PAKISTAN: Rushdie honour upsets Muslim world
Updated
There has been a dramatic escalation in the row involving "The Satanic Verses" author, Salman Rushdie - whose novel angered the Muslim world in the late 1980's. Britain's decision to award him a knighthood has already led to demonstrations in Muslim countrIes throughout Asia, with protesters demanding the honour be revoked. In Pakistan, the parliament passed a unanimous decision condemning the award and the country's religious affairs minister has warned it could lead to suicide bombing attacks.
Presenter: Rob Sharp
Speakers: Qazi Hussain Ahmed, President of Jemmat Islami, Pakistan's biggest opposition Islamic group
AHMED: Everybody in Pakistan feels insulted because we feel is also a symbolic act of the Commonwealth of Nations. And they have got Muslim subjects, and everybody knows that Salman Rushdie is a controversial figure throughout the Muslim world. And the British government has created difficulties for itself, because there are five percent Muslims in Great Britain.
SHARP: What sort of demonstrations do you expect as a result of this decision?
AHMED: Actually we have got so many problems and therefore this will be a diversion, and we think that the British government would not create difficulties for itself.
SHARP: What action can be taken now though?
AHMED: This can be taken back, the decision can be taken back.
SHARP: So you're suggesting that the honour taken back by the British government or the Queen?
AHMED: By the British government yes.
SHARP: I have read reports that there are protests being planned by Islamic groups throughout Pakistan?
AHMED: Yes there will be, this is natural, there will be some protests. But they're not planned by anybody, they are spontaneous. Actually these protests will not only be limited to Pakistan, there will be protests in Iran and these protests will be in the Arab countries and also in the European countries and in the United Kingdom itself.
SHARP: Do you expect any major problems as a result of this awarding of the honour to Salman Rushdie?
AHMED: Actually there are many problems in our country, we are now facing the problem of the military dictatorial regime, and therefore we want that we should divert our attention to our basic problems. And if the Muslims are united getting attention to their own basic problems, to their development, such insult will not be done to the Muslims if they are strong and they are not backward and they will not be insulted in this way, this is because of the rulers and the unrepresented governments that the Muslims are insulted every day.
SHARP: If the British government doesn't take action, what do you propose?
AHMED: Actually I'm saying that our problem is with our own government.
SHARP: You're referring to Pervez Musharraf?
AHMED: Yes Pervez Musharraf, the unrepresented Muslim government in the Muslim world.
SHARP: Obviously you do have problems in your own country in relation to Iftikhar Chaudhry, but do you think that this issue is a diversion?
AHMED: Yes this is one of the diversions. And the British government is diverting the attention of the Muslim people from Palestine, from Iraq, from Afghanistan, from the attitude of the American government.
SHARP: Do you think awarding this honour to Salman Rushdie will incite suicide bombings or anything as serious as that?
AHMED: Actually I don't see any logic in this decision. Why have they done it and they are adding insult to injury. I don't think that this was any use and there was any need for honouring this man who is the most controversial figure in the Muslim world.
