Part 132 – NOVEMBER 11 1988
I had wondered just how high a price we had paid to insure that Syria came into the hostilities [of the Gulf war] on the side of the West. Great Britain resumption of diplomatic relations was part of the price. Another part concerned the Lockerbie affair. - David Yallop -- The Hunt for the Jackal
As widely anticipated, the UK has resumed diplomatic relations with Iran today. Officials said there had been no deal to help secure the release of British hostages held in Lebanon by pro-Iranian radicals.
The Foreign Office said the two countries had agreed at talks in Vienna. Ceiling of 16 officials on each side was also agreed
The British Embassy in Teheran, closed in 1980 in the upheaval after Iran's Islamic revolution, will soon be reopened. [1]
Abassi House Searched by BKA
An HOLMES document labeled D772 H65 shows that during a search of Abassi apartment, conducted on Nov. 11 1988, a toolbox was recovered. The Box contains various equipment including three digital alarm clocks.
Toshiba Radios are Sold to Libya.
Today, 20,000 black Toshiba RT-SF 16 radio cassettes, the type used in the Pan Am bomb, were shipped to Libya.
In an address to a conference of law officers in August 2001 (seven months after the PA 103 verdict) the Scottish Lord Advocate, Lord Boyd, refuted any suggestion that Libya had been framed and denied that this was a politically-driven prosecution
Boyd pointed out that "of the total world-wide sales of that model, 76% were sold to the General Electric Company's subsidiary in Libya, whose chairman was Said Rashid."
Salam Rushdie Releases Novel
On Sept. 26 1988, Salam Rushdie released his book: The satanic verses. On Feb.14 1989, Khomeini will issue a fatwa calling for the death of Rushdie and his publishers. Surprinzingly, Khomeini did not give the legal reasoning for his judgement. [1]
"In the name of God the Almighty, we belong to God and to Him we shall return. I would like to inform all intrepid Muslims in the world that the author of the book Satanic Verses, which has been compiled, printed, and published in opposition to Islam, the Prophet, and the Qor'an, and those publishers who were aware of its contents, are sentenced to death. I call on all zealous Muslims to execute them quickly, where they find them, so that no one will dare to insult the Islamic sanctities. Whoever is killed on this path will be regarded as a martyr, God willing. In addition, if anyone has access to the author of the book but does not possess the power to execute him, he should point him out to the people so that he may be punished for his actions."
On 7 March 1989, the United Kingdom and Iran broke diplomatic relations over the Rushdie controversy.
In the case of the fatwa against Rushdie, there is indeed evidence that the Supreme Leader wanted his judgment to be irreversible. "Even if Salman Rushdie repents and becomes the most pious man of all time, it is incumbent on every Muslim to employ everything he has got, his life and wealth, to send him to Hell," Khomeini had warned.
Following the issueing of the Fatwa by Khomeini, Ahmed Jibril stated that his organization would carry on the execution if they wre asked to do so. Jibril confirmed his statement and position to Investigative journalist David Yallop in the fall of 1989.
NOTES AND REFERENCES
1. Nevertheless, Britain kept diplomats in Teheran until June 1987. They were withdrawn after a dispute over the arrest of an Iranian envoy in Britain.
2. The judgment is thought to be based on the ninth chapter of the Qur’an, called At-Tawba, verse 61: “And those who annoy the Messenger of Allah shall have a grievous punishment.”
London Restores Ties to Iran But Denies a Hostage Deal - November 11, 1988
Rushdie's Banned Novel Gets Whitbread Prize
In India, a Novel Can Inflame Violence
