Pakistan Resents Rushdie Knighthood
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
Pakistan said it resents the award of a knighthood by Britain to author Salman Rushdie, whose 1988 book “The Satanic Verses” was condemned by some Muslims as blasphemous and led to violent protests.
The British high commissioner in Pakistan met with Foreign Ministry officials in Islamabad and was told that the knighthood showed an “utter lack of sensitivity on the part of the British government,” a spokeswoman for Pakistan’s Foreign Office, Tasnim Aslam, said. The British diplomat, Robert Brinkley, expressed “deep concern” about Pakistan’s position, a spokesman for the British Foreign Office in London said.
The Pakistani government’s move followed a resolution by lawmakers seeking withdrawal of the decision by Britain.
The publication of “The Satanic Verses” in 1988 prompted Iran’s then religious leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to issue a fatwa, or religious order, condemning Mr. Rushdie to death. The Indian-born writer spent nine years in hiding, living with guards in various locations in Britain.
