‘Satan on the way to Hell’: Iran’s media glories in attack on Salman Rushdie

Iranian newspapers praised Sir Salman Rushdie’s “brave and dutiful” attacker for attempting to carry out the religious edict to kill the author of The Satanic Verses and send him “to Hell”.

Rushdie, 75,  was stabbed in the neck and torso while onstage at a lecture in New York state on Friday. The Indian-born British novelist, who spent years in hiding, is in a severe condition.

The leader of Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution, the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, issued a fatwa calling on Muslims to kill Rushdie in 1989 after the publication of The Satanic Verses, which he condemned as blasphemous.

The novel is banned in Iran. A wealthy Iranian religious organisation offered a $2.7 million reward to anyone who carried out the fatwa. It increased the amount to $3.3 million in 2012.

California-born Hadi Matar, 24, the suspect in the stabbing, was reported to be sympathetic to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on social media.

The hardline Kayhan newspaper, whose editor-in-chief is appointed by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, said: “The hand of the man who tore the neck of God's enemy must be kissed.

“A thousand bravos to the brave and dutiful person who attacked the apostate and evil Salman Rushdie in New York.”

Iran’s state broadcaster welcomed the attack. It said, “It is not yet known what has happened to this heretic, but what is known is that 34 years after they were first issued the Islamic edicts are still valid and applicable.”

Under the headline “Attack on the Satan in 20 Seconds” the Mehr News Agency said: “It does not really matter what is the real identity of Hadi Matar and what his motives are.

“What matters is that those who by the order of the British intelligence services insult the beliefs of hundreds of millions of Muslims must not have a peaceful life, even while they are protected by these services.”

The Asr Iran news site on Saturday carried an often cited quote by the current Supreme leader that said the “arrow” shot by Ayatollah Khomeini “will one day hit the target”.

The headline of the hardline Vatan Emrooz newspaper read: “Knife in Salman Rushdie’s neck.”

The Khorasan daily carried the headline: “Satan on the way to hell”.

Others suggested without evidence that the stabbing may have been designed to derail the Iran nuclear deal.

Iranian officials are currently engaged in crucial last-ditch negotiations with Western governments to revive the 2015 deal to dissuade Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

“I do not believe in conspiracy theories but this incident concurring with finalising of the plan for reviving the nuclear deal is bewildering me,” Abbas Abdi, a local politician told Ensaf News. 

Meanwhile, some in the Iranian opposition spoke out against the stabbing. 

Cleric Mohsen Kadivar, a dissident reformist who is currently a lecturer at Duke University in the US, told the moderate Ensaf News he strongly condemned “this bloody attack”.

“This act is against the true teachings of Islam and the Quran, and the culprit must be brought to justice and punished. The best way to criticise incorrect ideas must be through dialogue, not murdering people,” he said.

In Tehran, where images of the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini still peer down at passers-by, people’s views were mixed.

“I don’t know Salman Rushdie, but I am happy to hear that he was attacked since he insulted Islam," said Reza Amiri, a 27-year-old deliveryman. “This is the fate for anybody who insults sanctities.”

Others, however, worried aloud that Iran could become even more cut off from the world as tensions remain high over its tattered nuclear deal.

“I feel those who did it are trying to isolate Iran,” said Mahshid Barati, a 39-year-old geography teacher. “This will negatively affect relations with many - even Russia and China.” 

Reference: The Telegraph: Ahmed Vahdat, James Crisp

Bitter row over Anglican ‘motion’ to reject gay marriage

Aonce-a-decade conference of the Anglican Communion has been forced into an awkward compromise on gay marriage after it descended into a bitter row over the subject within a day of opening.

After a draft communique condemning gay marriage was published earlier in the week, a backlash forced the Lambeth conference, presided over by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, to scramble to produce a new version in which members of the communion effectively agree to disagree.

The conference is being held for the first time in 14 years, with previous efforts postponed by the coronavirus pandemic and fears over divisions within the church.

As part of the conference, delegates will be asked to vote on the so-called Lambeth Calls, a form of conference communique informally tying the communion together in a set of stated beliefs and values.

When the draft calls were published on Monday, the section on “human dignity” included contentious language first used at the 1998 conference which stated, “It is the mind of the Anglican Communion as a whole that same-gender marriage is not permissible”.

Motion angered bishops and campaigners in church

That infuriated LGBT campaigners within the church and several bishops condemned the wording, including the Bishop of Manchester and the Bishop of Southwark in England.

It is unclear how the wording, known as Lambeth I.10 made it into the calls. Kevin Robertson, the openly gay Bishop of York-Scarborough in Canada and a member of the working group tasked with drafting that section of the calls, said that the language was never discussed in the group.

“I never agreed to this call in its current form,” he said, adding that the claim that it was the mind of the Anglican Communion to reject same-sex marriage “is simply not true”.

After stating on Monday evening that the calls would be amended, the conference published a new version late Tuesday afternoon.

Justin Welby ‘caught out by manoeuverings behind the scenes’

The new language reads: “Many Provinces continue to affirm that same-gender marriage is not permissible…  Other Provinces have blessed and welcomed same-sex union/marriage after careful theological reflection and a process of reception. As Bishops we remain committed to listening and walking together to the maximum possible degree, despite our deep disagreement on these issues.”

Sources within the church suggested to The Telegraph that Lord Welby and Tim Thornton, the chair of the conference, had been caught out by manoeuverings behind the scenes. Lambeth Palace declined to comment on the matter.

The conference organisers also responded by adding a third, no option for the final vote on the calls. Previously delegates had only been able to express full or qualified agreement.

