'Religion deserves our fearless disrespect': Salman Rushdie condemns Charlie Hebdo attack as a sign of the 'deadly mutation in the heart of Islam'
Author's book The Satanic Verses prompted Iranian clergy to issue fatwa
He spoke after massacre by suspected Al Qaeda militants in Paris
Mr Rushdie said that he 'stands with Charlie Hebdo to defend art of satire'
By Stephanie Linning for MailOnline
Published: 16:14 EST, 7 January 2015 | Updated: 20:21 EST, 7 January 2015
Author Salman Rushdie, whose book 'The Satanic Verses' prompted Iranian clergy to issue a death fatwa on him, has condemned the attack on the Paris offices of satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo.
Speaking in support of the publication, which had its old offices burned down after printing cartoons that mocked the Prophet Muhammad, Mr Rushdie said 'religion deserves our fearless disrespect'.
He added that the strike by suspected Al Qaeda militants, which left 12 dead, was a sign of the 'deadly mutation in the heart of Islam.'
Mr Rushdie was named alongside Staphane Charbonnier, the newspaper's editor, on Al Qaeda's 'most wanted' list last year.
This morning 12 people - including four of France's most revered cartoonists - were executed by masked attackers brandishing Kalashnikovs, who burst into the Charlie Hebdo headquarters.
The militants opened fire on staff after seeking out journalists by name.
Witnesses said the suspected Al Qaeda gunmen were heard to shout 'the Prophet has been avenged' and 'Allahu akbar!' – Arabic for 'God is great' – as they stalked the building.
They headed straight for the paper's editor and cartoonist, Stephane Charbonnier, killing him and his police bodyguard.
The security had been recruited to protect him after extremists firebombed the offices in 2011 over a satirical cartoon about the Prophet Mohammed.
A year later, Mr Charbonnier famously dismissed threats against his life, declaring: 'I would rather die standing than live kneeling.'
The militants also killed three other renowned cartoonists – men who had regularly satirised Islam – and the newspaper's deputy chief editor. They shot two policemen as they left the building.
In a statement yesterday, Mr Rushdie said: 'Religion, a mediaeval form of unreason, when combined with modern weaponry becomes a real threat to our freedoms.
'This religious totalitarianism has caused a deadly mutation in the heart of Islam and we see the tragic consequences in Paris today.
'I stand with Charlie Hebdo, as we all must, to defend the art of satire, which has always been a force for liberty and against tyranny, dishonesty and stupidity.
MORE
Read more:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2900976/Salman-Rushdie-condemns-Charlie-Hebdo-attack-sign-deadly-mutation-heart-Islam.html#ixzz3OKoc3xXE Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
