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| UK's 'deep concern' over Rushdie | UK's 'deep concern' over Rushdie |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The UK's envoy to Pakistan has expressed "deep concern" over comments by a Pakistani minister about Sir Salman Rushdie's knighthood. | The UK's envoy to Pakistan has expressed "deep concern" over comments by a Pakistani minister about Sir Salman Rushdie's knighthood. |
| Religious Affairs Minister Mohammad Ejaz ul-Haq's comments were widely seen as justifying suicide attacks because Sir Salman had insulted Islam. | Religious Affairs Minister Mohammad Ejaz ul-Haq's comments were widely seen as justifying suicide attacks because Sir Salman had insulted Islam. |
| But High Commissioner Robert Brinkley said it was untrue that the knighthood was intended to insult Islam. | But High Commissioner Robert Brinkley said it was untrue that the knighthood was intended to insult Islam. |
| Sir Salman's book The Satanic Verses sparked worldwide protests in 1989. | |
| 'Blasphemous book' | 'Blasphemous book' |
| Mr Brinkley was summoned to the Pakistani foreign ministry in Islamabad on Tuesday afternoon. | Mr Brinkley was summoned to the Pakistani foreign ministry in Islamabad on Tuesday afternoon. |
| A spokesman for Mr Brinkley said he "made clear the British government's deep concern at what the minister for religious affairs was reported to have said". | A spokesman for Mr Brinkley said he "made clear the British government's deep concern at what the minister for religious affairs was reported to have said". |
| I am thrilled and humbled to receive this great honour, and am very grateful that my work has been recognised in this way Sir Salman Rushdie Your reaction: emails from around the world | I am thrilled and humbled to receive this great honour, and am very grateful that my work has been recognised in this way Sir Salman Rushdie Your reaction: emails from around the world |
| "The British government is very clear that nothing can justify suicide bomb attacks," the spokesman added. | "The British government is very clear that nothing can justify suicide bomb attacks," the spokesman added. |
| Mr Brinkley was summoned so that Pakistan could protest against Britain's "utter lack of sensitivity" in knighting Sir Salman, the foreign ministry spokeswoman said. | Mr Brinkley was summoned so that Pakistan could protest against Britain's "utter lack of sensitivity" in knighting Sir Salman, the foreign ministry spokeswoman said. |
| Mr Brinkley was told that the honour countered attempts by both countries to build mutual understanding. | Mr Brinkley was told that the honour countered attempts by both countries to build mutual understanding. |
| The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says the diplomatic row is heated but that so far it has stayed mostly within official circles. | The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says the diplomatic row is heated but that so far it has stayed mostly within official circles. |
| Pakistan's national parliament passed a resolution on Monday condemning the award. The assembly of the North West Frontier Province passed a similar resolution on Tuesday. | Pakistan's national parliament passed a resolution on Monday condemning the award. The assembly of the North West Frontier Province passed a similar resolution on Tuesday. |
| If someone commits suicide bombing to protect the honour of the Prophet Mohammad, his act is justified Pakistan Religious Affairs Minister Mohammad Ejaz ul-Haq | If someone commits suicide bombing to protect the honour of the Prophet Mohammad, his act is justified Pakistan Religious Affairs Minister Mohammad Ejaz ul-Haq |
| There have been some street protests but only by small numbers of hard line Islamist activists. | There have been some street protests but only by small numbers of hard line Islamist activists. |
| A fatwa against Sir Salman was issued in 1989 in Iran, calling for his execution. | A fatwa against Sir Salman was issued in 1989 in Iran, calling for his execution. |
| Iranian conservatives on Tuesday criticised Britain's Queen Elizabeth over the decision to confer the knighthood on Mr Rushdie. | Iranian conservatives on Tuesday criticised Britain's Queen Elizabeth over the decision to confer the knighthood on Mr Rushdie. |
| "Salman Rushdie has turned into a hated corpse which cannot be resurrected by any action," First Deputy Speaker Mohammad Reza Bahonar told Iran's parliament. | "Salman Rushdie has turned into a hated corpse which cannot be resurrected by any action," First Deputy Speaker Mohammad Reza Bahonar told Iran's parliament. |
| "The action by the British Queen in knighting Salman Rushdie, the apostate, is an unwise one," he said to loud applause from MPs. | "The action by the British Queen in knighting Salman Rushdie, the apostate, is an unwise one," he said to loud applause from MPs. |
| "The British monarch lives under this illusion that Britain is still a 19th Century superpower and that bestowing titles is something still deemed important." | "The British monarch lives under this illusion that Britain is still a 19th Century superpower and that bestowing titles is something still deemed important." |
| Perceived blasphemy | Perceived blasphemy |
| On Monday Religious Affairs Minister Eijaz ul-Haq caused uproar in Pakistan's parliament when he was accused of inciting violence during a debate of Sir Salman's knighthood. | On Monday Religious Affairs Minister Eijaz ul-Haq caused uproar in Pakistan's parliament when he was accused of inciting violence during a debate of Sir Salman's knighthood. |
| The knighthood has generated anger in Pakistan | The knighthood has generated anger in Pakistan |
| "If someone commits suicide bombing to protect the honour of the Prophet Mohammad, his act is justified," he said, according to Reuters news agency. | "If someone commits suicide bombing to protect the honour of the Prophet Mohammad, his act is justified," he said, according to Reuters news agency. |
| Like Iran, Pakistan is an Islamic republic with an overwhelmingly Muslim population which saw violent protests against The Satanic Verses in 1989. | Like Iran, Pakistan is an Islamic republic with an overwhelmingly Muslim population which saw violent protests against The Satanic Verses in 1989. |
| Sir Salman, 60, was one of almost 950 people to appear on the Queen's Birthday Honours list, which is aimed at recognising outstanding achievement. | Sir Salman, 60, was one of almost 950 people to appear on the Queen's Birthday Honours list, which is aimed at recognising outstanding achievement. |
| The controversial Indian-born author's fourth book - The Satanic Verses in 1988 - describes a cosmic battle between good and evil and combines fantasy, philosophy and farce. | The controversial Indian-born author's fourth book - The Satanic Verses in 1988 - describes a cosmic battle between good and evil and combines fantasy, philosophy and farce. |
| It was immediately condemned by the Islamic world because of its perceived blasphemous depiction of the Prophet Muhammad. | It was immediately condemned by the Islamic world because of its perceived blasphemous depiction of the Prophet Muhammad. |
| It was banned in many countries with large Muslim communities and in 1989 Ayatollah Khomeini, Iran's spiritual leader, issued a fatwa. | It was banned in many countries with large Muslim communities and in 1989 Ayatollah Khomeini, Iran's spiritual leader, issued a fatwa. |
| In 1998, the Iranian government said it would no longer support the fatwa, but some groups have said it is irrevocable. | In 1998, the Iranian government said it would no longer support the fatwa, but some groups have said it is irrevocable. |
| The following year, Sir Salman returned to public life. | The following year, Sir Salman returned to public life. |