An Israeli publishing house is rushing to get “Satanic Verses” translated into Hebrew for speedy publication.
Niva Lanir, chief editor of Keter Publications, one of Israel’s leading publishing houses, said Monday that her company had contracted to publish a Hebrew translation of the 500-page book on the basis of the pre-publication catalogues. Keter is presently negotiating with translators, she said.
Lanir said that Keter’s contract was completed long before the writer infuriated Islamic fundamentalists all over the world, who alleged, without ever seeing it, that his book blasphemed their faith.
The author, Salman Rushdie, an Indian-born British subject, has become a target for assassination since Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini of Iran offered $1 million to anyone who would murder him.
Islamic fundamentalists have also threatened the lives of other publishers and booksellers.
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