In Islamic countries, The Satanic Verses caused great controversy, because many Muslims accused the book of blasphemy. As a result, the supreme leader of Iran, Saeed Ruholla Khomeini, gave the order to kill. After the Islamic trial, Luxidi was placed under the protection of the British police, and Britain and Iran even broke off diplomatic relations for a time. Although Iran issued a compromise statement in 1998, and Luxidi also said that he would not continue to live in hiding, the death penalty announced by Iran has not been abolished so far, and according to Islamic regulations, the only person who can withdraw the killing order is the person who issued the killing order, the late Khomeini.

Although Rudy was never physically assaulted, many translators and publishers of Satan's poems were killed.