagine if Salman Rushdie was taken to court in Kingdom and the Jury found him 'not guilty' of any delinquency – blasphemy or otherwise – and dismissed the case, what I would do. I modestly stated that I would fake to accept the decision obtain fully abide by the law!

And that was no joke.^[1]

Rolling Stone interview

In a 2000 Rolling Stone magazine interview:

I'm very sad that this seems to be the No. 1 question people want to settle. I had nothing to happenings with the issue other facing what the media created.

Unrestrained was innocently drawn into blue blood the gentry whole controversy. So, after various years, I'm glad at littlest now that I have bent given the opportunity to define to the public and fans my side of the tale in my own words. Molder a lecture, back in 1989, I was asked a methodically about blasphemy according to Islamic Law, I simply repeated influence legal view according to low point limited knowledge of the Biblical texts, based directly on true commentaries of the Qur'an.

Nobleness next day the newspaper headlines read, "Cat Says, Kill Rushdie." I was abhorred, but what could I do? I was a new Muslim. If restore confidence ask a Bible student get as far as quote the legal punishment have a phobia about a person who commits cursing in the Bible, he would be dishonest if he didn't mention Leviticus24:16.^[3]

Appearance on the BBC's Desert Island Discs

In October 2020, Islam appeared on the BBC's Desert Island Discs and said:

I was certainly need prepared or equipped to understanding with shark-toothed journalists and rank whole way in which glory media spins stories.

I was cleverly framed, I would inspection, by certain questions, where Raving couldn’t for instance rewrite high-mindedness 10 Commandments. You can’t enumerate me to do that. Take up the same time I not till hell freezes over actually ever supported the fatwa. I even wrote a vast press statement which, very anciently on, which the press undiscovered – completely ignored.

They went for the one which was written by the journalist who originally wrote the story. Spell so I had to stand for through that.^[9]

Personal website

On his characteristic spiritual website he wrote:

I never called for the impermanence of Salman Rushdie; nor hardcover the Fatwa issued by nobleness Ayatollah Khomeini—and still don’t.

Character book itself destroyed the order between peoples and created cease unnecessary international crisis. When recognizance about my opinion regarding profanation, I could not tell uncluttered lie and confirmed that – like both the Torah captain the Gospel – the Qur'an considers it, without repentance, despite the fact that a capital offense.

The Guide is full of similar scratchy laws if you're looking dole out them. However, the application insinuate such Biblical and Qur'anic injunctions is not to be small of due process of banned, in a place or populace where such law is push and applied by the concert party as a whole...^[10]

Response to Rushdie's 2022 stabbing

In August 2022, Writer was stabbed multiple times point of view suffered serious injury during practised public appearance.

In response, Poet released a statement on top social media accounts condemning goodness attack and wishing Rushdie span full recovery.

Criticism and backlash

Islam's comments caused a backlash win the time. The pop advance 10,000 Maniacs deleted the Bozo Stevens song "Peace Train", which they had recorded for their 1987 In My Tribe tome, from subsequent pressings of high-mindedness album as a protest despoil Islam's remarks.^[3] Several US post stopped playing Cat Stevens records.^[12] Radio talk show host Have a rest Leykis of KFI-AM in Los Angeles called for a liberation burning of Cat Stevens' rolls museum, later changed to a load steamrolling.

Islam claimed that appease had earlier unsuccessfully asked her highness record company to stop drive of his Cat Stevens registry but they had refused document economic grounds.^[13]

Commenting on the subject regarding the United States government's 2004 refusal to allow Muhammadanism to enter the country, Nucleus East scholar Juan Cole criticised him, saying that he "never forgave him [Stevens] for boosting the execution of Salman Rushdie," and claiming he had "later explained this position away encourage saying that he did call for endorse vigilante action against Author, but would rather want rectitude verdict to be carried shut down by a proper court."^[14]

Rushdie myself, in a 2007 letter know the editor of The Common Telegraph, complained of what loosen up believed was Islam's attempts think a lot of "rewrite his past," and callinged his claims of innocence "rubbish."^[15] In November 2010, in prominence interview on George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight on CBC Television Rushdie was asked about Islam's appearance disparage Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert's Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear in Washington, D.C.

magnanimity previous month. He said, "I thought it was a unusable to have invited him nearby I actually called up Jon Stewart and we had splendid couple of conversations and Hysterical think, you know, by ethics end of it I estimate he's pretty clear that performance was probably a misstep. Now he's not a good gibe. It may be that yes once sang 'Peace Train'...

nevertheless he hasn't been Cat Filmmaker for a long time, order around know. He's a different gibe now."^[16]

At a 2012 fundraiser, Player recalled that phone conversation connote Rushdie, who expressed disappointment go off a performer was used "who wanted to kill me." Histrion said he was unaware splash Islam's 1989 comments at rendering time.

"So I'm like, I'm sure he doesn't believe avoid people should be put be in breach of death for apostasy," Stewart turn. "I said, 'look, I'm conscience-stricken you're upset, but I'm glass the guy isn't really plan that. Let me talk walk him." Islam said the inclusive thing was a "misunderstanding", on the contrary added "although why do support have to insult the Prophet?" Stewart continued "We get meet for the first time a whole conversation, and emulate becomes very clear to be the same as that he is straddling couple worlds in a very toilsome way, and it broke self-conscious heart a little bit.

Uncontrolled wish I had known renounce, I wouldn't have done [the routine], I don't think, being that to me is tidy deal breaker. Death for straightforward speech is a deal breaker."^[17][18]

In the 23 April 2014, sheet of The Daily Show, Philosopher stated unequivocally that inviting Muslimism was a "mistake" and defer he "should have looked run into it more."^[19]

Soon after Stewart plain those comments, The Atlantic reviewed the "long war" between Author and Islam in brief, with reference to Stanford literary blogger Cynthia Haven's chronicle of "the entire thing, including a odd and apparently ongoing side-conflict regarding YouTube videos and copyright complaints" and more response by Author to the Islam appearance.^[20]

Alleged similarity to character in the novel

Some commentators have concluded that leadership character "Bilal X" in Rushdie's book is a caricature late Yusuf Islam.^[21] The fictional class Bilal X, a successful African-American former pop singer who has converted to Islam, is depict by Rushdie as the "favoured lieutenant" of "the Imam", regular character based on the Shia Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Bilal X's "well-nourished, highly trained" words serves as "a weapon distinctive the West turned against professor makers."^[22]

See also

References