NPR: Pakistani Official: Rushdie Knighthood Insults Muslims

Pakistani Official: Rushdie Knighthood Insults Muslims

Pakistani Muslims torch a British flag as they shout slogans during a protest in Lahore today to condemn the knighthood awarded to Salman Rushdie.

Arif Ali/AFP/Getty Images

Normally, when you get knighted, a lot of nice things happen to you. People take you out for lunch, you get to meet the queen, people call you sir -- all the time. But for novelist Salman Rushdie, whom Queen Elizabeth designated for knighthood this weekend, it seems it just means more trouble.

The Guardian reports that Mohammed Ijaz ul-Haq, Pakistan's religious affairs minister, told the country's parliament that, basically, the knighthood is an insult to Muslims.

"The west is accusing Muslims of extremism and terrorism. If someone exploded a bomb on his body he would be right to do so unless the British government apologizes and withdraws the 'sir' title."

Rushdie has been a figure of contempt to many in the Muslim world since his book The Satanic Verses was published in 1988. They accuse him of including blasphemous references to the Prophet Muhammed and to the Quran in the work. Rushdie lived in hiding for many years after a religious fatwa called for his death.

As recently as 2004, Rushdie was forced to flee the city of his birth, Mumbai, India, because of threats against his life.

Ul-Haq later tried to explain his remarks by saying he was only talking about the kind of events that lead to terrorism, not inciting it. Meanwhile, a government resolution attacking the award was passed unanimously in Pakistan's lower assembly.

Muhammad Abdul Bari, secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain, said Muslims in Britain would regard the award as the "final insult" from Tony Blair before he leaves office. (The queen makes most of the picks for these kinds of awards based on suggestions from the prime minister.)

4:32 PM ET | 06-18-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Clearly we need at least one more Crusade...

Sent by Mike Jackson | 7:31 PM ET | 06-18-2007

Whilst I have no particular interest in Sir Salman's novels I am pleased to see him honoured as his knighthood demonstrates that whilst honouring our own we will not be intimidated or influenced by outside political pressures.

It is of course ludicrous to claim that this honour is "an obvious example of fighting against Islam by high-ranking British officials." Were this true we would not have seen a 2005 knighthood bestowed by The Queen upon Sir Iqbal Sacranie, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain, described by The Guardian as the "Most Influential Muslim in the UK."

Rather than criticise the British government, Iran should congratulate Britain for having recently raised a number of British Muslims to the highest ranks of British Society as members of the House of Lords. These include Lord Ahmed of Rotherham, the first Muslim peer; Lord Patel of Blackburn, leader of the British Hajj Delegation; Baroness Falkner of Margravine; and Baroness Uddin of Bethnal Green. See my blog for more: http://www.bloggingyoungfogey.blogspot.com

Sent by Rafal | 10:25 PM ET | 06-18-2007

how can we be angry at the response of the world when they expect us to "march to their drum "when we have the same response to their not marching to our drum
e.g. the wearing of veils

we do not and they insist and yet we can not go to their country without a veil

Sent by karen | 8:46 AM ET | 06-19-2007

Are Muslims in Pakastan so sensitive that they take it as an insult if someone they dislike is knighted in another country? Why do some Muslims think that they can strongarm others into being "non-offensive" through violence? There is something very wrong with this picture. Do the Muslims in Pakastan know that many in the West also find it "offensive" that they use these tactics to try to get their way? If they do know this, would that make them stop?

Sent by Jeremiah H | 11:02 AM ET | 06-19-2007

Why in the world would the Brits choose to knight Rushdie during these explosive times when there is so much tension between the West and the Muslim world. This further highlights the shallow processing that conveys to the rest of the world that the so called "first world" countries just don't get it.

Sent by Carl | 3:48 PM ET | 06-19-2007

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