Sir Salman swims upstream against the usual jackanapes

[Monte Smith]

Rushdie diplomatic row escalates
BBC

Iran has stepped up its protest over the knighthood awarded by Britain to Salman Rushdie, whose 1988 novel The Satanic Verses outraged many Muslims.


Western author represents big Fuck Off to primitives

Iran's foreign ministry summoned the UK ambassador in Tehran and said the knighthood was a "provocative act".

Pakistan voiced similar protests, telling the UK envoy in Islamabad the honour showed the British government's "utter lack of sensitivity".

Britain denied that the award was intended to insult Islam.

Iran summoned UK ambassador Geoffrey Adams to protest against the knighthood.

"This insulting, suspicious and improper act by the British government is an obvious example of fighting against Islam," Iran's Foreign Ministry Director for Europe, Ebrahim Rahimpour, was quoted as saying by the state-run Irna news agency.

"It has seriously wounded the beliefs of 1.5 billion Muslims and followers of other religions."


Horrifying jackasses demand rain of crap

Mr Rahimpour added that Iran held the British government and Queen Elizabeth II "responsible for the circumstance of this provocation".

In Islamabad, British High Commissioner Robert Brinkley was called to Pakistan's foreign ministry several hours earlier.

The envoy was told that the honour countered attempts by both countries to build mutual understanding.

For his part, Mr Brinkley expressed "deep concern" over reported comments by Pakistani Religious Affairs Minister Mohammad Ejaz ul-Haq, suggesting that the award could justify suicide attacks.

"If someone commits suicide bombing to protect the honour of the Prophet Muhammad, his act is justified," the minister said, according to Reuters news agency.

The minister later clarified his statement, saying extremists could use it to justify attacks.

Pakistan's parliament passed a resolution on Monday condemning the award.

The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says the diplomatic row is heated but that so far it has stayed mostly within official circles.


Local idiocy prevails

Both Iran and Pakistan are Islamic republics with an overwhelmingly Muslim population which saw violent protests against The Satanic Verses in 1989.

A fatwa against Sir Salman was issued the same year by Iran's spiritual late leader Ayatollah Khomeini, calling for his execution.

The move forced Sir Salman to go into hiding.

Sir Salman, 60, was one of almost 950 people to appear on the Queen's Birthday Honours list, which is aimed at recognising outstanding achievement.

The Indian-born author's book was published in 1988.

It 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.

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.


I am thrilled and humbled to receive this great honour, and am very grateful that my work has been recognised in this way
--Sir Salman Rushdie, intolerably standing next to unveiled hottie wife

[Pedantic Wretch]

The tackiest thing about this business is that Rushdie should have been so servile and sycophantic as willingly to accept a British 'honour' in the first place. No-one has cause to style himself 'Sir' in the 21st century (or in any century, for that matter). Further remnants of a botched revolution.

The Islamic protests are similarly predictable and meaningless.

[jeff54]

Originally Posted by Pedantic Wretch

The tackiest thing about this business is that Rushdie should have been so servile and sycophantic as willingly to accept a British 'honour' in the first place.

Tackier then the suggestion that a suicide bombing would be a justified protest?

[Sandi22]

Originally Posted by Pedantic Wretch

The tackiest thing about this business is that Rushdie should have been so servile and sycophantic as willingly to accept a British 'honour' in the first place. No-one has cause to style himself 'Sir' in the 21st century (or in any century, for that matter). Further remnants of a botched revolution.

The Islamic protests are similarly predictable and meaningless.

Reading your response to all of this, reminds me of Keith Richards having a bit of a snit, and how he came down on Mick Jagger before and after his having been knighted. Remember that? He thought there was no one less deserving and told him so. It was pretty funny.

These protesters over Salman Rushdi, their stomping about, chanting, making threats, burning flags and effigies, just have us thinking that they are a backward lot, that their way of thinking is nothing short of primitive. In our minds here in the West, it paints them as that, if not just down and out fools. Too violent and too radical to want to be around to my way of thinking.

[Gary Sisco]

One of the things that Richards said that cracked me up was that, if you're going to go that way, why not hold out for a peerage?

Just ain't rock and roll, being knighted. Ain't even being knighted, really.

[Noj]

Fatwas are obscene and anti-intellectual. It would be wonderful if everyone were secure enough in his or her beliefs to grasp such a concept, as opposed to reacting like spoiled children when others fail to think as they do.

[Gary Sisco]

Don't hold your breath.