Turkey Imposes Ban on Import and Sale of 'Satanic Verses'

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey on Friday banned the import, sale and distribution of Salman Rushdie's "The Satanic Verses," a book denounced by Muslims as blasphemous.

The government of this predominantly Muslim country gave no reason why the ban came months after controversy erupted elsewhere over the book.

Turkish publishers have not translated or published the book, fearing possible violent reaction from Muslim fundamentalists.

Turkish officials deplored the call by the late Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini for the murder of Rushdie, who still lives in hiding.