The Whitechapel Fatwa

The Whitechapel Fatwa was an authoritative religious decree issued in 1978 by the Islamic scholars of the Whitechapel Mosque in London. It declared that certain individuals, notably writer Salman Rushdie, should be considered apostates for their critical views on Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. The fatwa called for Muslims to oppose Rushdie and, in some interpretations, permitted violence against him. This ruling led to widespread controversy, affecting free expression, religious sensitivities, and international relations, and remains a significant example of how religious edicts can influence social and political issues.