Topic: Fatwa

Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has called for the assassination of U.S. and Israeli leaders in revenge for the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an airstrike in February. This statement coincides with a U.S.-imposed deadline for Iran to guarantee freedom of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The situation is described as a "tit-for-tat" escalation that threatens global oil prices.

U.S. intelligence has briefed Donald Trump on credible Iranian plots to assassinate him in retaliation for the 2020 killing of Qasem Soleimani. Iran has reportedly issued fatwas against several former U.S. officials, including John Bolton and Brian Hook. Trump has stated that if he were president, he would inform Iran that any harm to a U.S. candidate would result in their largest cities being "blown to smithereens."

Author Salman Rushdie was stabbed on stage in New York, 33 years after a fatwa was issued against him by Iran. The timing of the attack, along with reported Iranian plots against John Bolton and Mike Pompeo, coincides with the Biden administration's efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal.

The hosts speculate that the attack on Salman Rushdie may be leveraged by political factions opposed to the Iran nuclear deal. They note that Iran's current leadership reaffirmed the fatwa as recently as 2019 on social media, suggesting the threat never truly dissipated.

A US military raid unearthed a detailed ISIS code of conduct regarding the treatment of female sex slaves, primarily from the Yazidi minority. The fatwa includes specific prohibitions, such as forbidding an owner from having sex with both a mother and her daughter, which the hosts discuss in the context of extremist recruitment.

A Reuters report claims that ISIS religious scholars have sanctioned the harvesting of human organs from living captives to save Muslim lives. While the report admits the document cannot be independently verified, it raises fears of organ trafficking. This transitions into a bizarre story from Saudi Arabia where a man was caught selling his own urine as "camel urine" for medicinal and cosmetic use.

Artist Spencer Tunick organized a massive nude installation in Munich involving over a thousand people painted red and gold to recreate scenes from Wagner's operas. In contrast, an art gallery in Tunisia was attacked, and a religious leader issued a fatwa calling for the slaughter of artists for blasphemy. The discussion highlights the stark cultural differences in the treatment of provocative art.

Reports indicate Iran has restricted internet access and banned the sale of roses ahead of February 14th. The hosts review historical events occurring on that date, including the 1989 fatwa against Salman Rushdie and the nationalization of the Bank of England.

Author Salman Rushdie expressed outrage over Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens) performing at Jon Stewart's "Rally to Restore Sanity." The conflict stems from Islam's 1989 comments supporting the fatwa against Rushdie for his book, *The Satanic Verses*. The hosts revisit the history of Cat Stevens' conversion to Islam in the late 1970s and his subsequent departure from the music industry before his recent return.

Microsoft executive Craig Mundy's suggestion that bloggers should be licensed is met with derision. The discussion shifts to TSA body scanners, noting a fatwa issued against their use by Muslims and the potential health risks of millimeter waves. The hosts criticize former DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff for profiting from the sale of these scanners through his consulting firm.