Pakistani parliament protests honour for Rushdie

Islamabad, Jun 18: Pakistan's parliament has condemned the award of a British knighthood to author Salman Rushdie, whose novel 'The Satanic Verses' outraged many Muslims around the world, and said Britain should withdraw the honour. Rushdie was awarded a knighthood for services to literature in Queen Elizabeth's birthday honours list published on Saturday.

Iran accused Britain yesterday of insulting Islamic values by knighting Rushdie.

Pakistan's lower house of parliament adopted a resolution condemning the award.

''This is a source of hurt for Muslims and will encourage people to commit blasphemy against the Prophet Mohammad,'' Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sher Afgan Khan Niazi told parliament.

''We demand Britain desist from such actions and withdraw the title of knighthood,'' he said.

Rushdie's book prompted protests, some violent, by Muslims in many countries.

The late Iranian Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued a fatwa death warrant against Rushdie in 1989, forcing him into hiding for nine years.

Farhana Khalid Binori, a Pakistani woman member of parliament from a conservative religious party, said Rushdie's knighthood was an insult.

''It is a slap on the face of Muslims. It is not acceptable at all,'' she said.

British's twice-yearly honours ritual designed to recognise outstanding achievement is part of an ancient and complex honours system. A total of 946 honours were handed out in the birthday list, including 21 knighthoods.

REUTERS

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