On this day March 7 1989 Iran and the United Kingdom officially broke diplomatic relations following a major controversy over the novel The Satanic Verses written by Salman Rushdie. The book was accused of blasphemy by many in the Muslim world leading to widespread protests and violent demonstrations.
The situation escalated when Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa on February 14 1989 calling for Rushdie’s execution. The UK condemned the threat sparking intense diplomatic tensions. As the crisis deepened Iran severed ties with Britain marking a major international conflict over free speech and religious sensitivities.
80s insight: Despite the fatwa Rushdie continued to write and publish books under heavy security and in 1998 Iran’s government stated it would no longer enforce the death order though some groups still supported it.