February 14 marks 25 years since Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini called for the death of author Salman Rushdie over his novel "The Satanic Verses." Here Rusdhie and wife Marianne Wiggins talk after going into hiding in February 1989.
Salman Rushdie and 'The Satanic Verses' —
February 14 marks 25 years since Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini called for the death of author Salman Rushdie over his novel "The Satanic Verses." Here Rusdhie and wife Marianne Wiggins talk after going into hiding in February 1989.
Terry Smith//Time Life Pictures/Getty Images
Thousands of people demonstrate in Tehran after the religious decree, or fatwa, was issued by Ayatollah Khomeini calling Rushdie a blasphemer and his book "The Satanic Verses" an insult on Islam and the Prophet Muhammad, therefore condemned to death.
Salman Rushdie and 'The Satanic Verses' —
Thousands of people demonstrate in Tehran after the religious decree, or fatwa, was issued by Ayatollah Khomeini calling Rushdie a blasphemer and his book "The Satanic Verses" an insult on Islam and the Prophet Muhammad, therefore condemned to death.
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Reporters stand outside Rushdie's London home on February 16, 1989, as a police officer watches from across the street.
Salman Rushdie and 'The Satanic Verses' —
Reporters stand outside Rushdie's London home on February 16, 1989, as a police officer watches from across the street.
Peter Kemp/AP
A shop assistant places a copy of "The Satanic Verses" onto a bookshelf in a London bookshop on February 16, 1989. The shop took delivery of 20 copies in the morning and sold out in a few hours. High sales of the book aided Rushdie's ability to stay hidden.
Salman Rushdie and 'The Satanic Verses' —
A shop assistant places a copy of "The Satanic Verses" onto a bookshelf in a London bookshop on February 16, 1989. The shop took delivery of 20 copies in the morning and sold out in a few hours. High sales of the book aided Rushdie's ability to stay hidden.
Tony White/AP
American authors Susan Sontag, left, Gay Talese, E L Doctorow and Norman Mailer are seated at Writers In Support of Salman Rushdie, New York City on February 22, 1989. Sontag was the president of PEN American Center and rallied American writers to support Rushdie.
Salman Rushdie and 'The Satanic Verses' —
American authors Susan Sontag, left, Gay Talese, E L Doctorow and Norman Mailer are seated at Writers In Support of Salman Rushdie, New York City on February 22, 1989. Sontag was the president of PEN American Center and rallied American writers to support Rushdie.
Sara Krulwich/New York Times Co./Getty Images
The Riverdale Press office was firebombed on February 28, 1989, in the Riverdale section of the Bronx in New York. The bombing took place shortly after the newspaper published an editorial that supported the public's right to read "The Satanic Verses."
Salman Rushdie and 'The Satanic Verses' —
The Riverdale Press office was firebombed on February 28, 1989, in the Riverdale section of the Bronx in New York. The bombing took place shortly after the newspaper published an editorial that supported the public's right to read "The Satanic Verses."
Yvonne Hemsey/Getty Images
A demonstration against Rushdie and his novel takes place in Paris in November 1989.
Salman Rushdie and 'The Satanic Verses' —
A demonstration against Rushdie and his novel takes place in Paris in November 1989.
Mohamed LOUNES/GAMMA/Getty Images
Rushdie poses in the hall of the the Defense Arch in La Defense, a suburb or Paris, on March 18, 1993. It was Rushdie's first visit to France since the call for his death.
Salman Rushdie and 'The Satanic Verses' —
Rushdie poses in the hall of the the Defense Arch in La Defense, a suburb or Paris, on March 18, 1993. It was Rushdie's first visit to France since the call for his death.
AFP/AP
Rushdie appears on stage with Bono from the band U2 on August 11, 1993, at Wembley Stadium in London. With the author in hiding, the band invited him to appear as an act of solidarity.
Salman Rushdie and 'The Satanic Verses' —
Rushdie appears on stage with Bono from the band U2 on August 11, 1993, at Wembley Stadium in London. With the author in hiding, the band invited him to appear as an act of solidarity.
Andrew Murray/Sygma/Corbis
Rushdie answers questions on November 24, 1993, during a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington. Later that day, Rushdie met with President Bill Clinton.
Salman Rushdie and 'The Satanic Verses' —
Rushdie answers questions on November 24, 1993, during a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington. Later that day, Rushdie met with President Bill Clinton.
Joe Marquette/AP
Rushdie arrives at London's Central Hall on Thursday September 7, 1995, to participate in a public forum "Writers Against the State." Rushdie holds under his arm a copy of "the Moor's Last Sigh," his first major novel since "The Satanic Verses."
Salman Rushdie and 'The Satanic Verses' —
Rushdie arrives at London's Central Hall on Thursday September 7, 1995, to participate in a public forum "Writers Against the State." Rushdie holds under his arm a copy of "the Moor's Last Sigh," his first major novel since "The Satanic Verses."
Rebecca Naden/AP
Rushdie, here with Martin Amis, won the 1995 Author of the Year award on February 9, 1996.
Salman Rushdie and 'The Satanic Verses' —
Rushdie, here with Martin Amis, won the 1995 Author of the Year award on February 9, 1996.
Dave M. Benett/Getty Images
Rushdie and Danish Prime Minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen talk to the press at Christiansborg Castle in Copenhagen on November 13, 1996. Rushdie traveled to Copenhagen to receive a literary award after the Danish government canceled earlier plans because of a threat to Rushdie's life.
Salman Rushdie and 'The Satanic Verses' —
Rushdie and Danish Prime Minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen talk to the press at Christiansborg Castle in Copenhagen on November 13, 1996. Rushdie traveled to Copenhagen to receive a literary award after the Danish government canceled earlier plans because of a threat to Rushdie's life.
Bjarke Oersted/AP
British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook listens to Salman Rushdie during a press conference in February 1998, the ninth anniversary of the fatwa by Iran.
Salman Rushdie and 'The Satanic Verses' —
British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook listens to Salman Rushdie during a press conference in February 1998, the ninth anniversary of the fatwa by Iran.
JOHNNY EGGITT/AFP/Getty Images
Rushdie takes an early morning stroll in the company of several security guards in London on September 25, 1998 -- his first day in nine years without a state-sponsored threat on his life. Iran distanced itself from a religious edict against Rushdie in order to resume diplomatic relations with the UK.
Salman Rushdie and 'The Satanic Verses' —
Rushdie takes an early morning stroll in the company of several security guards in London on September 25, 1998 -- his first day in nine years without a state-sponsored threat on his life. Iran distanced itself from a religious edict against Rushdie in order to resume diplomatic relations with the UK.
JOHNNY EGGITT/AFP/Getty Images
Rushdie and girlfriend Padma Lakshmi walk along Madison Avenue in New York on March 30, 2000.
Salman Rushdie and 'The Satanic Verses' —
Rushdie and girlfriend Padma Lakshmi walk along Madison Avenue in New York on March 30, 2000.
Arnaldo Magnani/Hulton Archive/Getty Images