In His Most Exalted Name
[Imperialist foreign mass media attributes a lie to the officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran, alleging that if the writer of the book, The Satanic Verses, repents, the death sentence against him would be lifted. Imam Khomeini (may his benign existence endure) said:]
This matter is absolutely false. If Salman Rushdie repents and even becomes the ascetic of the time, it is incumbent upon the Muslims to make use of his life and property in sending him to hell.
[Imam Khamene'i added:]
If a non-Muslim knows his location and has the power to do such a thing that the Muslims could execute him soon, it is incumbent upon the Muslims to give him as a reward whatever he wants for doing so.