In mid-June 2007 Salman Rushdie was given the title of knight by the British Queen Elizabeth II. This action brought much criticism around the world in many countries with Muslim majority populations. Soon after the news of the knighthood was released protests against the honour were held in Malaysia and in Pakistan where effigies of Rushdie were publicly burnt.^[1][2] On June 19, 2007, governments in both Pakistan and Iran summoned their British ambassadors to officially protest the award.^[3] While many groups and individuals have renewed the call to execute Rushdie, the author "is not commenting on the latest threats to his life. It is understood he is anxious not to inflame the situation.”^[4] When asked by the Associated Press if his silence was at the request of the British government, Rushdie replied by e-mail stating "The British authorities have not asked me to do or not do anything. I have simply chosen to remain out of this storm for the moment. And nobody is turning anything down."^[5] Image File history File links Current_event_marker. ... Ahmed Salman Rushdie KBE (Hindi: Urdu: سلمان رشدی; born 19 June 1947) is a British-Indian novelist and essayist. ... Elizabeth II in an official portrait as Queen of Canada (on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002, wearing the Sovereigns badges of the Order of Canada and the Order of Military Merit) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary) (born 21 April 1926), styled HM The... An effigy is a rough representation of a person, for example a George Bush or Guy Fawkes made of straw and old clothing. ... The Associated Press, or AP, is an American news agency, the worlds largest such organization. ...

Knighthood

Rushdie was awarded a knighthood in the Queen's Birthday Honours on June 16, 2007. He remarked "I am thrilled and humbled to receive this great honour, and am very grateful that my work has been recognised in this way."^[6] His knighthood was part of the UK’s twice a year honours ritual “designed to recognise outstanding achievement -- is part of an ancient and complex honours system.” Rushdie’s award was concurrent with 946 honours which included 21 knighthoods.^[7] The knighthood list was determined by independent committees that vet nominations from the government and the public. The Queen and the Prime Minister only had a ceremonial role in approving them.^[8] A statue of an armoured knight of the Middle Ages For the chess piece, see knight (chess). ... The honours system of the United Kingdom is a means of rewarding personal bravery, achievement or service to the country. ...

The arts and media committee (one of eight similar committees) proposed Rushdie’s honor to the main committee who then forwarded it with others to the prime minister. The arts and media committee was chaired by investment banker and former chairman of the trustees of the National Gallery, Lord Rothschild. Its other members were "Jenny Abramsky, the BBC's director of radio and music; novelist and poet Ben Okri, who is vice-president of the English chapter of PEN International, which campaigns on behalf of writers who face persecution; Andreas Whittam Smith, former editor of the Independent; John Gross, the author and former theatre critic of the Sunday Telegraph; and two permanent secretaries, one from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and one from the Scottish executive."^[4] Smith told reporters that the question of political outrage was not one they were authorized to examine, "Very properly, we were concerned only with merit in relation to the level of the award." All other aspects were to for the main committee to examine. The British Foreign Office which has a permanent secretary on the main committee announced that there had been no requests to gauge possible Muslim reaction to the knighthood.^[4] It was noted that Rushdie's 13 books have won numerous awards, including the Booker Prize for Midnight's Children in 1981, the Booker of Bookers prize, the Whitbread novel award (twice), and the James Tait Black memorial prize.^[8][9] Londons National Gallery, founded in 1824, its elegant dome and graceful colonnades,dominating the north side of Trafalgar Square, houses a rich collection of over 2,300 paintings from 1250 to 1900. ... Nathaniel Charles Jacob Rothschild, 4th Baron Rothschild, OM, GBE (born 29 April 1936) is a British investment banker, philanthropist and a member of the prominent Rothschild family of Jewish bankers. ... Jenny Abramsky is Director of BBC Radio and Music External link BBC Website Categories: Substubs | People stubs ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GB£4 billion. ... Ben Okri (born March 15, 1959) is a Nigerian poet and novelist. ... Logo of International PEN International PEN, the worldwide association of writers, was founded in 1921 to promote friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere; to emphasise the role of literature in the development of mutual understanding and world culture; to fight for freedom of expression; and to act as... Andreas Whittam Smith CBE, (born 13 June 1937), British financial journalist, was one of the co-founders of The Independent newspaper in October 1986, and is a former president of the British Board of Film Classification. ... JOhn Gross is the editor of TLS. ... This article deals with The Daily Telegraph in Britain, see The Daily Telegraph (Australia) for the Australian publication The Daily Telegraph is a British broadsheet newspaper founded in 1855. ... DCMS Logo DCMS headquarters in Cockspur Street The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (sometimes abbreviated DCMS) is a department of the British government. ... The Executives logo, shown with English and Scottish Gaelic caption The term Scottish Executive is used in two different, but closely-related senses: to denote the executive arm of Scotlands national legislature (i. ... The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Whitehall, seen from St. ... The Man Booker Prize for Fiction, also known as the Man Booker Prize, or simply the Man Booker, is one of the worlds most important literary prizes, and awarded each year for the best original novel written by a citizen of the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland in... Midnights Children cover Midnights Children (ISBN 039451470X) is a 1980 novel by Salman Rushdie. ...

