Iranian Leader Renews Rushdie Death Decree

TEHRAN — Iranian spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reiterated Tuesday that a religious death warrant against British author Salman Rushdie is irrevocable and “must be carried out.”

There had been reports Iran was relaxing its stance on the death sentence, issued by the late spiritual leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini before his own death last year, in order to improve relations with Europe.

TThe sentence stems from Rushdie’s book, “The Sataanic Versus,” which Moslems consider blasphemous.

Khamenei told clerics in Tehran that the death edict is based on “divine messages and is equally solid and irrevocable.”

“Salman Rushdie is a criminal and the divine sentence on him must be carried out,” the Iranian leader said. The statement came a day after the official first anniversary of Khomeini’s death.

Sunday, Iranian Foreign Ministry official Hussein Musavian categorically denied a report in a London newspaper, The Sunday Times, quoting him as saying the death warrant might be revoked.

Musavian told the official Islamic Republic News Agency that remarks attributed to him in The Sunday Times were a distortion.

But Iran’s state radio Sunday quoted Musavian as saying: “The Iranian government has not formally insisted on the murder of Salman Rushdie. If Britain condemns the insults to Iran and demonstrates its respect to Islam, this could help in improving relations and be effective in the release of British hostages in Lebanon.”

British Prime Minister Margaret told the British Broadcasting Corp. in a phone-in question program that Great Britain has the “greatest respect for Islam. But obviously we cannot do anything to hinder freedom of speech in this country.”

Iran broke diplomatic relations with Britain in March 1989 after Khomeini issued the religious decree sentencing Rushdie to death.