Salman Rushdie, Supporting Charlie Hebdo, Calls Satire 'A Force For Liberty'

Salman Rushdie, an award-winning author who once received a death fatwa from an Iranian clergy, has expressed his support for the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo following an attack that left 12 people dead in Paris, France, on Wednesday.

Rushdie, author of "The Satanic Verses," issued a statement declaring his support for the French publication as his way of defending "the art of satire, which has always been a force for liberty and against tyranny, dishonesty, and stupidity."

"Religion, a medieval form of unreason, when combined with modern weaponry becomes a real threat to our freedoms. This religious totalitarianism has caused a deadly mutation in the heart of Islam and we see the tragic consequences in Paris today," Rushdie said, according to Time.

In response to the deadly shooting, the acclaimed British author argued that "respect for religion" has evolved into a code phrase meaning "fear of religion."

In the same statement published on the Wall Street Journal, the Indian-born magical realist writer justified that "religions, like all other ideas, deserve criticism, satire" as well as "fearless disrespect."

He joined other acclaimed authors in signing PEN American Center's official response to the attacks, saying it tried "to silence criticism by murdering the artists and writers who voice it." The authors declared that the savage action "must be met with a far wider movement to defend the right to dissent, which forms the spine of free expression."

In 1988, some conservative Muslims accused Rushdie of blasphemy for his portrayal of Islam in his fourth novel that was inspired by Muhammad's life for with former Iranian leader Ayatullah Ruhollah Khomeini issuing a fatwa for his death the following year.

He was also in Al Qaeda's most wanted list this year alongside Charlie Hebdo editor Staphane Charbonnier, who was among the 12 people who were killed by masked attackers brandishing Kalashnikovs in Paris.

The Daily Mail reported that the militants, who burst into the Charlie Hebdo headquarters, opened fire on staff after seeking out journalists by name, quoting witnesses saying the suspected Al Qaeda gunmen were heard to shout "the Prophet has been avenged" and "Allahu akbar!" – Arabic for "God is great."