In 1988 author Salman Rushdie wrote and published The Satanic Verses, causing outrage in the Islamic community due to the perceived criticism of Allah. Because of this, a fatwa was issued against him by Ruhollah Khomeini and he was forced into hiding, separating him from his his family. During his absence he wrote the book Haroun and the Sea of Stories dedicated to his son Zafar, however by establishing an allegory within the novel, Rushdie transforms a children's fantasy, into a platform to share his views on the fatwa. Ruhollah Khomeini held a leadership role in Islam and used his role to establish a theocracy in Iran. Within, the war between the Guppees and the Chupwalas, is a literal war between dark in light as dictated by the fictitious
…show more content…
Further, the comparitive purpose extends deeper than the censorship issue to unearth a moral disagreement with the oppressive theocracy of Iran.. Throughout the Gup army’s trek through Chup, they encounter signs of oppression and fanaticism which are depicted in a negative light. Rushdie utilizes the Land of Chup, to criticize the Islamic Republic of Iran and its leader Ruhollah Khomeini. Through the silence and darkness of the land of Chup, Rushdie establishes a criticism of the systematic silencing practiced by the Islamic leaders. The prevention of criticism of Allah is one of the fundamental teachings of Islam. According to the Hadith, a collection of teachings from Muhammad, “whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak a good word or remain silent” (Hadith 15). This policy condemns ill speaking against Allah and beyond the actual policy, the enforcement has lead to massive amounts of violence against doubters of Islam. Rushdie’s progressive thought is directly in conflict with the traditional views of Islam which led to the direct conflict which occurred. In order to establish the connection between the Chups in the novel and those censored by …show more content…
By establishing the Chupwalas as those censored, he establishes their leader, Khattam Shud, as the counterpart to Ruhollah Khomeini. Khomeini issued the fatwa against Rushdie, resulting in a personal conflict between the duo, however the novel also reveals a moral disagreement with Khomeini. Khomeini was the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, an oppressive theocracy which has been condemned by numerous Western powers for its violent and intolerant governing. Their anti globalism stance shielded them in previous centuries, the progressive ideas of freedom and human rights fueled a sense of moral wrong surrounding the practices. Within the novel, the aggressive actions of Chups, lead to the revealing of their governmental failings. When the Gup army meets Mudra, an officer in the Chup army, he tells of a people “Simply terrified of the Cultmaster’s great powers of sorcery” (Rushdie 132). Rushdie intentionally includes this for two reasons. The first is to present the reader a different perspective toward the oppressive rule of Iran. By doing so he attempts to establish empathy towards those the citizens of oppressive theocracies such as Iran. To furthers this cause by separating the government from the people of the country. As the Guppee’s enter Chup city, “many Chupwala’s threw in their lot with the Guppees” (Rushdie 184). The liberation of Chup city,
Further, the comparitive purpose extends deeper than the censorship issue to unearth a moral disagreement with the oppressive theocracy of Iran.. Throughout the Gup army’s trek through Chup, they encounter signs of oppression and fanaticism which are depicted in a negative light. Rushdie utilizes the Land of Chup, to criticize the Islamic Republic of Iran and its leader Ruhollah Khomeini. Through the silence and darkness of the land of Chup, Rushdie establishes a criticism of the systematic silencing practiced by the Islamic leaders. The prevention of criticism of Allah is one of the fundamental teachings of Islam. According to the Hadith, a collection of teachings from Muhammad, “whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak a good word or remain silent” (Hadith 15). This policy condemns ill speaking against Allah and beyond the actual policy, the enforcement has lead to massive amounts of violence against doubters of Islam. Rushdie’s progressive thought is directly in conflict with the traditional views of Islam which led to the direct conflict which occurred. In order to establish the connection between the Chups in the novel and those censored by …show more content…
By establishing the Chupwalas as those censored, he establishes their leader, Khattam Shud, as the counterpart to Ruhollah Khomeini. Khomeini issued the fatwa against Rushdie, resulting in a personal conflict between the duo, however the novel also reveals a moral disagreement with Khomeini. Khomeini was the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, an oppressive theocracy which has been condemned by numerous Western powers for its violent and intolerant governing. Their anti globalism stance shielded them in previous centuries, the progressive ideas of freedom and human rights fueled a sense of moral wrong surrounding the practices. Within the novel, the aggressive actions of Chups, lead to the revealing of their governmental failings. When the Gup army meets Mudra, an officer in the Chup army, he tells of a people “Simply terrified of the Cultmaster’s great powers of sorcery” (Rushdie 132). Rushdie intentionally includes this for two reasons. The first is to present the reader a different perspective toward the oppressive rule of Iran. By doing so he attempts to establish empathy towards those the citizens of oppressive theocracies such as Iran. To furthers this cause by separating the government from the people of the country. As the Guppee’s enter Chup city, “many Chupwala’s threw in their lot with the Guppees” (Rushdie 184). The liberation of Chup city,