Satanic Verses

Till now I have yet to obtain enough information on the reasons why British Queen Elizabeth II awarded a knighthood to controversial writer Salman Rushdie. I just so-so curious because the decisian triggered protest in some countries.

Salman Rushdie had hurt Muslims across the world with his "Satanic Verses" book in which he "analyzed" Islam's Holy Qur'an based on his personal perceptions which totally contradicted Muslims' own understandings.

I met pak Hassan yesterday and this is his opinion on that case.

RUSHDIE'S KNIGHTING MAY AFFECT INTER-CIVILIZATION, -CULTURAL, -RELIGIOUS RELATIONS : MINISTER

Jakarta, June 21 (ANTARA) - The knighting of controversial author Salman Rushdie by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II may affect efforts to improve inter-civilization, inter-cultural and inter-religious relations, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said.

"In terms of timing, I would say, the move does not help to create a conducive atmosphere for the creation of better mutual understanding and inter-civilization, inter-cultural and inter-religious relations," the minister said after accompanying President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in receiving the credentials of three non-resident foreign ambassadors to Indonesia at the Merdeka Palace here on Thursday.

Wirajuda said Salman Rushdie had become a controversial author for writing a book titled "The Satanic Verses" in 1988 as to Muslims around the world it blasphemed the Prophet Muhammad.

But the minister also said he really did not know what exactly Rushdie had been knighted for -- for his works or his services.

Rushdie's elevation to Britain's knighthood has triggered storms of protest among Muslims in several countries. Reuters reported that supporters of Malaysia's hard-line Islamic party protested outside the British embassy on Wednesday against the awarding of a knighthood to Rushdie whose "The Satanic Verses" had enraged Muslims worldwide.

Chanting "Destroy Salman Rushdie" and "Destroy Britain", some 30 members of the opposition Parti Islam se-Malaysia urged London to retract the honor or face the consequences.

"This has tainted the entire knighthood, the whole hall of fame of the British system," party treasurer Hatta Ramli told reporters after the party handed a protest note to embassy officials.

"The British government must be responsible because it has created a sudden feeling of anger not just against Salman Rushdie but against the British government," he said.

"They have to bear the consequences." he said. On Tuesday, fellow Muslim nations Pakistan and Iran summoned the top British envoys in their countries to protest against the award.

Rushdie whose book prompted the late Iranian leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, to issue a fatwa in 1989 calling for his death for blasphemy, was awarded the knighthood last week for services to literature in Queen Elizabeth's birthday honors list.

(T.SYS/A/F001/A/S012) 21-06-2007 16:58:57
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