BILL HEMMER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: February 14th, 1989, Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini puts a death sentence on Salman Rushdie.</s>RICHARD BLYSTONE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Critics claim a dream sequence in his novel, "The Satanic Verses," insults the prophet Mohammed by depicting him as a man with human weaknesses wrestling with temptation. Now Rushdie, who denies the book is blasphemous or insulting, is in seclusion under sentence of murder by Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini. According to Iran radio, Khomeini is calling on all Muslims to execute Rushdie and all involved in publishing "The Satanic Verses." But how many danger is Rushdie in?</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think he is in real danger now. It's not so much a case of an attack on the religion, it is the vilification and abuse and mockery of the prophet.</s>BLYSTONE (on camera): Death threats have been received here at the London headquarters of Viking Penguin, some of them since the Ayatollah's call.</s>HEMMER: In Iran today, the government has distanced itself from the death decree, but some conservatives still believe Rushdie should die.
CNN 20: Khomeini Calls for Rushdie's Death, February 14th, 1989