DATE= OCTOBER 17, 1998
TYPE= EDITORIAL
NUMBER= 0-08010
TITLE= EDITORIAL: IRANIANS STILL THREATEN RUSHDIE
CONTENT=THIS IS THE ONLY EDITORIAL BEING RELEASED FOR BROADCAST
OCTOBER 17, 1998.
ANNCR:
THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE
VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF
THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT.
VOICE:
AS THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS MAKES CLEAR,
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT. IT IS REPUGNANT
THAT ANYONE SHOULD BE PERSECUTED SIMPLY FOR EXPRESSING HIS
OPINIONS -- HOWEVER OFFENSIVE. FOR THAT REASON, PEOPLE AROUND
THE WORLD WERE SHOCKED IN FEBRUARY 1989 WHEN THE LEADER OF IRAN
CALLED FOR THE MURDER OF A BRITISH AUTHOR. THE DECREE WAS ISSUED
BY AYATOLLAH RUHOLLAH KHOMEINI AGAINST SALMAN RUSHDIE, WHOSE
NOVEL, THE SATANIC VERSES, OFFENDED MANY MUSLIMS. A BOUNTY WAS
OFFERED TO ANYONE WHO COULD CARRY OUT THE MURDER.
BECAUSE OF THE IRANIAN DEATH THREAT, RUSHDIE WAS FORCED TO
REMAIN UNDER CONSTANT GUARD. AND OTHERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE
SATANIC VERSES WERE VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE, INCLUDING A JAPANESE
TRANSLATOR WHO WAS STABBED TO DEATH IN 1991.
LAST MONTH, NEARLY A DECADE AFTER THE DEATH DECREE WAS
ISSUED, IRANIAN OFFICIALS SAID THEY WANTED TO PUT THE MATTER
BEHIND THEM. PRESIDENT MOHAMMAD KHATAMI SAID, "WE SHOULD
CONSIDER THE SALMAN RUSHDIE ISSUE AS COMPLETELY FINISHED."
FOREIGN MINISTER KAMAL KHARRAZI SAID THAT, "THE GOVERNMENT OF THE
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN HAS NO INTENTION, NOR IS IT GOING TO
TAKE ANY ACTION WHATSOEVER, TO THREATEN THE LIFE OF THE AUTHOR OF
THE SATANIC VERSES OR ANYBODY ASSOCIATED WITH HIS WORK, NOR WILL
IT ENCOURAGE OR ASSIST ANYBODY TO DO SO."
THESE ARE WELCOME COMMENTS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE DEATH DECREE
ITSELF STILL STANDS. MOREOVER, AN IRANIAN FOUNDATION RECENTLY
INCREASED THE BOUNTY OFFERED FOR RUSHDIE'S DEATH. INCITING
MURDER AND OFFERING A BOUNTY FOR IT ARE ABHORRENT AND
INCONSISTENT WITH BASIC PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN RIGHTS. THE BOUNTY
SHOULD BE REVOKED.
ANNCR:
THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED
STATES GOVERNMENT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE,
PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, VOICE OF AMERICA, WASHINGTON, D-C,
20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO SEND US A FAX AT (202) 619-1043.
YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE USED ON THE AIR.
16-Oct-98 11:18 AM EDT (1518 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
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