fatwa
fat´wa
Noun 1. fatwa - a ruling on a point of Islamic law that is given by a recognized authority
ruling, opinion - the reason for a court's judgment (as opposed to the decision itself)
Islamic law, sharia, sharia law, shariah, shariah law - the code of law derived from the Koran and from the teachings and example of Mohammed; "sharia is only applicable to Muslims"; "under Islamic law there is no separation of church and state"

Ahmed Salman Rushdie
Noun 1. Ahmed Salman Rushdie - British writer of novels who was born in India; one of his novels is regarded as blasphemous by Muslims and a fatwa was issued condemning him to death (born in 1947)
Rushdie, Salman Rushdie
author, writer - writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

I wonder if Rushdie is still in hiding.

the fatwa (on Rushdie) was 'lifted' (other clerics made different rulings, and ruled that anyone who harmed him endangered their own 'afterlife'-to discourage anyone from 'carrying out the sentence)

Rushdie is alive and well, and lives in semi anominity in NY (and London)-- he avoid the press, but is not a total recluse. he is no longer given public protections (for a while, police in various cities considered the threats real enough, that he was given 'police escorts' when he went any where in public.--it made him a persona non grata to many cities.) his publisher paid for some private protections too for a while.. now he just fends for himself.
he goes out, and about, but doesn't make 'paid public appearences'(lectures,booktours, visiting professor, etc)-the kind that are well publisized and hard to police-- he presumes his low key life is protections enough. (and so far it is).