Uproar over Rushdie’s knighthood

Iran says Britain is "fighting against Islam" following his award of a knighthood to author Salman Rushdie.

The writer spent nine years in hiding after the Iran issued a religious fatwa against him. "Honouring and commending an apostate and hated figure will definitely put the British officials in confrontation with Islamic societies," said Iran's foreign affairs spokesman Mohammed Ali Hosseini at his weekly press briefing. "This act shows that insulting Islamic sacred values is not accidental. It is planned, organised, guided and supported by some Western countries."

Meanwhile Pakistan has also condemned the knighthood. A cabinet minister said the honor provided a justification for suicide attacks. "This is an occasion for the (world's) 1.5 billion Muslims to look at the seriousness of this decision," Mohammed Ijaz ul-Haq, religious affairs minister, said in parliament. "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," ul-Haq said.

In Multan, students burned effigies of Queen Elizabeth II and Rushdie. About 100 students (photo above) carrying banners condemning the author also chanted, "Kill him! Kill him!"

Lawmakers in Pakistan's lower house of parliament on Monday passed a resolution proposed by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sher Afgan Khan Niazi who branded Rushdie a blasphemer. "

Love Rushdie or hate him, Rushdie is one of the finest authors currently writing in the English language. Midnight’s Children is certainly among the best novels written in the last 30 years. If idiots in Iran or Pakistan are up in arms over what was one of his weakest works then it is their problem, not Britain’s. Perhaps those students burning effigies of the Queen in Multan would do better to get back to their studies and work for a better and more prosperous Pakistan.

Bloody hell this is my 900th post!