PEN International had been a constant supporter of Rushdie being honoured, believing that awarding the author (born in India) would be “seen as a positive step in British-Asian relations.”^[4] The director of their London chapter, Nathan Heawood said the group was shocked at the negative reaction, adding "The honour is for services to literature and a very belated recognition that he is a world writer, who was in the vanguard of a writing tradition that exploded in the 80s in south Asia. It seems a shame that a few lines in his fourth novel should have turned him into this hate figure. He has become a Guy Fawkes figure to be thrown on a bonfire whenever it suits a government to divert attention from what is happening in their own countries."^[4] Logo of International PEN International PEN, the worldwide association of writers, was founded in 1921 to promote friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere; to emphasise the role of literature in the development of mutual understanding and world culture; to fight for freedom of expression; and to act as... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

In response to criticism of the award by some foreign nations, the British government stated that Rushdie's honour recognizes free speech and is part of their "desire to honour Muslims in the British community."^[2] British Home Secretary John Reid also defended the award saying that the UK has "a set of values that accrues people honours 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."^[10] Speaking about the reaction to The Satanic Verses Reid insisted that allowing such works was not a plot targeting Islam, saying "A lot of people were upset when John Cleese made Life of Brian. Others had been offended by Mel Gibson's 2004 film, The Passion of the Christ. ...[Britains] have a right to express opinions and a tolerance of other people's point of view, and we don't apologise for that."^[11] In a similar light John Sutherland, emeritus professor of literature and former Booker prize judge, noted that Islam was not the only institution held up for criticism by Rushdie in his most controversial book. He pointed out that “For the writer of The Satanic Verses, which was extremely rude about England, it's certainly unusual [to be so honoured].”^[9] The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the United Kingdom Home Office and is responsible for internal affairs in England and Wales, and for immigration and citizenship for the whole United Kingdom (including Scotland and Northern Ireland). ... John Reid PC (born 8 May 1947) is a British politician who is Home Secretary and Member of Parliament (MP) for the Scottish constituency of Airdrie and Shotts in the United Kingdom. ... The Satanic Verses (1988), 2006 Vintage paperback edition The Satanic Verses is Salman Rushdies fourth novel, first published in 1988 and inspired in part by the life of Muhammad. ... John Marwood Cleese (born 27 October 1939) is an Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award winning English comedian and actor best known for being one of the founding members of the renowned comedy group Monty Python. ... Life of Brian is a film from 1979 by Monty Python which deals with the life of Brian (played by Graham Chapman), a young man born at the nearly the same time as, and in a manger right down the street from Jesus. ... Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson AO (born January 3, 1956) is an American born Australian actor, director, and producer. ... The Passion of the Christ (2004) is an Academy Award nominated film about the last twelve hours of the life of Jesus Christ – from the moment of his arrest, trial to crucifixion – known to Christians as The Passion. Directed by Mel Gibson, it was nominated for three Academy Awards: best...

No date has been announced for the investiture ceremony that will formalize Rushdie becoming a Knight Bachelor. It is likely that his ceremony will either be in 2007 between October and December or be scheduled for early 2008.^[4] Investiture, from the Latin (preposition in and verb vestire, dress from vestis robe) is a rather general term for the formal installation of an incumbent (heir, elect of nominee) in public office, especially by taking possession of its insignia. ... The dignity of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. ...

Iranian reaction

Ambassador summoned

On June 19, 2007, British Ambassador Geoffrey Adams, was summoned to appear before the Iranian Foreign Ministry where he was told by Foreign Ministry director Ebrahim Rahimpour that "This insulting, suspicious and improper act by the British government is an obvious example of fighting against Islam."^[3] The ministry also qualified the honour as rewarding "a hated apostate" and declared it Islamophobic.^[12] Ambassador Adams was told that the knighthood was seen as a “‘provocative act’ which angered one and a half billion Muslims worldwide.”^[13] Adams insisted that “the honour was given for Rushdie's services for literature and should therefore not be regarded as insult.”^[13] Apostasy (Greek απο, apo, away, apart, στασις, stasis, standing) is the formal renunciation of ones religion. ... Manifestations Slavery · Racial profiling · Lynching Hate speech · Hate crime · Hate groups Genocide · The Holocaust · Pogrom Ethnocide · Ethnic cleansing · Race war Religious persecution · Gay bashing Pedophobia · Ephebiphobia Movements Discriminatory Aryanism · Neo-Nazism · Supremacism Kahanism Ku Klux Klan Anti-discriminatory Abolitionism · Civil rights LGBT rights Womens/Universal suffrage · Feminism Mens...

Politicians protest

Also on the 19th, Mohammad Reza Bahonar vice speaker of the Majlis of Iran, told the nation’s parliament that the knighthood “has hurt the feelings of more than 1.5 billion Muslims” and that "Salman Rushdie has turned into a hated corpse which cannot be resurrected by any action. The action by the British queen in knighting Salman Rushdie, the apostate, is an unwise one. The British monarch lives under this illusion that Britain is still a 19th century superpower and that bestowing titles is something still deemed important."^[14] The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini told reporters that "Awarding a person who is one of the most hated figures in the Islamic world is a clear sign of the anti-Islamic stance of high-ranking British officials. …[It proves desecration of Islamic values in the West] is totally organised and done with the support and under the direction of those countries."^[15] Mohammad Reza Bahonar (محمدرضا باهنر in Persian) is the conservative First Vice Speaker of the Parliament of Iran. ... مجلس شورای اسلامی - The Majles; Irans Parliament. ...

