8.1.15

Religion is a “medieval form of unreason”: Salman Rushdie responds to Paris attacks - Salon.com

Religion is a “medieval form of unreason”: Salman Rushdie responds to Paris attacks - Salon.com

In a statement, the author defended satire
and called for "fearless disrespect" of all religions

Topics:
Salman Rushdie,
Charlie Hebdo,
Paris,
Religion,
Satire, , ,
Religion is a "medieval form of unreason": Salman Rushdie responds to Paris attacks 

Salman Rushdie is the latest figure to publicly respond to Wednesday’s attacks on Paris’ satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo which left 12 dead.

In the statement, published on the website for English PEN, an organization that promotes freedom of speech, Rushdie not only condemns the shooting, but religion as a whole.

“Religion,
a mediaeval form of unreason, when combined with modern weaponry
becomes a real threat to our freedoms,” he wrote. “This religious
totalitarianism has caused a deadly mutation in the heart of Islam and
we see the tragic consequences in Paris today.”

Rushdie expresses
his support for the publication and calls for the defense of satire,
“which has always been a force for liberty and against tyranny,
dishonesty and stupidity.”

The author and his work garnered international attention when Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini placed a fatwa on his head following the 1988 publication of “The Satanic Verses.”

“‘Respect
for religion’ has become a code phrase meaning ‘fear of religion,’” he
concluded. “Religions, like all other ideas, deserve criticism, satire,
and, yes, our fearless disrespect.”

Joanna Rothkopf

Joanna Rothkopf is an assistant editor at Salon,
focusing on science, health and society. Follow @JoannaRothkopf or email
jrothkopf@salon.com.


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