The anniversary of Khomeini's ruling comes at a time of great controversy over Geert Wilders' right to free speech

I have written a number of pieces for Cif over the past couple of years reflecting back over the Satanic Verses controversy, so as we mark the 20th anniversary of Khomeini's fatwa let me quickly summarise my thoughts:

Those of us – including me – who marched and called for the book to be pulped/banned were in the wrong. Calls for pulping or banning the book gave rise to understandable fears about increased censorship and intolerance. A more sensible response would have been to just ignore the book or to write a proper rejoinder pointing out Rushdie's shortcomings in his fictional treatment of the Prophet Muhammad and allow readers to then make up their own minds.

Khomeini's fatwa – as Kenan Malik rightly notes – should be viewed in the context of Iran's rivalry with Saudi Arabia for leadership of the world's Muslim community. Iran is predominantly Shia whereas around 90% of Muslims are Sunni. The fatwa enabled Iran's revolutionary leadership to outmanoeuvre the Saudis and to transcend the sectarian divide by portraying itself as being stauncher in their defence of the honour of the Prophet Muhammad and his message than the decadent Saudis. [Guardian CiF] Read more