On Sunday June 24, 2007 Gholamali Haddadadel, the Iranian speaker of parliament spoke against the honour on state television. He said “The latest act of the British government was shameless and imprudent and can not be interpreted to anything but blind hostility and absolute brainlessness. The Muslims of the world will not leave this imprudent and shameless act without response.”^[7]

Death fatwa still in effect

After Friday prayer services on June 22, 2007 Prominent cleric Hojatoleslam Ahmad Khatami spoke to worshipers by broadcast on state radio from Tehran.^[16] He addressed the death sentence issued by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini against Rushdie, saying "In the Islamic Iran that revolutionary fatwa of Imam [Khomeini] is still alive and cannot be changed."^[17] He went on to say that "The old and decrepit government of Great Britain should know that the era of their empire is over and today they are a valet in the service of the United States." While in 1998 the Iranian government (under British diplomatic pressure) declared it would "neither support nor hinder assassination operations on Rushdie,"^[18] many clerics like Khatami rejected the move.^[7] Even soon after the government's disavowl , the Iranian press reported three clerics calling on their followers to kill Rushdie, stating that the fatwa was irrevocable.^[7] As late as January 2005 Khomeini's successor, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced that “he still believed the British novelist was an apostate whose killing would be authorized by Islam.”^[17] Hojatoleslam (or hojatalislam) is an honorific title meaning proof of Islam, given to middle-ranking Shia clerics of the rank of mujtahid. ... Ahmad Khatami is one of the Iranian hardliner clerics who has very strong ties with the supreme leader. ... Ayatollah redirects here. ... Grand Ayatollah Seyyed Ruhollah Khomeini ( ) (Persian: روح الله موسوی خمینی RÅ«ollāh MÅ«savÄ« KhomeynÄ« (May 17, 1900[1] – June 3, 1989) was a Shi`i Muslim cleric and marja (religious authority), and the political leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution which saw the overthrow of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the last Shah of... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Grand Âyatollâh   (Persian: آیت‌الله سید علی حسینی کس ننه ای Ä€yatollāh Seyyed `AlÄ« ḤoseynÄ« KhāmeneÄ«) (born 17 July 1939), also known as Seyyed Ali Khamenei,[1] is the current Supreme Leader of Iran and was the president of Iran from 1981 to 1989. ...

Iranian newspapers have been covering the story extensively viewing both Rushdie and the British government in a negative light. One example is a the Jomhuri Eslami newspaper which reflecting on Queen Elizabeth II said, "The question is what the old British crone sought by knighting Rushdie: to help him? Well, her act only shortens Rushdie's pathetic life."^[19]

On June 25, 2008 foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini was confronted by the local media on why Iran's position against the knighthood was more moderate when compared to other Muslim nations especially that of nearby Pakistan (see below). Hosseini noted that not only had he immediately condemned the knighthood as Islamophobia, but in a seeming reversal of his nation's previous stand said "The stance of the Islamic Republic of Iran with regard to this issue has not changed from what was put forward by Imam Khomeini."^[20] In a similar statement Parliamentarian for Tehran, Mehdi Kuchakzadeh, said "Rushdie died the moment the late Imam (Ayatollah Khomeini) issued the fatwa."^[21]

Also on the 25th, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, the head of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission appeared with his Norwegian counterpart (Olaf Akselsson) to respond to Norway’s request for a cancelation of the death fatwa. Boroujerdi stated that the "Late Imam Khomeini's decree on Salman Rushdie is eternal and irrevocable. Honoring religious sanctities is necessary and all societies must respect this. All countries have a red line in their policies. For instance, in spite of freedom of speech a university professor and a political figure loses his job because of denying the Holocaust in Europe, insulting [the] Prophet of Islam (PBUH) has caused the late Imam to issue the decree which is irreversible." Addressing the talks with Norway over human rights, he went on to say that reports of human rights abuses in Iran were the work of “MKO terrorist groups…so such wrong information would [naturally] cause wrong judgment…[Continuing diplomatic travel between Iran and Europe] would show the realities of Iran and would correct [the] unreal attitude of the West on Iran."^[22] “Shoah” redirects here. ... Peace be upon him (Arabic: صلى الله عليه وسلم ;ï·º; salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam, also transliterated as sallalahu aleyhi wasallam) is a phrase that Muslims are required to say after mentioning the name of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, Jesus Christ, Abraham and all the other prophets cited in the Quran. ... MKO Logo The Peoples Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI, also MEK, MKO) (Persian: سازمان مجاهدين خلق ايران sazmaan-e mujahedin-e khalq-e Iran) is a militant political party that advocates overthrowing the government in the Islamic Republic of Iran and replacing it with its own leadership. ...

On June 29, 2007 Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati delivering Friday prayers over state run radio said he "hoped that the late Imam Khomeini's 1989 fatwa in sentencing the apostate writer to death will go in effect." He also spoke about the knighthood saying that "The result of such an act of Britain is its turning into [the] bete noire of the world nations. These measures are the reason the US and Britain have become the most hated states in the world's developed camp." He also called on the people of Iraq and Lebanon "to be vigilant against the arrogant powers' divisive plots."^[23] Ahmad Jannati (born in Esfahan in 1926) (Persian: ‎ ​) is an Iranian ayatollah and political figure. ...

Private bounty offered

The Organisation to Commemorate Martyrs of the Muslim World (an organization that has been termed "An Iranian jihadist group"^[24]) offered $150,000 to anyone killing Rushdie.^[19] Their secretary general, Forouz Rajaefar, declared that "The British and the supporters of the anti-Islam Salman Rushdie could rest assured that the writer’s nightmare will not end until the moment of his death and we will bestow kisses on the hands of whomsoever is able to execute this apostate."^[21]

Pakistani reaction

Early protests

After the news of the knighthood was released "Hundreds of people participated in protests in Islamabad and other cities"^[10] with some of the protestors calling on their government "to expel the British high commissioner".^[2] Islamabad (Urdu: اسلام آباد (Meaning Abode of Islam)), is the capital city of Pakistan, and is located in the Potohar Plateau in the northwest of the country. ...

