Britain’s decision to confer the knighthood on Bombay-born author Salman Rushdie has created a major storm in the Islamic world. Iran has said decorating “one of the most hated figures” in the Islamic world is an insult to Islamic values. And the Pakistani government and national assembly have termed it an “insult to Muslims” and urged Britain to immediately withdraw the title.
The objections stem from The Satanic Verses, the book that fetched a fatwa on Sir Salman from the Iranian spiritual leader, Ayatollah Khomeini. “Honouring and commending an apostate and hated figure will definitely put the British officials (in a position) of confrontation with Islamic societies,” an Iranian spokesman said. He added the knighthood showed that the process of insulting Islamic sanctities was not accidental but was being supported by some western countries.
Is the West deliberately playing a devious game of politics in the post-9/11 world by honouring writers such as Rushdie and V.S. Naipaul as Iran alleges? Or is the Islamic world overreacting to one book by Rushdie while ignoring his substantial body of work? Will the title, which has delighted the literary world, bring danger to Rushdie once again? Should Britain take back the title?
Related story: Midnight’s Knight
“apostate”: Now here is a word that conjures all sorts of scary demons in one’s mind. The idea that one has to be loyal to one’s religion by birth is preposterous.
I hope somebody takes out the nut jobs in Tehran. As a staunch supporter of the neo-conservative ideas of spreading democracy, I believe that Bush and co fought the wrong war. It should have been Iran from day one. The Iranians have been asking for trouble all along, this time, they should get what they deserve. It is time to call Iran’s bluff.
Maybe the Islamic world can start by demonizing all those in their societies who spew venom and hatred against the “idolators” and “infidels”? As of now, such people are actually lionized and such ideas are in text books!
Dear All,
Since when did the Islamic World start getting involved in logic! QED
Good gesture by the British ! India should do like wise and Sonia’s congress should show the world as to how secular they are.
Melange,
While the current regime in Iran is a bunch of nutjobs, some of the neo-conservatives dont give the impression of being sane either. It’s just Christianity instead of Islam for them. However the crusade you propose does make sense.
Poor Saddam was just a secular dictator like Musharraf.
Conferring Knighthood on Salman Rushdie is to be welcomed by all.Britain has asserted that it need not take the opinion of other Countries to Knight a person of its choice.It is India which is afraid of international opinion that too mid.east countries even on domestic matters.
There is no parallel in history that a head of state issueing a Fatwa to kill a person. Ayatollah of Iran wanted to efface Rushdie just beacause he felt blasphemy in Satanic Verses only after India banned it.
The literary community in the world should welcome it.
I am feeling very British these days…:)