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Zoe
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Knighthood for Salman Rushdie causes up-roar | Quote: | Pakistan has summoned the British high commissioner in Islamabad to its foreign ministry amid anger over the knighthood for author Salman Rushdie.
On Monday the national parliament demanded Britain retract the award.
But the High Commissioner, Robert Brinkley, said it was untrue that the knighthood was intended to insult Islam or the Prophet Mohammed.
The publication of Sir Salman's book The Satanic Verses in 1989 sparked protests by Muslims around the world.
The British High Commission confirmed to the BBC News website that Mr Brinkley was summoned to the foreign ministry on Tuesday afternoon, but it said that no further details were available at present.
'Blasphemous book'
Earlier, the assembly in Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP) passed a resolution saying the honour was part of a move to "hurt the feelings of Muslims".
A fatwa was issued in 1989 in Iran, calling for his execution.
"This house strongly condemns the decision to confer the title of Sir on Salman Rushdie, who is hated in the Muslim world for his blasphemous book The Satanic Verses," the NWFP resolution said, the AFP news agency reports.
"The move is part of a campaign being waged in Europe and the West to hurt the feelings of Muslims."
It urged the national government to cut diplomatic ties with the UK.
The British High Commission in Islamabad moved to defuse the row on Monday night.
"Sir Salman's knighthood is a reflection of his contribution to literature throughout a long and distinguished career which has seen him receive international recognition for a substantial body of work," Mr Brinkley said in the statement.
"It is simply untrue that this knighthood is intended as an insult to Islam or the Prophet Mohammed."
On Monday Pakistan's Religious Affairs Minister Ejaz-ul-Haq caused uproar in parliament when he was accused of inciting violence during a debate of Sir Salman's knighthood.
"If someone commits suicide bombing to protect the honour of the Prophet Mohammad, his act is justified," he said, according to the translation by the Reuters news agency.
The minister later had to return to the floor of the assembly to say that he was not trying to condone or incite terrorism but to stress its origins.
Pakistan's Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sher Afgan Khan Niazi, who proposed Monday's resolution in the National Assembly, said the knighthood would "encourage people to commit blasphemy against the Prophet Mohammad".
On Sunday, Iran also criticised the knighthood, saying praising the "apostate" showed Islamophobia among British officials.
Perceived blasphemy
Like Iran, Pakistan is an Islamic republic with an overwhelmingly Muslim population which saw violent protests against The Satanic Verses in 1989.
Sir Salman, 59, was one of almost 950 people to appear on the Queen's Birthday Honours list, which is aimed at recognising outstanding achievement.
The controversial Indian-born author's fourth book - The Satanic Verses in 1988 - describes a cosmic battle between good and evil and combines fantasy, philosophy and farce.
It was immediately condemned by the Islamic world because of its perceived blasphemous depiction of the Prophet Muhammad.
It was banned in many countries with large Muslim communities and in 1989, Ayatollah Khomeini, Iran's spiritual leader, issued a fatwa.
In 1998, the Iranian government said it would no longer support the fatwa, but some groups have said it is irrevocable.
The following year, Sir Salman returned to public life.
Of his knighthood for services to literature, Rushdie said: "I am thrilled and humbled to receive this great honour, and am very grateful that my work has been recognised in this way."
Source: BBC News online |
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Mala
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Oh please! I can think of better things to get worked up over.
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