A reader brought the case in 2019 after failing to find official proof of the ban on government websites. The Delhi High Court quashed the 1988 import ban on Tuesday, stating that India's government had said the notification banning the controversial book was untraceable. The court pointed out that even the customs department official who was said to have written it had shown his helplessness in producing a copy. We have no other option except to presume that no such notification exists.
The Satanic Verses, set in London and ancient Mecca, was published in September 1988 to critical acclaim. But it prompted global controversy because some Muslims saw passages about Prophet Muhammad as blasphemous. The book's ban triggered violent demonstrations and book burnings across the Muslim world, including in India, which has a significant Muslim population.
Khan said he filed his case after being told at bookstores that the novel could not be sold in or imported to India. When he searched, he could not find official proof of the ban on government websites.
Rushdie gradually emerged from his underground life, having become an outspoken defender of free speech. His book was banned in 20 countries, including his birthplace, and he has experienced significant personal struggle since the fatwa was issued.
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