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DATE= OCTOBER 17, 1998 TYPE= EDITORIAL NUMBER= 0-08010 TITLE= EDITORIAL: IRANIANS STILL THREATEN RUSHDIE CONTENT=THIS IS THE ONLY EDITORIAL BEING RELEASED FOR BROADCAST OCTOBER 17, 1998. ANNCR: THE VOICE OF AMERICA PRESENTS DIFFERING POINTS OF VIEW ON A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES. NEXT, AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. VOICE: AS THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS MAKES CLEAR, FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT. IT IS REPUGNANT THAT ANYONE SHOULD BE PERSECUTED SIMPLY FOR EXPRESSING HIS OPINIONS -- HOWEVER OFFENSIVE. FOR THAT REASON, PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD WERE SHOCKED IN FEBRUARY 1989 WHEN THE LEADER OF IRAN CALLED FOR THE MURDER OF A BRITISH AUTHOR. THE DECREE WAS ISSUED BY AYATOLLAH RUHOLLAH KHOMEINI AGAINST SALMAN RUSHDIE, WHOSE NOVEL, THE SATANIC VERSES, OFFENDED MANY MUSLIMS. A BOUNTY WAS OFFERED TO ANYONE WHO COULD CARRY OUT THE MURDER. BECAUSE OF THE IRANIAN DEATH THREAT, RUSHDIE WAS FORCED TO REMAIN UNDER CONSTANT GUARD. AND OTHERS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SATANIC VERSES WERE VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE, INCLUDING A JAPANESE TRANSLATOR WHO WAS STABBED TO DEATH IN 1991. LAST MONTH, NEARLY A DECADE AFTER THE DEATH DECREE WAS ISSUED, IRANIAN OFFICIALS SAID THEY WANTED TO PUT THE MATTER BEHIND THEM. PRESIDENT MOHAMMAD KHATAMI SAID, "WE SHOULD CONSIDER THE SALMAN RUSHDIE ISSUE AS COMPLETELY FINISHED." FOREIGN MINISTER KAMAL KHARRAZI SAID THAT, "THE GOVERNMENT OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN HAS NO INTENTION, NOR IS IT GOING TO TAKE ANY ACTION WHATSOEVER, TO THREATEN THE LIFE OF THE AUTHOR OF THE SATANIC VERSES OR ANYBODY ASSOCIATED WITH HIS WORK, NOR WILL IT ENCOURAGE OR ASSIST ANYBODY TO DO SO." THESE ARE WELCOME COMMENTS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE DEATH DECREE ITSELF STILL STANDS. MOREOVER, AN IRANIAN FOUNDATION RECENTLY INCREASED THE BOUNTY OFFERED FOR RUSHDIE'S DEATH. INCITING MURDER AND OFFERING A BOUNTY FOR IT ARE ABHORRENT AND INCONSISTENT WITH BASIC PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN RIGHTS. THE BOUNTY SHOULD BE REVOKED. ANNCR: THAT WAS AN EDITORIAL EXPRESSING THE POLICIES OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE HEARD ON THIS ISSUE, PLEASE WRITE TO EDITORIALS, VOICE OF AMERICA, WASHINGTON, D-C, 20547, U-S-A. YOU MAY ALSO SEND US A FAX AT (202) 619-1043. YOUR COMMENTS MAY BE USED ON THE AIR. 16-Oct-98 11:18 AM EDT (1518 UTC) NNNN Source: Voice of America .