Salman Rushdie
By Luis Felipe Miguel
The fatwa instituted against Salman Rushdie in 1989 symbolized the beginning of a new era of religious intolerance.
At the time, there was no shortage of those in the British Parliament preaching a love ban, which provoked the wrath of Ayatollah Khomeini.
Defense of freedom of expression declined. At that time mainly out of cowardice.
Then came other justifications, some allegedly “progressive” like those of all who, decades later, would blame the comedians of Charles Hebdo for the attack suffered.
I have no doubt that the right to blaspheme against any god, any religion is one of the greatest achievements of our civilization.
And it is very different from religious intolerance or incitement to hatred. It is the right not to believe and to publicly declare one’s disbelief.
(Draw what I mean: Salman Rushdie is not Michelle Bolsonaro. In fact, they are antipodes.)
The British writer has lived a dog’s life since the fatwa, hidden, always in fear. Rightly so, as today’s brutal attack proves.
I pray you resist. As I hope, but then with much less hope, that religious fanaticism will be banished from the world.