Pakistan Condemns Rushdie Knighthood

(CBS)  This story was written by Farhan Bokhari, reporting for CBS News in Pakistan.

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Pakistan strongly condemned Britain's decision to award a knighthood to author Salman Rushdie, with a government minister suggesting Tuesday that extremist groups could consider suicide attacks as retaliation.

Rushdie, the author of the controversial book, "The Satanic Verses," which infuriated Muslims across the world when it was published in late 1980s, was awarded a knighthood for literature on Queen Elizabeth's birthday honors list, which was published Saturday.

The reaction has been building since the announcement, with Pakistan now joining Iran's official opposition to Rushdie's honored status.

"We have to look at the root causes of militancy," Ijaz ul Haq, Pakistan's Minister for Religious Affairs told CBS News. "The root cause is that you are giving knighthood to someone who commits blasphemy. This leads to extremism and there is a danger of people considering suicide attacks in retaliation. He must be de-knighted immediately."

Earlier reports suggested ul-Haq had endorsed suicide attacks in retaliation for Rushdie being honored, but the minister told CBS News that he was misquoted by local media, who incorrectly translated his Urdu language statement, which was then picked up by Western news organizations.

Iran accused Britain on Sunday of insulting Islamic values by knighting Rushdie — a move which revived memories of the 1989 "fatwa," or religious decree, condemning Rushdie to death, issued by Iran's late spiritual leader Ayatollah Khomeini. That decree forced Rushdie into hiding for nine years. He now lives in New York.

"This is a source of anguish for Muslims, and it will encourage people to commit blasphemy against Prophet Mohammad," said Sher Afghan Niazi, Pakistan's Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, in remarks before lawmakers.

The Pakistani Foreign Ministry also issued a strong rebuke, prompting speculation that it might be acting primarily to keep the government on the favorable side of an anticipated public outcry. "Certainly Salman Rushdie has tried to insult and malign Muslims. We deplore the decision of the British government to knight him," said Tasneem Aslam, the senior spokeswoman for the ministry. "This decision is very obviously insensitive to the sentiments of Muslims around the world."

Diplomats from Muslim countries have warned that Britain's move could serve not only to provoke fresh protests in Islamic countries, but may also be used as a pretext for future terror attacks.

"This decision has struck a very sensitive chord. If some individual or group tries to take the law in his hands, and even attacks someone, that will be a popular thing," a senior Islamabad-based diplomat from an Islamic country told CBS News on condition of anonymity.

Some analysts have suggested the strong reaction from Pakistan's government may be a precautionary step against its critics, who often accuse President Pervez Musharraf of being too friendly with the United States. Musharraf, a general who seized power in a bloodless 1999 coup, is a crucial, though controversial, U.S. ally in the war on terror.

"For any pro-Western government in a Muslim country, it's very difficult not to take a strong public position on this issue," another Islamic country's diplomat told CBS News. "With the public already skeptical of their governments' close ties to the U.S., Islamic countries must come out strongly condemning this," added the diplomat.

Western diplomats based in Islamabad said they were expecting to see public demonstrations over the Rushdie knighthood issue, possibly called by Pakistan's more fundamental Islamic political parties. One Western official suggested such protests may provide a way for the more extreme parties to widen their appeal among members of the Pakistani public.

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Farhan Bokhari has been covering southeast Asia for several large European news organizations for 16 years. Based in Islamabad, his focus is security issues, in particular al Qaeda and the regional aspects of the global fight against terrorism.

[prinzowhales]

This act by the London regime was designed to inflame tensions. It is in line with the documented psy-war plan to provoke and instigate terror so as to justify war and conquest. Regardless of what one may think of the merit of Rushdie's work, the grant of knighthood was not simply a harmless act of literary appreciation any more than the Neo-Con anti-Moslem cartoons that appeared magically throughout Europe, was merely an act of free expression. It is designed to get a violent response from the crazed alumni of the CIA-funded madrassas in Lynchburg...er,...Pakistan and elsewhere.

[prinzowhales]

This act by the London regime was designed to inflame tensions. It is in line with the documented psy-war plan to provoke and instigate terror so as to justify war and conquest. Regardless of what one may think of the merit of Rushdie's work, the grant of knighthood was not simply a harmless act of literary appreciation any more than the Neo-Con anti-Moslem cartoons that appeared magically throughout Europe, was merely an act of free expression. It is designed to get a violent response from the crazed alumni of the CIA-funded madrassas in Lynchburg...er,...Pakistan and elsewhere.

[prinzowhales]

This act by the London regime was designed to inflame tensions. It is in line with the documented psy-war plan to provoke and instigate terror so as to justify war and conquest. Regardless of what one may think of the merit of Rushdie's work, the grant of knighthood was not simply a harmless act of literary appreciation any more than the Neo-Con anti-Moslem cartoons that appeared magically throughout Europe, was merely an act of free expression. It is designed to get a violent response from the crazed alumni of the CIA-funded madrassas in Lynchburg...er,...Pakistan and elsewhere.

[antoniof123]

That is a good one our allies are going to bomb another allie.

[antoniof123]

Let me say this I don't care what the muslims want if England wants to knight him it is there right. If bombers start then they should face the price themselves. I am getting sick and tired of trying to protect everyone elses rights when no one wants to protect mine.

[feelfree1]

Re: "Minister Warns Controversial Author's Honor May Provoke Suicide Attacks And Fuel Extremist Fire"

Mission Accomplished!!!

[sf_bay1]

Alluding to a major religion as "Satanic" is disagreeable to me--part of an attack on religious principles themselves. It happens to Christians, Jews, Muslims and others. It only flames hatred, not love or transformation which I believe, as a Christian, is part of the redemption of all creation.

So I won't join in..not because of the fear of Muslim anger, but because of the wrongness of inciting hatred.

I must admit, however, that if my faith was so attacked (as it often is) I would not put a suicide belt on to murder others because I was offended.

Yet the greater intolerance is increasingly of anything religious, except for some vague "good works".

[sevenveils]

Another example of international threats on free speech.

[navyretired2]

These mulsim morons can kiss it!

Who they he11 do they think they are to demand the British Government de-Knight somebody that didn't committ a "crime" against their stupid cult?

This is the type of junk that the west should have a united statement against...whether they agree with Rushdie being a Knight or not...does this not equal terrorism on their part? (we'll suicide bomb cuz we're azzholes who take everything way personally because of the extreme teachings of our cult)

Suck it.

[brianbwb-2009]

So If I write a book demonizing Anglican protestantism, and some right wing nuts call for my death, all I have to do is hide out long enough, and I conceivably could qualify for knighthood?

to quote the fictional pirate Jack Sparrow, "they're just giving the title to anyone nowadays"