British Airways has lifted its nine-year ban on author Salman Rushdie flying with the airline. BA said yesterday it was now happy to carry the Satanic Verses author from January 1st, 1999, after receiving assurances from the Foreign Office.
The ban was imposed on security grounds after Iran imposed a death sentence fatwa on Mr Rushdie after his controversial book was published. But last September, Iran said it would not take action to threaten the life of the author, effectively signalling the ending of the fatwa.