Knighthood for Rushdie foments anger in Pakistan

[_DigitaLVampirE_]

Britain's defense of Salman Rushdie's knighthood has sparked anger of Muslims around the globe causing fresh protests against the novelist.

The question is why a man who has hurt the feelings of the Muslims should be given such a title. Is this another part of British diplomacy to chip away at the grandeur of Islam and the position of the Muslim Ummah? There is indeed no limit to the shameful policy of the British queen who is now comfortably ensconced in her throne, gloating over the ire she has incurred.

Rushdie was given the award on Saturday, 18 years after he was sentenced to death by a fatwa (decree) issued by the late Imam Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, for writing his blasphemous book, "The Satanic Verses".
Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets in India and Pakistan, the crowd chanting "Death to Britain! Death to Rushdie".

Muslim youths burned effigies of Rushdie in a protest in Singapore's summer capital Srinagar. Protesters rallied in Malaysia on Wednesday, and Iraq also condemned the Rushdie award.

The Indonesian foreign minister Hassan Wirajuda, commented on the issue that the "timing of the British award to Rushdie has not created a conducive situation" for understanding between religions.

Following this provocative act, Islamabad and Tehran summoned the British ambassadors to receive complaints about the Rushdie award.

Britain defended the knighthood late Wednesday causing a surge of protests by enraged Muslims.

British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said Britain was "sorry if there are people who have taken very much to heart this honor, which is after all for a lifelong body of literary work."

Earlier, the British Home Secretary John Reid said the government stood by the award.

"I think we have a set of values that accrues people honors for their contribution to literature even when they don't agree with our point of view ... That's our way and that's what we stand by," Reid said.

It should be noted that this title is generally granted to those who have contributed to Britain and its goals.

Such statements by British officials clearly indicate their lack of respect for the beliefs of others.

Since Rushdie has outraged the Muslim world by writing his insulting book, one can assume the goal Rushdie has contributed to and was awarded for is none other than Islamophobia.

The world could be a better place to live in if the people learned to respect each other's beliefs.

By Hedieh Ghavidel|Thu, 21 Jun 2007

“Knighthood to Rushdie: Adding insult to injury”

[_DigitaLVampirE_]

Muslim youths burned effigies of Rushdie in a protest in Singapore's summer capital Srinagar.

I didn't realise Singapore teleported itself to Kashmir for summer. Darn, and i forgot to pack my cameras.