Parliament's first resolution

On June 18, 2007 Pakistan's parliament passed a resolution condemning the knighthood and demanding the British revoke it. The resolution was passed unanimously.^[25] Bold text Majlis-e-Shoora (Urdu: مجلس شوری) (Council of Advisors in Urdu, although referred to as Parliament) is the bicameral federal legislature of Pakistan that consists of the Senate (upper house) and the National Assembly (lower house). ...

Haq's comments

After the resolution was passed Pakistan's Religious Affairs Minister Mohammad Ejaz-ul-Haq, made an address to the parliament which was carried by local television stations. Haq said that "insults to Islam were at the root of terrorism", and that "if someone committed a suicide bombing to protect the honour of the Prophet Mohammad, his act was justified." He called on all Muslim governments to break ties with Britain and warned that "This is an occasion for the [world's] 1.5 billion Muslims to look at the seriousness of this decision. If Muslims do not unite, the situation will get worse and Salman Rushdie may get a seat in the British parliament."^[26] When asked about his comments about sucide bombing later Haq stated that he "did not mean such attacks would be justified but was merely saying militants could use the knighthood as a justification."^[1] Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto condemned the minister's comments, seeing them as a call to assassinate Rushdie, she said "The minister... son of a previous military dictator (Mohammad Zia-ul-Haq) who had patronised [Islamic] extremist groups, had done a great disservice both to the image of Islam and the standing of Pakistan by calling for the murder of foreign citizens."^[1] The speaker of Pakistan's National Assembly expunged Haq's speech from the official record, citing the national interest.^[1] Abdul Rashid Ghazi, who runs the hardline Red Mosque in Islamabad, responded to Haq's intial comments saying "Salman Rushdie deserves to be killed and anyone who has the power must kill him."^[10] A suicide bombing is an attack using a bomb in which the individual(s) carrying the explosive materials composing the bomb intend(s) and expect(s) to die upon detonation (see suicide). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Gen. ...

After Pakistan's legislature passed its resolution against the honour, the road outside the parliament building was soon blocked by 300 burqa wearing female Islamists waving flags and placards against the knighthood.^[27] This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

UK diplomat summoned

On June 19, 2007 the British High Commissioner, Robert Brinkley, was called in by the Pakistani Foreign Ministry and told that “Salman Rushdie has been a controversial figure who is known less for his literary contribution and more for his offensive and insulting writing which deeply hurts the sentiments of Muslims all over the world. Conferment of a knighthood on Salman Rushdie shows an utter lack of sensitivity on the part of the British government.”^[3] They also told him that Rushdie's knighthood is a breach of United Nations resolution 1624, which calls on all member states to "enhance dialogue and broaden understanding...[to prevent] the indiscriminate targeting of religions and cultures".^[28] Responding to the summons Ambassador Brinkley said “that the honour was not meant to offend Muslims”.^[13] He also voiced Britain’s "deep concern" at the comments by Pakistan's Religious Affairs Minister Ejaz-ul-Haq about suicide bombers telling them that "nothing can justify suicide bomb attacks".^[29][13][4] Haq later announced that he hoped to go to Britain soon to help "clear misunderstandings".^[2] Haq then announced he will be travelling to London with a delegation to discuss ways of engaging Muslim clerics.^[25] The British Foreign Office declared that there was no official visit with Haq scheduled but "It's not a matter for us if he is making a private visit."^[25] A High Commissioner is a person serving in a special executive capacity. ... The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ...

Later Pakistani Foreign Office spokeswoman Tasneem Aslam announced that her government formally asked the Organization of the Islamic Conference (a permanent delegation at the United Nations) to take a clear stance on Rushdie’s knighthood. She said “We have formally approached the OIC to take a position on it,” but she also noted that as there was no procedure to move the world body itself, her nation had no plans to approach the UN.^[30] The flag of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) OIC redirects here. ... The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ...

Pakistani leaders speak

On June 21, 2007, Afzal Sahi, the speaker of the Punjab provincial assembly reflecting on the knighthood said "blasphemers should be killed, I will murder a blasphemer if he comes across me."^[1][31], and Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, president of Pakistan's ruling party, accussed UK Prime Minister Tony Blair of being "personally and mentally against Islam".^[1] Arbab Ghulam Rahim, the chief minister of Sindh province, said his outrage at the knighthood was causing him to return medals won by his grandfather and other relatives when the country was under UK colonial rule back to the British High Commission.^[2] Speaking during a trip to Washington D.C. Pakistan's foreign minister, Khurshid Kasuri, said that “Britain could not have been surprised by the outrage.”^[4] This article is about the Pakistani province of Punjab. ... Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain; former Prime Minister of Pakistan Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain (born 1946) is a politician from Pakistan who was the Prime Minister of that country from June 30, 2004 until August 28, 2004. ... Muhammed Ali Jinnah, the Great Leader of the Muslim League The All India Muslim League was a political party in British India and was the driving force behind the creation of Pakistan as a Muslim state from British India on the Indian subcontinent. ... For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency... Sindh (SindhÄ«: سنڌ, UrdÅ«: سندھ) is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and is home to the Sindhis, and Muhajirs and various other groups. ... A relief map of Pakistan showing historic sites. ... The British High Commission is an organization found in many former British colonies that are now members of the Commonwealth. ... Aerial photo (looking NW) of the Washington Monument and the White House in Washington, DC. Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia (also known as D.C.; Washington; the Nations Capital; the District; and, historically, the Federal City) is the capital city and administrative district of the United...

