Apostasy, Blasphemy, Heresy

This subject entered my consciousness by stages.  I’d become vaguely aware of the application of laws regarding apostasy, blasphemy and heresy in many of the Islamic states over the past several years.  Visions of women being stoned, men being put to death or imprisoned for various offenses come to mind.  Then the fatwa issued by Ayatollah Khomeini calling for the death of Salman Rushdie for having the temerity to publish Satanic Verses, which is presumed to have blasphemed Allah, in some fashion, further framed the issue in my mind.  I thought it strange, even a little “other worldly”, but paid it little heed because I thought Salman would advisably lay low,...