Delhi High Court Lifts 30-Year Ban on Salman Rushdie’s Controversial Novel

The Delhi High Court has permitted the sale and import of *The Satanic Verses*, a novel by apostate of Islam Salman Rushdie that had faced a 30-year ban in India due to its perceived blasphemous content. Published in 1988, the book quickly became the focus of global controversy, with many Muslims condemning its content as disrespectful to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The novel’s release led to violent protests and public burnings in several countries, including India.

The current ruling follows a petition filed in 2019 by Sandipan Khan, who questioned the legality of the ban after being informed that the book could neither be sold nor imported in India. Despite checking various government websites, Khan found no official notification confirming such a restriction and subsequently sought clarity through the court.

During the hearing, neither the Indian government nor any other involved parties could present an official notification of the ban. In its November 5 order, the court highlighted that no documentation was provided to support the existence of such a prohibition. The government’s representative admitted that the notification could not be located. With no concrete evidence of an official ban, the court concluded that there was no enforceable restriction on the novel’s import or sale. Khan’s lawyer, Udyam Mukherjee, confirmed that this ruling effectively lifted the prohibition.

The author, Salman Rushdie, was attacked in 2022 at a public event in the U.S., resulting in serious injuries, including the loss of vision in one eye. This incident underlined the continued sensitivity surrounding his controversial works.