Private bounty placed on Rushdie's head

Also on the 21st, the General Secretary of the Islamabad Traders Association, Ajmal Baloch announced during a protest against the knighthood that "We will give 10 million rupees (USD 165,000) to anyone who beheads Rushdie." He also called on all Islamic countries to boycott British products.^[32]

June 22 protests

On June 22, 2007 thousands of Pakistanis took part in protests lead by the radical MMA Parliamentary alliance at the conclusion of prayer services.^[2] Friday protestors in Islamabad numbered around 300, they chanted “Death to blasphemer Rushdie! Death to Britain!” and "Our struggle will continue until Salman Rushdie is killed!"^[33][34] The crowd was addressed by parliamentary opposition leader (and noted supporter of the Taliban) cleric Fazalur Rehman who told them that "Britain must withdraw the knighthood and hand Rushdie to Pakistan to be punished under Islamic laws."^[33] Muttahida Majlis-e-Ammal Fazal ur Rehman a member of the parliamentary religious alliance told the demonstrators that “'Britain has opened a new front against Muslims by awarding a criminal like Rushdie.”^[34]

In Karachi over a thousand demonstrators chanted in support of Ejaz-ul-Haq’s initial comments that they held to be an endorsement of Rushdie’s assassination by suicide bombing.^[33] In the city of Multan, the British flag, and effigies of Rushdie and Queen Elizabeth II have been set aflame during protests in the country throughout the week of the news of the announcement with protestors chanting "Kill him! Kill him!"^[29][33][35] There were also mass protests in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Quetta, and Peshawar.^[33][34]

Parliament's second resolution

On June 22, 2007 Pakistan’s government renewed its call for the UK to withdraw the honour. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sher Afgan Niazi told the parliament "The British government has not withdrawn the title which has not only disappointed the entire Pakistani nation but has also hurt it. This august house again calls on the British government and its Prime Minister Tony Blair to immediately withdraw the title... and tender an apology to the Muslim world."^[2] Niazi’s resolution passed unanimously.^[34] Khwaja Saad Rafiq a legislator from the party of exiled former premier Nawaz Sharif called for Rushdie’s execution saying "Whosoever kills him will be the hero of Muslims."^[33] For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency... Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif (Urdu: میاں محمد نواز شریف ) was born on December 25, 1949 in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. ...

Canadian author and Muslim Irshad Manji pointed out that Pakistan's Parliament has been silent on Islamist "assaults on fellow believers" in Iraq and Afghanistan, writing "I am offended that amid the internecine carnage, a professed atheist named Salman Rushdie tops the to-do list."^[36] ‹ The template below has been proposed for deletion. ...

Clerics honour Bin Laden in response

In reaction to the announcement of the knighthood, the Pakistan Ulema Council bestowed Osama bin Laden with the title "Saifullah", or sword of Allah. Their chairman, Tahir Ashrafi, said "We have awarded this title in reply to Britain's decision to knight blasphemer Rushdie. If a blasphemer can be given the title 'Sir' by the West despite the fact he's hurt the feelings of Muslims, then a mujahid who has been fighting for Islam against the Russians, Americans and British must be given the lofty title of Islam, Saifullah."^[1][31] Ulema (, translit: , singular: , translit: , scholar) (Islamic clergy) refers to the educated class of Muslim scholars engaged in the several fields of Islamic studies. ... Osama bin Muhammad bin Awad bin Laden (Arabic: ‎; born March 10, 1957[1]), most often mentioned as Osama bin Laden or Usama bin Laden, is a Saudi Arabian militant Islamist and is widely believed to be one of the founders of the organization called al-Qaeda. ...

Malaysian reaction

On Thursday, June 21, 2007 thirty members of the hard-line Islamic PAS opposition party led a protest to the British High Commission calling for the honour to be revoked. The protestors chanted "Destroy Salman Rushdie, Destroy Britain!"^[3] and "Go to hell, Britain! Go to hell, Rushdie!"^[10] The PAS' treasurer, Hatta Ramli, said making Rushdie a knight "has tainted the whole knighthood, the whole hall of fame of the British system. The British government must be responsible because it has created a sudden feeling of anger not just on Salman Rushdie but on the British government. They have to bear the consequences."^[3] After the "rare half-hour demonstration" the PAS members delivered a one-page memorandum to the British envoy written by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang. It read, "In the name of peace and mutual respect, we demand the award be withdrawn, and the British government distance itself from a provocateur like Salman Rushdie."^[10] The Islamic Party of Malaysia (commonly known as PAS or Pas, from the Malay Parti Islam SeMalaysia) is an Islamist political party in Malaysia and is currently headed by Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang. ...

On June 29, 2007 following Friday prayers the Muslim fundamentalist PAS Party again lead a march of around 300 activists outside the UK and US embassies in Kuala Lumpur. They denounced both the knighthood and US policy in the Middle East. They were monitored by riot police equipped with trucks carrying water canons but the event did not descend into violence. The "Protesters spent 15 minutes outside the building, chanting slogans and waving posters that read 'Unite for Islam', 'Death penalty for Salman' and 'Salman Rushdie Get Lost From This World.'"^[37] One placard had a caricature of Rushdie with horns growing out of his head. At the 20 minute rally outside the US embassy they shouted "Down with Bush!" and "Crush America!" The PAS spokesman at the demonstration said America was "trying to dominate Muslim countries" and was interfering "all over the world."^[38] This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Kashmiri reaction

