A leading Pakistani Islamist cleric on Tuesday called for an end to diplomatic relations with Britain following its award of a knighthood to the author Salman Rushdie. Pakistan’s foreign ministry also summoned the British ambassador to deliver a formal protest.
In a sign of mounting friction over the issue, clerics belonging to the main Islamist opposition group the MMA (Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal) renewed calls for a day of protest this Friday when sermons delivered in mosques are to focus on Mr Rushdie’s case.
“We want an end to all diplomatic relations with Britain. Our government has protested on this matter but that is not good enough,” Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, a prominent MMA politician, told the Financial Times in an interview. “Salman Rushdie has insulted all Muslims. The British government, I believe, doesn’t care about the sentiments of Muslims.”
“Britain has been conveyed our extreme displeasure over this action, which has hurt the feelings of all muslims,” a Pakistani foreign ministry official said. “Conferment of a knighthood on Salman Rushdie illustrates a deep-rooted insensitivity towards the feelings of Muslims.”
Robert Brinkley, UK High Commissioner to Pakistan, on Monday said in a statement: “It is simply untrue that this knighthood is intended as an insult to Islam or the Prophet Mohammed. Islam is the second largest religion in the UK and is regarded with the highest level of respect.”
Also, it is important to note that America is indirectly pulled into this matter. As far as I understand, Rushdie is currently living the US.
ReplyDelete