“The West is accusing Muslims of extremism and terrorism. If someone exploded a bomb on his body he would be right to do so unless the British government apologises and withdraws the ‘sir’ title.”
Ejazul Haq
Pakistani Religious Affairs Minister
June 18, 2007
Britain’s knighthood to the author Salman Rushdie contributes to insulting Islam and may lead to terrorism, a Pakistani minister said today.
Activists of Jamiat Talaba-e-Arabia chant slogans against Salman Rushdie as they burn his effigy in Multan June 17, 2007. (REUTERS/Asim Tanveer)
The Pakistan Parliament voted unanimously to condemn the knighting of Salman Rushdie today. One official claimed it was the root cause of terrorism.
The BBC reported:
Britain’s knighthood to the author Salman Rushdie contributes to insulting Islam and may lead to terrorism, a Pakistani minister has said.
Such actions are the root cause of terrorism, Religious Affairs Minister Ejaz-ul-Haq told parliament.
The minister (pictured on left) later said he had not meant to condone or incite terrorism but stress its origins.
Pakistan’s parliament has condemned the knighthood. Iran says it shows ‘Islamophobia’ among British officials.
Mr ul-Haq was speaking during a session of Pakistan’s National Assembly in which it unanimously condemned Britain’s award of a knighthood to the author Salman Rushdie and demanded it be withdrawn.
“If someone commits suicide bombing to protect the honour of the Prophet Mohammad, his act is justified,” he said, according to the translation by the Reuters news agency.
Ijaz-ul-Haq is currently serving as the Federal Minister for Religious Affairs in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Pakistani Muslims torch a Britain flag as they shout slogans during a protest in Lahore, to strongly condemn the title of Sir awarded to Salman Rushdie. Pakistan demanded on Monday that Britain withdraw a knighthood awarded to Rushdie, as a government minister said the honour gave a justification for suicide attacks by Muslims.(AFP/Arif Ali)
Previously:
Iranian Group Offers $150,000 For Murder of Salman Rushdie