In the disputed areas of Jammu and Kashmir clerics issued a fatwa against him on June 20, 2007 and demanded that booksellers remove any of his books that they have on their shelves.^[39] The Grand Mufti Bashiruddin went further calling on Muslims to burn Rushdie’s writings and for him to be executed.^[39][40] Bookstores started to remove his books as soon as they heard of the new fatwa.^[39] Around 200 protestors hoisted effigies of him and set them ablaze.^[39] One June 22, 2007 a bandh called for by hardline militant group Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen and separatist leaders went into effect. All businesses were closed in the capital of Srinagar and all transport stayed off of the roads in the capital & all district head quarters (ATVs were seen moving in other areas).^[40] Protestors marched from from Gawkadal to Lal Chowk “chanting slogans against the Britannia government, [and] demanding [the] hanging of Rushdie.”^[40] After Friday prayers protests against the knighthood took place in Jammu City, Kishtwar, Doda, Rajouri, Poonch and other areas of Jammu division where anti-Rushdie and anti-British slogans where chanted and effigies of him set on fire.^[40] It has also been noted that the 1988 death edict issued against him in Kashmir (the one-time home of his grandparents) has never been rescinded.^[39] Jammu   (Hindi: जम्मू, Urdu: جموں) is one of the three regions comprising the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. ... Kashmir (or Cashmere) may refer to: Kashmir region, the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent India, Kashmir conflict, the territorial dispute between India, Pakistan, and the China over the Kashmir region. ... A fatwā (Arabic: ; plural fatāwā Arabic: ), is a considered opinion in Islam made by a mufti, a scholar capable of issuing judgments on Sharia (Islamic law). ... Bandh, originally a Hindi word meaning closed, is a form of protest used by political activists in India. ... Srinagar   (Hindi: श्रीनगर, Urdu: سرینگر, Kashmiri: سِرېنَگَر सिरीनगर) , is the summer capital of the state of Jammu and Kashmir in India, and is situated in the valley of Kashmir. ...

Afghani reaction

Afghanistan's Taliban released a statement on the Internet in response to the knighthood, saying "We hope that Muslims and Islamic societies show a strong and serious response ... and to force the British government to apologise to Muslims and retract this title."^[1] Reading a statement by the group's leadership over the phone to reporters a Taliban spokesman called Rushdie an "apostate" and said "We consider this another major affront to Islam by the infidels."^[3] The elected Afghan government made no comment on the award and there have been no protests in the country.^[3] The Taliban (Pashto: , students or seekers of knowledge) are a group that ruled most of Afghanistan from 1996 until 2001, when their leaders were removed from power by American aerial bombardment and Northern Alliance ground forces. ...

Kuwaiti reaction

On June 27, 2007 the National Assembly of Kuwait stated its "disappointment and discontent" on the knighthood describing the step as "hurting Muslim feelings." The Assembly's statement said that "such measures as knighting those who combat the Islamic faith and challenge its principles do not create a positive climate or contribute to the success of any dialogue between civilizations, or help to create a common ground of understanding between the West and the Islamic world. ...[Bestowing the honour was] "provocative and unbecoming conduct that is likely to worsen the fundamentalist behavior that marks several cultures." They stated that "mutual respect among religious faiths and sects" was the best way "to ensure a peaceful and safe international social climate, which is free of discrimination, tension and worries." The Kuwaiti government also summoned their British ambassador to formally protest the award.^[41][42] The National Assembly of Kuwait, known as the Majlis Al-Umma, is the parliament of Kuwait. ...

Egyptian reaction

On June 20, 2007 the Egyptian Parliament criticised the knighthood. Parliamentary speaker Fathi Sorur invoked the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy declaring that "To honour someone who has offended the Muslim religion is a bigger error still than the publication of caricatures attacking the Prophet Mohammed."^[10] The Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy began after twelve editorial cartoons, most of which depicted the Islamic prophet Muhammad, were published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on 2005-09-30. ...

Azerbaijani reaction

Ilqar Ibrahimoglu the coordinator of the Centre for the Protection of Freedom of Conscience and Religion in Azerbaijan, stated that "such measures can be the cause of the strengthening aggression of the West against Islam. They provoke Muslims. Muslims should be very careful, watchful and cold-blooded."^[14] The Azerbaijani government has not issued any statements on the matter and there have been no organized protests.

Iraqi reaction

Iraq's Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari was in London meeting with Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett when the news of Rushdie’s knighthood broke. Zebari said that while he “respected the right of Britain to decide who received the honour…the decision could be used to cause trouble. For my government, we share the views of many Muslims. Iraq is a Muslim country. We believe that, with all due respect to the knighthood, I think it was untimely. This is my view. I don't have any official position from my government on this issue, but I think it would be used by many quarters to exploit this issue outside this country."^[25][13] The Iraqi government has taken no official position on the matter and there have been no protests about it there. Speaking with Zebari, Beckett said "Obviously we are sorry if there are people who have taken very much to heart this honour, which is after all for a lifelong body of literary work." She also pointed out that Rushdie Beckett was among many Muslims who had been awarded by the British honours system – a fact that "may not be realized by many of those who have been vocal in their opposition."^[43][27] Hoshyar Zebari (born 1953) is the current Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs, part of the cabinet appointed by the Interim Iraq Governing Council in September 2003. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Margaret Mary Beckett (née Jackson) (born 15 January 1943) is a British Labour Party politician who is currently Member of Parliament (MP) for Derby South and, since May 6, 2006, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. ...

Indonesian reaction

In Indonesia, Zannuba Arifah Chafsoh the head of the Wahid Institute (and the daughter of former president Abdurrahman Wahid) condemned both the knighthood and calls for retaliation. She felt the honour was undeserved "We deeply regret and strongly criticize it because the book is not at all praiseworthy.” She said that though she “regretted Rushdie`s action of selling his religion to get popularity, nobody had the right to revoke his right to exercise freedom of speech. We cannot revoke his right to express his views. Even those who do not believe in God have rights. They cannot be punished or killed or subjected to arbitrary acts. Islam does not teach violence." Moeslim Abdurrahman an Islamic scholar from the Muhammadiyah organisation, called on his nation to mediate between the UK and the Muslim world, adding "Indonesia needs to reduce (tension) and not to complicate the matter. If Indonesia also gets angry it will contribute nothing."^[44] Abdurrahman Wahid (also known as Gus Dur) (born August 4, 1940) was the President of Indonesia from 1999 to 2001, and founder of the National Awakening Party (PKB). ...

