After several Iranian reports indicated that a Muslim religious foundation has recently increased the reward for killing famed British writer Salman Rushdie from $2.8 million to $3.3 million, the staff of The Gabbler were a bit dismayed to learn that they too have received a fatwa, or legal pronouncement, this week.
According to one of the editors who wishes to remain anonymous, the controversy began when she was eating toast with Nutella as a mid-morning snack on Friday, September 14, 2012. Unfortunately, the editor dropped her toast on the ground, but when she picked it up, she noticed that the remains of the Nutella left a peculiar design on her tiled floor.
To further investigate the semblance of the spread, the editor sent a picture of the spilled Nutella to another Gabbler employee, who subsequently tweeted said image. The image went viral, with many maintaining that it bore a very strong resemblance to the Muslim prophet Mohammad, whose likeness, according to Islamic law, is never to be depicted. Several hours later, a fatwa was reportedly released against the start-up publication.
“I thought it looked more like a butterfly,” explained the editor, who has since gone into hiding. “Or maybe a turtle with skinnier arms. I don’t see Mohammad anywhere! I’m so sorry!”
Mr. Rushdie’s original fatwa was released after his controversial novel, The Satanic Verses, was published in 1989. When an obscure recent American film with anti-Islamic tendencies recently sparked outrage and protests across the Middle East, many suspect it also prompted the increase in Rushdie’s fatwa.
The fatwa against The Gabbler is for $50 and is expected to decrease rapidly over the next few days.
The publication’s editors in chief have declined to comment.
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