The Anglican Communion faces significant divisions between socially liberal members, focused in the UK and wealthy, Western nations, and the more numerous social conservatives mostly from African countries but with significant backing from bishops in the United States.

Those divisions led to the decision not to hold a conference in 2018. 

Reference: The telegraph: Daniel Capurro

Justin Welby forced to allow Anglican bishops to reject statement on sexuality

The archbishop of Canterbury has been forced to allow Anglican bishops from all over the world the option of rejecting a statement on sexuality when they meet in Canterbury this week for the Lambeth conference.

The U-turn from Justin Welby, the leader of the global Anglican communion and the conference president, came late on Monday night, hours before 650 delegates began arriving for the 12-day meeting.

It followed an outcry from liberal Anglicans and gay rights campaigners over a declaration – known as a Lambeth Call – on human dignity that defines marriage as “between a man and a woman”. It adds that “legitimising or blessing of same-sex unions” cannot be advised, and that “it is the mind of the Anglican communion as a whole that same-gender marriage is not permissible”.

Among those protesting was the bishop of Los Angeles, John Harvey Taylor, who said the statement was “the opposite of the Christian values of healing and reconciliation. It divides, hurts, scapegoats and denies.”

Bishops of the church in Wales said the call “undermines and subverts the dignity of an integral part of our community, rather than affirming them”.

Monday evening’s statement from the Lambeth conference said: “Over recent days we have listened carefully to the responses of bishops … The drafting group for the Call on Human Dignity will be making some revisions to the Call.”

It gave no further details, but said the revised text would be released “as soon as it is available”.

The statement also announced that bishops would now have a third option in responding to the Lambeth Calls. “Bishops will now be able to clearly state their opposition to a particular Call in addition to supporting it or calling for further discussion. The third option will state: “This Call does not speak for me. I do not add my voice to this Call.”

Jayne Ozanne, a prominent campaigner for LGBT+ equality in the Church of England, welcomed the move. But she added: “I am still deeply troubled by the tone of this communique. It does not appear to address any of the concerns relating to process that so many have flagged up, nor does it recognise the breakdown in trust that there is now in relation to the [discussions on sexuality and identity] here in England.”

The issue of sexuality and same-sex marriage has caused deep divisions among Anglicans, both in the UK and globally, for decades. The Lambeth conference scheduled for 2018 was cancelled by Welby as it became apparent that differences were irreconcilable and would damage the global church.

In 2016 a meeting of Anglican primates from around the world voted to impose de facto sanctions on the US Episcopal church for approving same-sex marriages and issued a statement reaffirming “traditional doctrine” that marriage should be between a man and a woman.

Since then, the Scottish Episcopal church has decided to allow same-sex marriage and the Anglican church in Wales has voted to offer special blessings to same-sex married couples. The Church of England still bans same-sex marriages.

Conservative church leaders from Rwanda, Nigeria and Uganda are boycotting the conference in protest at the support of some Anglican churches for same-sex unions.

Welby is keen to focus this week’s Lambeth conference on issues such as the climate crisis and global inequality. In a message to bishops last week, he said: “Without ignoring those things on which we deeply disagree, I pray that we will approach this gathering with an even deeper sense of what unites us: the love of Jesus Christ and his calling to serve God’s world.” 

Reference: The Guardian: Harriet Sherwood -

Royal Family: Prince Charles' holidays to a remote mountain in Greece where he lives like a monk but Camilla isn't allowed to visit

Being a royal comes with some perks that make life a bit more peaceful than it is for your average Joe. But sometimes when the ribbon cutting and the prying eyes all get a bit overwhelming - a quick escape to a private hideaway is just what the doctor ordered.

And for one royal family member, finding that perfect retreat means heading to a special place where even wives are banned. And for the man who is first in line to the throne - solace comes in the form of the hidden hills of Mount Athos in Greece where women and children are banned.

Prince Charles is said to have made his first visit to the “holy mountain” days after the tragic death of Princess Diana. Located on a peninsula in the northern area of Greece, this monastery on Mediterranean peaks is home to monks and no women or children are allowed.

As well as women being banned from the site, certain species of female animals are also said to not be permitted to enter according to GreekBoston.com. So when Prince Charles makes his pilgrimage to the monastic mountain, he goes it alone.

The rocky area acts as its own independent country run by the Eastern Orthodox Church. And you might find life a little different on this mount, including what time of day you call morning and night.

Byzantine time is used by those who live on the mountain which means the day begins at sunset instead of midnight. And not only is the time zone different, the dates go by the Julian calendar of the Roman Empire, which lags 13 days behind instead of the Gregorian calendar.

So when the royal pays a visit, he gets almost two weeks back of his year. According to the Guardian, the royal is believed to have made a "spiritual commitment" to Christian Orthodoxy.

But the prince seems quite dedicated to his solitude away from the hustle and bustle of royal life and is even prepared to sleep on the lumpy mattresses the monks provide. Which is a far cry from four poster beds and servants at your beck and call.

Speaking to the Guardian, royal spokeswoman Kristine Clark said: "He goes there as a private individual, not in his official capacity as the Prince of Wales. Visits are very much in his private time, so we don't issue details. What I can say is that he is interested in the architecture and spirituality of Mount Athos."

However, there’s no doubt that Mount Athos is a great detox from the everyday as you won’t find a TV or radio and you probably won’t see a car drive past. So if the royal is looking to escape from any paparazzi, then he’s definitely found the perfect hideout. 

Reference: My London: Melissa Sigodo -