1988
The Rushdie Affair, also known as, the Satanic Verses controversy. Written by Salman Rushdie, the Satanic Verses was published by Viking Penguin on 26 September 1988.

In Islamic communities, the novel became instantly controversial, because of what some Muslims considered blasphemous references. In late October 1998, the import of the book was banned in India. In November 1988, it was also banned in Bangladesh, Sudan, and South Africa. By December 1988, it was also banned in Sri Lanka. March 1989 saw it banned in Kenya, Thailand, Tanzania, Indonesia, and Singapore. The last nation to ban the book was Venezuela, in June 1989.

The Muslim community in the City of Bradford gained international attention in January 1989 when some of its members organised a public book-burning of The Satanic Verses.

On 14 February 1989, Ayatollah Khomeini, a leader of Iran, issued a fatwa calling for the death of Rushdie and his publishers.