Indian reaction

There were protests in different parts of India over the knighthood, including one in Kanpur lead by the AJ Fareedi Association. Denouncing Britaina and chanting slogans against Rushdie. The Islamic Centre of India began a petition campaign with the end result to be handing over a banner to the British High Commissioner in New Delhi covered with thousands of signatures. The centre's general secretary, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangimahli, annonced in his Friday sermon that by honouring Rushdie the UK "has acted against the whole Muslim community around the world." He demanded the Indian government alert Britain of their outrage. The leaders of the Sunni Board of India also condemned the move in a Friday meeting, likewise they demanded the Indian government express their anger to the British.^[45] This article does not cite any references or sources. ... , This article is about the urban region that is the capital of India. ...

The Ulema Council of India said "the decision to honor Indian-born Rushdie reflects the anti-Islamic attitude of the British government."^[46] Its spokesmen,Maulana Abul Hasan, stated "Salman Rushdie is a detested figure among Muslims. The British government has hurt Muslim feelings by honoring a person who is facing a fatwa for blasphemous writings."^[5] On Sunday June 24, 2007 the Ulema Council joined with the Islamic Center of India, and the All India Sunni Board in sending a joint statement to the British High Commission in New Delhi condemning the knighthood.^[46] Ulema (, translit: , singular: , translit: , scholar) (Islamic clergy) refers to the educated class of Muslim scholars engaged in the several fields of Islamic studies. ...

Reactions in Britain

Politicians

Besides the reactions of Home Secretary John Reid and Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett (see above), other UK politicians have expressed their view on the honour.

Lord Ahmed of Rotherham, a senior Labour Muslim peer, appealed to ministers to put the award on hold and told them that British Muslim business owners were attempting to organise a nationwide strike over the matter.^[25] Ahmed said "I would urge and plead with all Muslims around the world to remain calm." He also stated his belief that Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses was also an insult to Christianity and had put "Her Majesty the Queen in a very difficult position".^[25] “Actually I was appalled to hear that Salman Rushdie had been given knighthood, particularly when this man has been very divisive. This man - as you can see - not only provoked violence around the world because of his writings, but there were many people that were killed around the world and honouring the man who has blood on his hands, sort of because of what he did, honouring him I think is going a bit too far.”^[47] Nazir Ahmed, Baron Ahmed (b. ... The Labour Party has been, since its founding in the early 20th century, the principal political party of the left in England, Scotland and Wales. ... The Satanic Verses (1988), 2006 Vintage paperback edition The Satanic Verses is Salman Rushdies fourth novel, first published in 1988 and inspired in part by the life of Muhammad. ...

Conservative MP Stewart Jackson (the chairman of the all-party group on Pakistan) spoke against the honour, "We do not need a situation where we are gratuitously offending our allies in the fight against terror. I think the prime minister's office should think very carefully about that decision."^[4] The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is the second largest political party in the United Kingdom in terms of sitting Members of Parliament (MPs), the largest in terms of public membership, and is the second oldest extant political party in the world. ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. ... Stewart James Jackson (born January 31, 1965) is a British politician. ...

The head of the House of Commons Labour party leader Jack Straw, said he sympathized with "the concerns and sensitivity in the [Muslim] community... [but there could be] no justification whatever for suggestions that as a result of this a further fatwa should be placed on the life of Mr Rushdie".^[48] The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... John Whitaker Straw (born August 3, 1946) is a British Labour Party politician. ...

Officials at the Cabinet Office denied charges that the honours vetting committees had failed to consider the wider implications knighting Rushdie.^[25] One Labour MP speaking to reporters off the record noted that a week before Gordon Brown becomes Prime Minister the award "reinforces the impression that nobody's in control. Anybody with any common sense would have blocked this."^[25] The Cabinet Office is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet in progressing matters that require coordination across Government departments. ... James Gordon Brown MP (born 20 February 1951) is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, and Member of Parliament for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath in the Parliament of the United Kingdom and the Leader of the Labour Party. ...

Protests

On June 22, 2007 dozens of British Muslims (some with scarves masking their faces) gathered outside Regent's Park mosque denouncing Rushdie’s knighthood, “noisily renewing calls for his death”, and burning a poster of the British flag.^[8] They addressed worshippers leaving Friday services and soon had attracted a crowd of over 100 people. The demonstrators chanted "Death to Rushdie! Death to the queen!” and had signs with slogans such as "Salman Rushdie should be punished, not praised."^[8] Protest organiser Anjem Choudray (an ex-head of the British wing of the banned radical group al-Muhajiroun and helped co-ordinate the protests over the Jyllands-Posten cartoons^[28]) said "This knighthood is just another example of Tony Blair and his government's attempts to secularize Muslims and reward apostates. Rushdie is a hate figure across the Muslim world. This honour will have ramifications here and across the world. The awards pass across his (Blair's) desk and he could easily have blocked it, knowing it would offend Muslims everywhere."^[8] He pointed to the protests in Iran, Pakistan, and Malaysia as proof that the outcry was growing.^[8] Another protestor told reporters "We've come to demonstrate against the apostate Salman Rushdie. He has insulted Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. Salman Rushdie is the devil. We have a responsibility - he should be punished, he should be attacked. We should not be afraid of the kuffar. They say Tony Blair is going to be sent to the Middle East as a peace envoy. We hope he comes back in a box."^[49] This article is about Regents Park in London. ... Al-Muhajiroun (Arabic: المهاجرون; The Emigrants) is a defunct Islamist organization whose two offshoots, The Saviour Sect and Al-Ghurabaa are banned under the British Terrorism Act 2006 [1], for the glorification of terrorism. ... The Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy began after twelve editorial cartoons, most of which depicted the Islamic prophet Muhammad, were published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on 2005-09-30. ... This article is about an Islamic term. ... For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency...

