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)
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Source: Voice of America
.