# Good news: A fatwa on Reverend Falwell **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 12, 2002, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-a-fatwa-on-reverend-falwell/132009 "2002-10-12T23:46:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WSLer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@WSLer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WSLer)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2002, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-a-fatwa-on-reverend-falwell/132009/1 "2002-10-12T23:46:59Z")
Took them long enough. Apparently some of the highest ranking Iranian holy men have issued a fatwa calling for the death of the Reverend Jerry Falwell in response to his remarks about Islam. It’s about damn time. Of course, seeing as how they issued one on Salman Rushdie over 15 years ago and he’s still running around, I guess I’ll have to put up with Jerry’s screeching’s and bleatings for a while longer. _Sigh_ ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2002, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-a-fatwa-on-reverend-falwell/132009/2 "2002-10-12T23:49:13Z")
No. Advocating the murder of someone for their political or religious opinions is barbaric and disgraceful. That it’s happened to a rather dispicable person does not make it a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![airdisc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e19adc/32.png) [@airdisc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/airdisc)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2002, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-a-fatwa-on-reverend-falwell/132009/3 "2002-10-12T23:52:52Z")
While I don’t approve of murder, if Falwell does get whacked, It’ll be hard to muster much sympathy for the pathetic cockrocket. Oh, and would you mind giving me a link to confirm this? ---
**Author:** ![Dignan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Dignan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dignan)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2002, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-a-fatwa-on-reverend-falwell/132009/4 "2002-10-12T23:57:54Z")
I don’t see how this is a good thing either. I don’t think that people that take Falwell seriously need any more fuel to add to their fire of hate for Islam. Not that I would expect Iranian holy men to care, but now that Jerry’s followers know that he’s a marked man they can turn him into their own kind of martyr. By issuing (?) a fatwa on Falwell it makes it look like someone is trying to silence him because he’s telling the truth. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-a-fatwa-on-reverend-falwell/132009/5 "2002-10-13T00:01:25Z")
[http://www.iranmania.com/news/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=12490&NewsKind=CurrentAffairs](http://www.iranmania.com/news/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=12490&NewsKind=CurrentAffairs) Thank goodness for Google News. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-a-fatwa-on-reverend-falwell/132009/6 "2002-10-13T00:18:14Z")
Just want to point out that IIRC, any Imam can issue a fatwa for pretty much any reason, and these are not always taken entirely seriously by the faithful. According to the linked article, this was issued by one person only, Ayatollah Mohsen Mujtahed Shabestari (admittedly fairly high up in the Iranian hierarchy). Now, if the Iranian government should put up a large reward, as it did for Rushdie’s head, that’s certainly worthy of concern. Nevertheless, this is the last thing we need. Falwell and his ilk have been trying to turn US involvement in the Middle East into some sort of Holy Crusade for years. But the worst thing is that now I just know I’m gonna have to listen to sanctimonius pricks like Pat Robertson and jingoistic jackasses like Ann Coulter hammering on this for the next several years. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-a-fatwa-on-reverend-falwell/132009/7 "2002-10-13T00:19:12Z")
A plague on both their houses! I’d like to sit on the sidelines and watch them battle it out, but the victor would emerge even stronger and more free from fear and doubt. ---
**Author:** ![JonScribe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3be4f8/32.png) [@JonScribe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JonScribe)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-a-fatwa-on-reverend-falwell/132009/8 "2002-10-13T00:24:12Z")
I get the feeling that Falwell’s remarks were calculated just for this outcome. What did he think he was going to achieve by calling Mohammed a terrorist? Just this: Making such an insult from the security of Lynchburg he can buy himself another 15 minutes of fame, adulation from his misguided supporters and, certainly, more financial support for his empire. The difference between Rushdie and Falwell is that Falwell wanted this “death sentence.” If he’s trying to impress me with his faith in God’s protection, let him go to Mecca and make the same statement. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-a-fatwa-on-reverend-falwell/132009/9 "2002-10-13T00:32:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JonScribe \* > \*\* > …If he’s trying to impress me with his faith in God’s protection, let him go to Mecca and make the same statement. \*\* Since mere Great-Satan unbelievers (non-Muslims) are not permitted to enter Mecca, that could be tough. ---
**Author:** ![JonScribe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3be4f8/32.png) [@JonScribe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JonScribe)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-a-fatwa-on-reverend-falwell/132009/10 "2002-10-13T00:40:12Z")
I’m sure they’ll make a brief exception. ---
**Author:** ![Blackeyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f6c823/32.png) [@Blackeyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackeyes)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-a-fatwa-on-reverend-falwell/132009/11 "2002-10-13T01:58:32Z")
v ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-a-fatwa-on-reverend-falwell/132009/12 "2002-10-13T02:00:11Z")
It’s still kinda funny, if you think about it. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-a-fatwa-on-reverend-falwell/132009/13 "2002-10-13T02:10:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Guinastasia \* > \*\*It’s still kinda funny, if you think about it. \*\* I agree. It’s generally a hoot when people are targeted for murder because of what they said. ---
**Author:** ![BlackKnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/eb8c5e/32.png) [@BlackKnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackKnight)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-a-fatwa-on-reverend-falwell/132009/14 "2002-10-13T02:15:29Z")
Generally? No. In this case? Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-a-fatwa-on-reverend-falwell/132009/15 "2002-10-13T02:22:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by samclem \* > \*\*[http://www.iranmania.com/news/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=12490&NewsKind=CurrentAffairs](http://www.iranmania.com/news/ArticleView/Default.asp?NewsCode=12490&NewsKind=CurrentAffairs) > \*\* Hey, looks like Pat Robertson and Franklin Graham also made the list. I don’t advocate killing, but I wouldn’t miss these guys if they disappeared. ---
**Author:** ![JerseyDiamond](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8491ac/32.png) [@JerseyDiamond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerseyDiamond)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-a-fatwa-on-reverend-falwell/132009/16 "2002-10-13T02:37:30Z")
[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2002/10/12/international1939EDT0641.DTL](http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2002/10/12/international1939EDT0641.DTL) My source says something different. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-a-fatwa-on-reverend-falwell/132009/17 "2002-10-13T03:26:52Z")
C’mon, people this is barbaric. I stand second to none, but cheering on the death of Falwell is just hareful. Anybody who’s read the Pit thread I started knows I have no love for the evangelical crowd, but having forceful disagreement is one thing; hoping for their death is quite another. That’s just plain wrong. ---
**Author:** ![happyheathen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5e925/32.png) [@happyheathen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happyheathen)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-a-fatwa-on-reverend-falwell/132009/18 "2002-10-13T03:32:25Z")
But it’s OK for W do wish Osama dead? or Saddam? ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-a-fatwa-on-reverend-falwell/132009/19 "2002-10-13T03:38:01Z")
> [@](#): > > But it’s OK for W do wish Osama dead? > > or Saddam? If you’re copmparing a pompous, polyester-clad con man with the architect of 9/11 and a manaical dictator who has murdered thousands, you need to rethink. Falwell is a putz; Osama murdered thousands of American, and Saddam has sponsored terror, the Iran-Iraq war, and is a threat to US security. Big fucking difference, I’d say. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2002, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-a-fatwa-on-reverend-falwell/132009/20 "2002-10-13T03:51:45Z")
I’m not cheering. I just think it’s kind of typical. I mean, it’s like, Falwell does this, so they issue a death threat. Then he’ll curse them with an eternity in Hell, and they’ll say that Allah will curse him and so forth. It’s insane. Or maybe I’m just not taking it seriously. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-news-a-fatwa-on-reverend-falwell/132009.md?page=2)