I tried reading "Satanic Verses" once and could NOT get into it, which is saying something, as I'm a voracious reader. I think the best thing that could happen to the book was the Fatwa (so long as it was not carried out). The artist formerly known as Cat Stevens got into a bit o' trouble in that era and the artist then and currently known as Richard Thompson had some pungent remarks as well, although I believe in the latter case he was simply commenting on Rushdie, not on the Fatwa.

Rushdie being interviewed on the wireless was pretty good.

I think there is a large disjunction in the concept of what is and is not heretical or blasphemous, and there is a literalism in the Islamic community which once was, but for the most part is no longer, in the Christian world. The reason is a combination of perceived status in the world, and the fact that Islam is a somewhat younger religion which has not entered its "Enlightenment" phase. 600 years ago people were treated as badly in Europe for perceived violations of the faith.

We're seeing not merely a clash of cultures but a disjunction in timelines.