It has been 33 years since the fatwa from Iran that meant author, Salman Rushdie, had to go into hiding. In recent years, be began resuming his life but, as we saw in a violent demonstration in New York state yesterday, the threat never went away. Today’s Mishal Husain spoke with crossbench peer and close friend of Salman Rushdie, Baroness Frances D’Souza, who led his defence after the Fatwa in 1989, working with the Human Rights group ‘Article 19’ at the time. Mishal also spoke with writer and close friend, Lisa Appignanesi, who is the former president of English PEN which supports writers at risk and freedom of expression.

(Image: Salman Rushdie court case, Credit: Lewis Whyld)