In memory of Mahfouz
Egyptian novelist Naguib Mahfouz, a Nobel laureate whose books include Palace Walk, among many others, has died at the age of 94. Probably the best one-stop resource for information and reaction is at the litblog The Elegant Variation, which has compiled a long list of links. Among them is a 1992 Paris Review interview that touches on the Salman Rushdie fatwah. “I found the insults in it unacceptable,” says Mahfouz of The Satanic Verses. “Rushdie insults even the women of the Prophet! Now, I can argue with ideas, but what should I do with insults? Insults are the business of the court. At the same time, I consider Khomeini’s position equally dangerous. He does not have the right to pass judgment — that is not the Islamic way.”
Related links:
Click here for the Elegant Variation roundup
Click here for the Paris Review interview
