Lit fest cancels Rushdie video, fearing violence

AAA??Jan. 24, 2012?8:40 AM ET
Lit fest cancels Rushdie video, fearing violence
AP

Officials announce the news of calling off Indian born British author Salman Rushdie's video conference at the Jaipur Literature Festival, in Jaipur, in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012. The organizers of the Indian literary festival called off a video conference with British author Salman Rushdie following protests by Muslim groups who considered his 1988 book "The Satanic Verses" blasphemous. (AP Photo/ Manish Swarup)

Officials announce the news of calling off Indian born British author Salman Rushdie's video conference at the Jaipur Literature Festival, in Jaipur, in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012. The organizers of the Indian literary festival called off a video conference with British author Salman Rushdie following protests by Muslim groups who considered his 1988 book "The Satanic Verses" blasphemous. (AP Photo/ Manish Swarup)

Visitors wait for the Indian born British author Salman Rushdie's video conference at the Jaipur Literature Festival, in Jaipur, in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012. The organizers of the Indian literary festival called off a video conference with British author Salman Rushdie following protests by Muslim groups who considered his 1988 book "The Satanic Verses" blasphemous. (AP Photo/ Manish Swarup)

Indian Muslims react after the Indian born British author Salman Rushdie's video conference was called off at the Jaipur Literature Festival, in Jaipur, in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012. The organizers of the Indian literary festival called off a video conference with British author Salman Rushdie following protests by Muslim groups who considered his 1988 book "The Satanic Verses" blasphemous. (AP Photo/ Manish Swarup)

A visitor reacts when he hears the news of Indian born British author Salman Rushdie's video conference being called off at the Jaipur Literature Festival, in Jaipur, in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012. The organizers of the Indian literary festival called off a video conference with British author Salman Rushdie following protests by Muslim groups who considered his 1988 book "The Satanic Verses" blasphemous. (AP Photo/ Manish Swarup)

British author and Booker Prize nominee Romesh Gunesekera, left, reads a petition to reconsider the ban on Salman Rushdie's book "The Satanic Verses" before signing as Indian writer Annie Zaidi, looks on at the Jaipur Literature Festival, in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, India, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

JAIPUR, India (AP) ? The organizers of an Indian literary festival have canceled a video conference with author Salman Rushdie after protests and threats.

Sanjoy Roy said Tuesday they decided to cancel the video address to avoid violence by Muslim activists gathered at the Jaipur Literary Festival.

Rushdie had originally planned to attend the festival in person despite opposition from some Muslims who consider his 1988 book "The Satanic Verses" blasphemous.

Rushdie said he called off his trip after police sources told him of a possible assassination threat. He planned to address the festival by video conference instead.

Roy said the organizers had been threatened with violence if they went ahead with the video link.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2012-01-24-India-Salman%20Rushdie/id-2c41ab9f9d334e0482fd72ae230ae9ad

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