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'Things are going to explode again' as Rushdie plans paperback Satanic

Muslim leaders have warned that they would be another round of rioting and bedlam in Britain.

"Things are going to explode again -- and this time it will be worse," stormed Britain's Muslim Parliament leader, Dr Ghayasuddin Siddiqui.

Despite the mass outrage provoked by The Satanic Verses, Rushdie's publishers, Random House, now seem bent on relighting the flames of anger. The paperback edition is expected to be out in a few weeks.

Says Dr Siddiqui, "Rushdie barely survived his hardback edition. It appears unlikely he will survive his paperback."

Rushdie has been under police protection since Valentine's Day 1989, when his controversial novel hit the stores.

Its publication caused widespread rioting across the world amid accusations that it insulted Islam, and it ultimately led to a fatwa being placed on the author by the then spiritual leader of Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini.

The bounty on Rushdie's head currently stands at $ 2.5 million -- despite the arrival in Teheran of the relatively liberal regime of President Mohammed Khatami.

A hunted man, Rushdie was forced into hiding in 1989 and original plans for a paperback edition were scrapped.

The author was reported as confirming the novel would be published under Vintage, the paperback division of Random House. He said, "While this is, of course, a satisfying final step, it is scarcely more than a reprint."

In 1995, he landed himself into a spot of trouble with his Booker Prize-nominated novel, The Moor's Last Sigh in which the main character is said to be based on Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray. But the controversy soon blew over.

Things appeared to be looking up for the hounded author earlier this year when he met Prime Minister Tony Blair and Foreign Secretary Robin Cook.

The landmark meeting was arranged after Rushdie asked for a long sought-after public show of support.

Both gave him the government's backing and assured him they would do their best to secure the lifting of the fatwa.

In a recent newspaper interview, Rushdie, who remarried last year and became a father again after the birth of son Milan, said, "I'm optimistic about what I can do. I can show this hasn't defeated me.

"But what I can't do is solve the problem. Britain must take the lead.

"If the (European Union) presidency ends without a major British show of initiative, it is empty. They have their chance. I very much hope they will take it."

Just when he thought that it was safe to go back into public life, the new plans have brought all the anger and outrage back with a vengeance.

UK Action Committee on Islamic Affairs joint convenor Iqbal Sacranie said the move was a kick in the teeth of Muslims around the world.

"Rushdie and the publishers did not learn any lessons from last time and are showing no remorse," he added.

"No doubt they are aware of this and are courting controversy to sell more books, but all they will achieve is to feel the contempt and wrath of our community."

In America and Canada, paperback editions of The Satanic Verses, published by another company, have already been available for a couple of years.

Those campaigning on behalf of the Booker Prize-winning writer say this is a clear incitement to international terrorism and are calling upon the EU to review its dialogue with Iran.

Dr Siddiqui ended with a scary message. "Rushdie seems keen on achieving martyrdom -- he might be lucky this time around."

The International Rushdie Defence Committee is hoping to get galvanised into action if things go out of hand. IRDS secretary Carmel Bedford was hoping that better sense would prevail.

Random House have refused to comment on the matter.

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