I’m sorry, while nothing justifies the over reaction to the book, the attempts to silence artistic license and freedom of speech, the attempt on the author’s life by a bigot (who I hope rots in a cell till the day he dies), I find it very hard to believe for one second Rushdie did not know exactly how offensive religious zealots would find that passage in his book.
Let me emphasise again, I have no sympathy or empathy for the reaction the book caused, but come on…it is not credible for me to believe Rushdie wasn’t aware of how some would react.