India Court Lifts Ban on Salman Rushdie's Controversial Book 'The Satanic Verses'

New Delhi, India

After three decades, a court in India has lifted a ban on Salman Rushdie's controversial novel, "The Satanic Verses."

The book, which was banned in India in 1988 due to its perceived blasphemy against Islam, has been the subject of much controversy and debate over the years.

The ban was challenged in court by the Indian writer and academic, Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, who argued that it violated the freedom of expression guaranteed by the Indian constitution.

In a landmark judgment, the Delhi High Court ruled that the ban was unconstitutional and that the book could not be banned on the grounds of blasphemy.

The court also held that the book did not pose a threat to public order or national security.

The lifting of the ban has been welcomed by free speech advocates, who see it as a victory for the freedom of expression.

However, some Muslim groups have expressed concerns about the decision, arguing that it could lead to further communal tensions.

The Satanic Verses was first published in 1988 and tells the story of two Indian immigrants who are transformed into the angel Gibreel and the devilish figure Saladin Chamcha after a terrorist attack on a hijacked plane.

The book was banned in India in 1988 after protests by Muslim groups, who objected to its portrayal of the Prophet Muhammad.

The ban was upheld by the Supreme Court of India in 1990, but it was challenged again in 2020 by Mukhopadhyay.

The Delhi High Court's decision to lift the ban is a significant victory for the freedom of expression in India.

It is also a reminder that even controversial books have a place in a free and democratic society.