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June 18, 2007
Pakistan/Iran: Muslims Condemn Rushdie's Knighthood
The Indian-born author Salman Rushdie, who received a death fatwa on February 14, 1989 after he penned "The Satanic Verses", was honored with a knighthood on Friday June 15. The knighthood awarded to Sir Salman was part of the "Queen's Birthday Honors". The Queen has little influence on who receives awards, as the candidates are usually selected by government. Rushdie was among 20 other individuals to receive knighthoods. In total, 946 honors were distributed.
The original death fatwa was issued by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who died shortly afterwards. Khomeini's fatwas officially remain in force, including his unbelievable fatwas sanctioning sex with animals and babies. Only someone with more religious authority can invalidate a fatwa. In the Shia world, Ayatollah Khomeini was "supreme" and thus can only be equalled in theological status, and not outdone. Therefore, it is impossible to lift his fatwas. In 1998, Kamal Kharazi, then Iranian Foreign Minister, officially stepped back from sanctioning the fatwa, even though an Iranian foundation had placed a $2.8 million reward on anyone who killed the author.
The Guardian and Times report on the reactions in Iran. Mohammad Ali Hosseini, a spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry, claimed the award of a knighthood to Rushdie was orchestrated aggression against Muslim societies. He said Rushdie was "one of the most hated" figures in the Muslim world.
He said: "Honouring and commending an apostate and hated figure will definitely put the British officials [in a position] of confrontation with Islamic societies. This act shows that insulting Islamic sacred [values] is not accidental. It is planned, organised, guided and supported by some western countries."
"Giving a badge to one of the most hated figures in Islamic society is... an obvious example of fighting against Islam by high-ranking British officials."
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that Rushdie was an apostate whose blood should be said. He told pilgrims traveling to Mecca: "They talk about respect towards all religions, but they support such a mahdour al-damm mortad as Salman Rushdie." Mortad (murtad) is an apostate, and "Mahdour al-damm" is a title given to someone whose blood can be shed without receiving punishment.
The Foreign Office claimed: "The key thing from our point of view is that the Iranian Government formally withdrew their support for the fatwa on Salman Rushdie in 1998 which is when Britain and Iran formally upgraded their relationship to the level of ambassador."
In Pakistan, the Rushdie knighthood was today the subject of a parliamentary debate, as reported by the Sun, Associated Press, Bloomberg and the Australian Herald Sun.
The parliament unanimously condemned the decision to knight Rushdie, in response to a motion called by Sher Afghan Niazi, the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs. Niazi called Rushdie a "blasphemer". In the city of Multan in the west, fanatical student protesters burned effigies of the Queen and Rushdie. 100 students carried banners and chanted "Kill him! Kill him!"
Tasnim Aslam, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said: "We deplore the decision of the British government to knight him. This we feel is insensitive and we would convey our sentiments to the British government."
The most outrageous statement came from Pakistan's Religious Affairs Minister (pictured), Mohammed Ijaz ul-Haq. He 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."
According to ITV News, ul-Haq later claimed he was not supporting suicide bombing. If that was the case, he would not have said what he did.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at June 18, 2007 1:56 PM
Comments
the eastern differences have only the right to remain within the boundaries of their own jurisdiction...they are foolish to mix together politics with religion...the foolhardy are always falling off the edge with no common sense...an opinion expressed is an opinion expressed an ultimatum is an attempt at takeover and shows what the tyrant is...
Posted by: Whitewolf ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.westernresistance.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at June 18, 2007 9:18 PM
Whilst I have no liking for Rushdie as an author, he is entitled to have and express opinions in those countries where he has chosen to live. If others living the west or in Islamic countries have different opinions, then that is entirely up to them. They are, however, not entitled (at least in the west) to call for or solicit his death.
If Rushdie is foolish enough to visit a country where Islamic law prevails, then that is at his own risk. If Muslims who have chosen to live in the west cannot accept that here people are free to say and think what they wish, then perhaps they might consider moving back to their whichever muslim paradise they prefer - and good riddance to such intolerence.
Posted by: Utrinque at June 19, 2007 6:27 AM
It's telling that Rushdie presumably fears for his life in multicultural Britain and that's why he lives in New York these days. The Non muslim European attitude to muslims is generally you live in your ghetto and we'll live in ours (i.e multicultralism).
I am very surprised and delighted by this Knighthood for Rushdie. I just hope it doesn't mean that a British muslim will come out of his ghetto and blow himself up somewhere in response.
Posted by: keypointist at June 20, 2007 8:15 AM
Good one, of course the very peaceful 'Muslims' are justified for destroying the whole world over this. What? The Queen can't Knight someone she likes? She can't knight someone that other people don't like?
But I'm sure Sir Rushdie has mixed emotions on this; the Queen has put him in much greater danger. Maybe he'll wish he had turned it down.
At least this incident will lose the terrorists even more of their dhimmidiot appeasers.
Islam in it's extreme is more political ideology than religion. In that way, it is only a 'Religion of Peace' in that when Islam rules the planet, there will be no one to be at war with. Where they are given an inch, they demand a mile. Islamic countries are becoming more extreme, extremists rule, they just keep quoting the Koran to justify their Jihad.
absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
appease religious killers
continue to spoil them
violent tantrums pay off
.
Posted by: USpace at June 21, 2007 2:12 AM
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