The director general's staff at the Mosque distanced themselves from the protestors, saying "We do not sanction this protest or the views they are expressing."^[49]

Dr Ghayasuddin Siddiqui, leader of the Muslim Parliament, condemned the protest saying "This is unacceptable behaviour which the majority of Muslims in this country would not support. There's no denying a large section of the Muslim community feel very hurt about this issue. But having expressed your anger and frustration you've got to move forward. Unfortunately there will always be some strange lunatics, like in any community, who give others a bad name."^[16] Dr Ghayasuddin Siddiqui is an academic and political activist. ... The Muslim Parliament is a Muslim organization founded in 1992 in London by Dr. Kalim Siddiqui, Director of the Muslim Institute, based on a proposal published in July 1989 under the title The Muslim Manifesto. ...

Fiona Mactaggart the MP for Slough upset some British Muslims by declaring the protest over the knighthood a "press stunt". Members of Slough's Muslim commuinty claim she ignored them when they tried to present a petition to her at the surgery with constituents. She says they neither contacted her nor tried to approach her at the surgery.^[50] Fiona Margaret Mactaggart (born 12 September 1953, Glasgow) is a politician in the United Kingdom. ... Slough (pronounced ) is a town and unitary authority (Borough of Slough) in Berkshire, England. ... A Surgery in British politics is a term used to describe a series of one-to-one meetings a Member of Parliament may have with his or her constituents, at which a constituent may raise issues of local concern and seek the intervention of their MP. The issues may relate...

The Muslim Council of Europe has called for a mass demonstration outside Blackburn Town Hall on July 21, 2007.^[51] This article is about Blackburn in Lancashire, England. ...

Muslim Council

The Muslim Council of Britain released a statement saying they were "disturbed at the deliberate political decision to confer a knighthood to Salman Rushdie...[who] caused deep hurt to Muslims everywhere."^[52] They characterized the honour as a "deliberate provocation".^[52] They offered suggestions to mosques and Islamic groups in the UK urging their fellow Muslims to "face provocation with dignity and wisdom" when protesting the knighthood and "resist efforts by fringe elements in the community to exploit disappointment felt at the award."^[8][52] They wrote “We should not allow the situation to be inflamed in any way or be exploited by other unsavory groups so as to bring our community and our noble faith into disrepute.”^[8] They called for Muslims to "convey their feelings on the matter through letters to their parliamentary representatives and through local and national media...[and to take the] opportunity to correct the maligning of the character of the Prophet (pbuh) in the book which earned its author his notoriety."^[52] The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) is an unincorporated association founded in 1997 with the following aims: To promote co-operation, consensus and unity on Muslim affairs in the UK. To encourage and strengthen all existing efforts being made for the benefit of the Muslim community. ... Peace be upon him (Arabic: صلى الله عليه وسلم ;ï·º; salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam, also transliterated as sallalahu aleyhi wasallam) is a phrase that Muslims are required to say after mentioning the name of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, Jesus Christ, Abraham and all the other prophets cited in the Quran. ...

Muhammad Abdul Bari, the Muslim Council’s secretary-general, said “Salman Rushdie earned notoriety amongst Muslims for the highly insulting and blasphemous manner in which he portrayed early Islamic figures. The granting of a knighthood to him can only do harm to the image of our country in the eyes of hundreds of millions of Muslims across the world. Many will interpret the knighthood as a final contemptuous parting gift from Tony Blair to the Muslim world.”^[47] Muhammad Abdul Bari, MBE is Secretary General of Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), appointed in 2006 to replace Sir Iqbal Sacranie. ...

Scotland Yard

Scotland Yard officials said the “angry reaction to Rushdie's knighthood meant that a new threat assessment would have to be drawn up for him.” He is also likely to “be given fresh advice on the precautions he takes abroad, and the unit around him in Britain is likely to be upgraded.”^[47] New Scotland Yard, London New Scotland Yard, it blowwsssss often referred to simply as Scotland Yard or The Yard, is the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service, responsible for policing Greater London (although not the City of London itself). ...

Mention by Al-Hesbah during attempted car bombings

When the events around the 2007 London car bombs occurred CBS News reported that a message appeared on the widely used jihadist Internet forum Al-Hesbah at 08:09, June 28, stating: "Today I say: Rejoice, by Allah, London shall be bombed." The message went on to condemned the British role in Iraq and Rushdie's knighthood.^[53][54] While some "speculated that it [the bombing attempts] may have been revenge for the knighthood bestowed on author Salman Rushdie...there was no hard evidence of any motive."^[55] The Mercedes-Benz on Haymarket covered by a tent On 29 June 2007 two unexploded car bombs were discovered in London, England. ... CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. Its current president is Sean McManus who is also head of CBS Sports. ... Jihad, sometimes spelled Jahad, Jehad, Jihaad, Jiaad, or Cihad, (Arabic: IPA: ) as an Islamic term, is sometimes referred to as the sixth pillar of Islam, although it occupies no official status as such in Sunni Islam. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... A controversial jihadist message board, Al-Hesbah has drawn claims of being a false flag operation, employed by anti-Jihadist sources. ...

References