Iranian Foundation Rewards Attacker of Salman Rushdie, Sparks Controversy

Salman Rushdie:- An Iranian foundation has stirred controversy by awarding a plot of land to the man who led the deadly attack on British Indian author Salman Rushdie in 1989, in which several people were killed and many injured. The move has reignited debate over freedom of expression, religious tolerance, and state-sponsored terrorism in Iran and beyond.

According to local media, the 15th of Khordad Foundation, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), held a ceremony in Mashhad on Monday to honour Ebrahim Asgharzadeh, who was among the assailants who stormed Rushdie's publisher's office in London and stabbed its Japanese translator to death. Salman Rushdie-Salman Rushdie Asgharzadeh, who is reportedly a member of the Basij militia and a veteran of the Iran-Iraq war, was presented with a certificate of appreciation and a deed to a 1,000 square meter parcel of land in the north eastern province of Khorasan Razavi. The foundation, which is named after the date of the mass protests against the 1981 Iranian presidential election results, said in a statement that Asgharzadeh "served the cause of Islam and the Revolution by punishing the blasphemous writer and his accomplices." The statement also condemned Rushdie's book as "an insult to the Prophet Muhammad and the Islamic faith" and called for its banning worldwide. The move has been condemned by many human rights groups, literary organizations, and political figures, who have denounced it as a glorification of terrorism and a violation of international law. Rushdie himself tweeted that the award was a "disgraceful" act that showed Iran's "continued support for terrorism and religious intolerance." The United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) also issued a statement condemning the foundation's decision and calling on Iran to respect freedom of expression and stop supporting terrorist groups. "We remain committed to defending freedom of expression and the right to publish without fear of violence, intimidation or persecution," the statement read. However, some conservative and religious groups in Iran have praised the foundation's gesture and called for more actions against what they see as insults to Islam and its symbols. 

The IRGC, which is designated as a terrorist organization by several countries including the US, has long been accused of sponsoring attacks on dissidents, journalists, and foreigners inside and outside Iran.

Salman Rushdie-Salman Rushdie The Iranian government has not officially commented on the foundation's award to Asgharzadeh or Rushdie's novel. The Iranian embassy in London did not respond to a request for comment. For more updates keep visiting our website www.topstoriesworld.com where we provide unbiased, true and top stories of the world.