The president of Bradford's Council for Mosques has called for the withdrawal of Salman Rushdie's book The Satanic Verses despite the Iranian government releasing its author from a death sentence.

Mr Rushdie was condemned to death by edict or fatwa by the former Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini in 1989 for writing the book which he said blasphemed against Islam.

But yesterday the author, who has lived in hiding in fear of his life ever since, was celebrating after the Iranian government pledged it would not assist or encourage his assassination.

But president of Bradford Council for Mosques Liaquat Hussain said the book should still be withdrawn from publication despite the relaxing of the fatwa.

Bradford was the first place in England where the book was burned in protest, outside city hall in 1989.

Mr Hussain said: "There has been no threat to Mr Rushdie's life from British Muslims, therefore our position hasn't changed.

"But it must be remembered that the material in the book is something which deeply upsets Muslims. It is my personal opinion that as long as the book is in circulation, the threat to the author's life will continue in some circles.

"What we have said all along is that the book should be withdrawn. That will not change and what has happened in Iran is irrelevant.

"Every time it is published it continues to antagonise and enrage Muslim feelings and sensibilities and therefore it will always be a source of contention."

Waterstones in the Wool Exchange, Bradford, today confirmed that it still had copies of Satanic Verses in stock.

A spokesman for the company said it could not comment further because it was a controversial issue.

Nobody from its public relations department was available.

Dillons in Market Street, Bradford, also has the book in stock. A spokesman said it would consider withdrawing it if it received complaints, but had not had any.

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