I read (well, started to read) "The Satanic Verses," and frankly, it just wasn't a very good book. I love Rushdie's other writing, personally, but regardless, he is a writer of fiction, of novels. He is not a political figure.
Why then, are Muslims overreacting so badly to his knighthood? Rushdie is British, lives in Britain, a non-Muslim country. Why can't they just live and let live? The reactions I keep seeing on EuroNews are from Pakistan and Pakistanis in Britain, for the most part (Rushdie is originally from India) - how is his knighthood any of their business (those who live in Pakistan in particular)?
2007-06-20 03:08:15 · 16 answers · asked by nomadic 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
LOTR Fan: Yes, Christians were angry, but no one ever (publicly) said "Death to Dan Brown" or issued a fatwa against him, whereas Salman Rushdie had to go into hiding. Personally, I think Christian anger at Da Vinci Code was just as silly, but it was nonviolent.
2007-06-20 03:15:06 · update #1
Ali: He did not wage war against Islam or Muslims, he wrote a fictional book.
2007-06-20 03:16:29 · update #2
MUHAMMAD: I don't know if he deserves it, I'm not British. Although I can say that, having read many of his OTHER books, which don't insult Islam, he's just as talented as Paul McCartney or Elton John, both of whom are knights.
2007-06-20 03:32:05 · update #3
Ayahtollah Khomeini issued the fatwa calling for the death of Rushdie because of the insult to Islam and disrespect of the Prophet (peace be upon him). After Khomeini's death, the death threats pretty much died out.
And yes, although Rushdie is a fictional writer, I think Muslims see this as a political action--a slap in the face to Islam by a country that already drew lines on Middle Eastern maps and that helps fund the violation of Palestinian rights. And since we are in unfortunate, violatile times--we are forgetting what the true calling of Islam is (peace)--it does matter to a lot of Muslims. And some will react with pre-Islamic tribal enthusiasm.
I read that protecting Rushdie after the original fatwa was issued cost the British government $10 million. I'd be somewhat ticked off that my government decided to knight this fellow, knowing that in the times we're living in he's going to need probably $30 million in protection now!
2007-06-20 03:32:28 · answer #1 · answered by aminah 4 · 5⤊ 1⤋
Good to see Mr Rushdie being recognised. Literary achievement has often been recognised by knighthood. The fact that Mr Rushdie upset some ignorant medieval religious bigots is irrelevant. The halfwits in Tehran burn books, so we really shouldn't allow them to decide who we recognise as literary worthies.
2016-04-01 07:36:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think because he is or was a Muslim. The book is fiction and not based on facts. He slanders the Prophet Mohammed(pbuh) in the book. He states the prophet was smoking hash. He says the angel Jibreal is a figment of Mohammed's imagination. His peers even say that he is an idiot who wrote the book to bring fame to himself through making controversy. He slanders Islam in the name of MONEY.
His knighthood was given by the British government to send a message to all Muslims(pakistani and indian especially).
As for myself, I don't care what he says I Know he is wrong.
2007-06-20 03:26:50 · answer #3 · answered by je 6 · 8⤊ 3⤋
He is entitled to believe as he wishes and I am entitled to disagree with him. I really don't care what a non-believer thinks. To answer your question... If England feels the need to make him a knight, then so be it, but I understand why Muslims there would be upset. I would never react openly to it but I would not be happy either.
2007-06-20 12:35:30 · answer #4 · answered by ♥ terry g ♥ 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Sorry but the British can knight whoever they like. No foreign nation is going to stop it. This tradition is far older than Islam. If they want to punish Rushdie, fine, but trying to tell the UK not to enact an ancient tradition 'or else', whatever.
2007-06-20 03:53:55 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 4⤋
I skimmed through The Satanic Verses, and Rushdie being knighted just tickles me pink!
2007-06-20 03:12:46 · answer #6 · answered by Sick Puppy 7 · 7⤊ 3⤋
Rushdie's only crime was being honest about islam and Muslims want him dead because of that. They believe the knighthood is just a further insult to their "religion" so it's ok (so they think) to threaten England and Rushdie all over again. Don't you remember the way Muslims acted after a cartoon of Muhammad was printed? Barbaric behavior has always been part of islam.
God Bless.
2007-06-20 03:14:54 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 7⤋
I agree with LOTR fan......but I too started reading it b4 I became Muslim ---it was a bore!
Personally, I am not interested in the news of his Knighthood.
...but I think a lot of it has to do with the history of India/Pakistan and the idea of an Indian insulting Muslims and in turn Pakistan....then you tie in Britain and you get a whole other cup of tea.........
2007-06-20 03:14:55 · answer #8 · answered by Sassafrass 6 · 6⤊ 6⤋
Muslims not only get angry. They get violent.
The Da Vinci code did ot bother me in the least. It just is not true nor does it contain any semblance of fact. Does that make me want to burn a flag and shoot guns in the air? No.
I dont feel the need to defend my God by means of violence. God can take care of himself.
2007-06-20 03:14:53 · answer #9 · answered by Truth7 4 · 5⤊ 6⤋
Were Christians angry when the Da Vinci code came out?
2007-06-20 03:11:24 · answer #10 · answered by LOTR Fan 5 · 5⤊ 7⤋