Salman Rushdie's 'Joseph Anton' autobiography details fatwa years

Salman Rushdie's autobiography 'Joseph Anton: A Memoir' recounts his life under the fatwa issued by Ayatollah Khomeini on February 14, 1989, following the publication of 'The Satanic Verses' in September 1988. The book was banned in India shortly after release, sparking protests across the Muslim world. Rushdie, forced into hiding, adopted the code name Joseph Anton, combining the first names of Joseph Conrad and Anton Chekhov. He describes the constant surveillance by Britain's Special Branch, the need to frequently change safe houses at his own expense, and the psychological toll of isolation. The memoir details the divided response from the literary community: supporters included Günter Grass, Susan Sontag, Don DeLillo, and Thomas Pynchon, while detractors included John Berger, John le Carré, and George Steiner. Rushdie also recounts the assassination of his Japanese translator Hitoshi Igarashi and the stabbing of Italian translator Ettore Capriolo. The book explores his writing process, his relationship with exile, and his reflections on cultural Islam. The fatwa remains in effect, with the 15 Khordad Foundation increasing the bounty to $3.3 million.