A scheduled video address by British-Indian author Salman Rushdie to the Jaipur Literary Festival in India has been canceled.
Sanjoy Roy, the producer of the festival, called the move "unfortunate but necessary to avoid violence."
Roy said some 30 Muslim activists had tried to enter the festival venue.
Police also said large crowds were gathering at city parks to march.
The video link had been organized after Rushdie withdrew from attending the festival, saying that sources had told him of an assassination threat.
Many Muslims regard Rushdie's book, “The Satanic Verses,” as blasphemous and it is banned in India.
In 1989, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa death sentence against Rushdie over the book. The Iranian government later lifted the fatwa.
compiled from agency reports
Sanjoy Roy, the producer of the festival, called the move "unfortunate but necessary to avoid violence."
Roy said some 30 Muslim activists had tried to enter the festival venue.
Police also said large crowds were gathering at city parks to march.
The video link had been organized after Rushdie withdrew from attending the festival, saying that sources had told him of an assassination threat.
Many Muslims regard Rushdie's book, “The Satanic Verses,” as blasphemous and it is banned in India.
In 1989, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa death sentence against Rushdie over the book. The Iranian government later lifted the fatwa.
compiled from agency reports
