The RSL is taking bookings from Members and Fellows only. Public tickets are available via the British Library website

Nearly 20 years after Salman Rushdie was forced into hiding following the publication of The Satanic Verses, former campaigners in his defence come together with writers and activists to talk about their fight for freedom of expression then and now. Melvyn Bragg is an acclaimed writer and broadcaster, and presented 'The South Bank Show' for ITV from 1978 to 2010. Frances D’Souza is a member of the House of Lords and former chair of the International Committee for the Defence of Salman Rushdie. Caroline Michel has been CEO of Peters Fraser and Dunlop literary agents since 2007. Yasmin Rehman is  CEO of GrIP (Greenwich Inclusion Project) a strategic race equality and hate crime organisation based in London and is a Fellow of the Muslim Institute. Their conversation is chaired by Lisa Appignanesi, novelist, campaigner for free expression and Chair of the Royal Society of Literature.

This is a Banned Books Week event, in partnership with the British Library, Free Word and Islington Library and Heritage Service.