Knighthood to Rushdie evokes strong condemnation in Kashmir

Srinagar, June 19 (UNI) Several religious, separatist and militant organisations have condemned in strongest terms the award of a British knighthood to India-born author Salman Rushdie, whose 1988 novel ''The Satanic Verses'' outraged many Muslims across the world.

Rushdie was awarded the knighthood for services to literature in Queen Elizabeth's birthday honours list published on Saturday.

''He (Rushdie) is one of the most hated figures in the Islamic world. He is an enemy of Islam. Honouring a person like Rushdie exposes the anti-Islam attitude of the West, particularly Britain.

It is an act directed against Islam,'' a Jamaat-e-Islami spokesman said in a statement here.

He said Jamaat chief Sheikh Mohammad Hassan summoned an emergency meeting of the central committee at party headquarters here this morning to discuss the issue.

''The Satanic Verses'' had evoked violent protests by Muslims around the world because they said the novel committed blasphemy against Islam.

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

However, the Islamic Republic's government formally distanced itself from the fatwa in 1998. The death edict was disavowed under a deal with Britain.

In a statement here, the Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen militant outfit has called for complete shutdown in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday in protest against the award. The outfit has also called for statewide protests and agitation over the issue.

Several religious organisations have also condemned Britain's decision and described the act as an ''insult'' to Islam.

Besides the Booker Prize for Midnight's Children in 1981, Rushdie has won the Booker of Booker, a special award honoring the best novel in the 25-year history of the prize in 1993.

Britain'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 knighthood.

UNI