March 17, 2002	Sunday	Muharram 2, 1423

LONDON, March 16: Air Canada has banned British author Salman Rushdie from its flights because of the long delays due to extra security provided to the man when he travels.

Air Canada spokeswoman Laura Cooke says the airline has concluded the same measures would be applied on flights within Canada as well. She said the delays could be up to three hours in any flight Mr Rushdie travels.

“Therefore the Air Canada has chosen to keep Rushdie off its flights”, she added.

The late Iranian spiritual leader Ayatollah Khomeini had issued a death edict against Rushdie for blaspheming the Holy Prophet (pbuh) in his book, “Satanic Verses”.