Update [June 19, 2007]: Rushdie knighthood ‘justifies suicide attacks’:
The award of a knighthood to the author Salman Rushdie justifies suicide attacks, a Pakistani government minister said today.
“This is an occasion for the 1.5 billion Muslims to look at the seriousness of this decision,” Mohammed Ijaz ul-Haq, religious affairs minister, told the Pakistani parliament in Islamabad. “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 apologises and withdraws the ‘sir’ title.”
Someone should kick their ass and tell these assholes that nothing justifies suicide attacks. If they are so much repulsed by Salman Rushdie or what he has written in his book, they should come up with a counter book. They should write their own version of The Satanic Verses and let the world know what was wrong with the original book. But then that’s a tougher task than blowing up people. Any moron can blow himself or the others up.
Update ends
Salman Rushdie has been knighted. And Iran obviously has a problem with that. Ah! The Muslims of the world have been downright insulted.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said the decision to grant Britain’s highest honor to Rushdie, who wrote the controversial novel “The Satanic Verses,” was an insult to the Muslim world.
“Awarding a person who is among the most detested characters in the Islamic society is obvious proof of anti-Islamism by ranking British officials,” said Hosseini during his weekly press conference.
Calling him “Sir Salman Rushdie” seems strange as he has always sounded sort of anti-establishment. It makes you sad when your idol is blemished, tarnished by colonial titles and he feels proud of it:
“I am thrilled and humbled to receive this great honor, and am very grateful that my work has been recognized in this way,” Rushdie said in a statement.
Salman Rushdie is about to turn 60. I’m sure (or I think I’m sure) he would have politely refused the title, although “honored all the same”, had he been in his 30s or 40s. By the age of 60 such titles and nomenclatures begin to matter.
My natural reaction was “Yikes!”, but then I thought, this is a country’s way of appreciating a person’s contribution to a particular field, literature in this case. But the problem is, the person permanently becomes “Sir”. You are always Sir This and Sir That and by the dint of this “Sirness”, you are always tied to a British title. This is something that nags me. For instance, I agree to what this link says:
Britain has an absurd, out-dated, elitist, imperial, patronising and hugely loved and revered honours system. Twice a year or so, the Queen publishes a list of the great and not so great who have been awarded what is technically known as a gong – a peerage, a knighthood and various forms of orders, medals and companions of the British Empire. The liberal establishment tends to sneer and there’s probably a real element of honours in exchange for political favours delivered – and even sometimes the sniff of money playing a part. But nonetheless, the recipients – the real ones who deserve their recognition – by and large appreciate it.
You can read a small profile of his illustrious writing career at the BBC website.
More links on Salman Rushdie being knighted:
- Britain defends knighthood as criticism grows
- The Salmanic Verses: Knighthood For Salman Rushdie
- Salman Rushdie: from fatwa recluse to knighted socialite
- Congratulations, Sir Salman
Technorati Tags: salman rushdie, salman rushdie knighted, salman rushdie honoured, sir salman rushdie
{ 9 comments }
Thank you for linking to Rushdie post at Indian Muslim Blog. That way I was able to discover your awesome blog. Count me as a regular visitor from now on.
Welcome Mohib
. Nice to see you here. I’ve come across your blog a few times through Google blog search.
I disagree with the Sir title being ‘colonial’ – knighthoods predate the colonial period by several hundred years.
I agree though that Rushdie would have turned it down a few decades ago. Possibly he only accepted it now because he knew how much it would annoy Iran.
Yes, John, he might have accepted the title to annoy Iran. He has a good sense of humor
is it still banned in India? i want to read it again. i read a friend’s copy earlier .. wud love to have my own.
Yes, it is banned. Even I’d like to have it.
OPEN LETTER TO CHRISTIANS INTELLECTUALS & SCHOLARS
GIFT BY THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT TO MUSLIM FOR SUPPORTING BRITISH GOVERNMENT IN WAR AGAINST TERROR
WHO ARE FLAMING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MUSLIMS AND CHRISTIANS?
BRITISH GOVERNMENT IS PROVIDE GROUND FOR ANTI CHRISTEN FEELING IN MUSLIM WORLD
The British government awarded title “Sir??? (KNIGHTHOOD) to Salman Rushdi (Called by Muslims as Satan Rushdi)
He is the author of “The Satanic Verses??? who is opposed by Muslim all over the world but European countries are protecting his cruel act and continue to provide him support.
This act is not acceptable for 1.5 billion Muslims and seriousness of this decision should be realized and its impact on Muslim and Christian community relationships around the globe. Awarding a person who is among the most detested characters in the Islamic society is obvious proof of anti-Islamism mentality of British officials. Britain has an absurd, out-dated, elitist, imperial, patronizing and hugely loved and revered honours system. Twice a year or so, the Queen publishes a list of the great and not so great who have been awarded what is technically known as a gong – a peerage, a knighthood and various forms of orders, medals and companions of the British Empire. The liberal establishment tends to sneer and there’s probably a real element of honours in exchange for political favours delivered – and even sometimes the sniff of money playing a part. But nonetheless, the recipients – the real ones who deserve their recognition – by and large appreciate it.
After this act of British Government I would like to place few questions to be considered by those who are flaming the relationship between people of different religions.
Is “Sir??? Osman Bin Ladan and his organization is on the right track?
Talbans are right in killing invaders of Afghanistan?
Iraqis are justified in Killing British troops?
And lastly should 1.5 billion Muslims support an attack on British soil after this decision?
Play your role: Now the time for your right decision to bridge the gap between Christian and Muslim communities throughout world and condemned this decision.
BY : INNOCENT MUSLIM
walid. just cos you have mentioned “intellectuals and scholars”; any “intellectual” or “scholar” will not impose her or his ideas on anyone. so if i as an “intellectual” or “scholar” think that a certain something is bad (a book let’s say), i will completely understand if you don’t agree with me and vice versa.
Great comment, love the design of the site too.
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