Salman Rushdie knighthood controversy

Sir Salman Rushdie, 2014

In mid-June 2007, Salman Rushdie, the British-Indian novelist and author of the novel The Satanic Verses, was created a Knight Bachelor by Queen Elizabeth II. Soon after the news of the knighthood was released protests against the honour were held in Malaysia and in Pakistan where effigies of the writer were publicly burnt.[1][2] On 19 June 2007, governments in both Pakistan and Iran summoned their British ambassadors to officially protest against the award.[3] While many groups and individuals have renewed the call to execute Rushdie, the author "is not commenting on the latest threats to his life. It is understood he is anxious not to inflame the situation".[4] When asked by the Associated Press if his silence was at the request of the British government, Rushdie replied by e-mail stating "The British authorities have not asked me to do or not do anything. I have simply chosen to remain out of this storm for the moment. And nobody is turning anything down."[5] The media noted in July 2007 that Rushdie "has not been seen in public since the 16 June announcement of his knighthood."[6] However, he was photographed receiving his knighthood formally the next year at a ceremony which, breaking with tradition, was not announced in advance of his attendance.[7]

  1. ^ "Pakistan hardliners honour bin Laden in Rushdie row". 21 June 2007.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Day of was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Protests spread to Malaysia over knighthood for Salman Rushdie". International Herald Tribune. Reuters, AP. 20 June 2007. Archived from the original on 11 August 2007. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  4. ^ Duncan Campbell and Julian Borger (20 June 2007). "Rushdie furore stuns honours committee". The Guardian. London.
  5. ^ "Rushdie Declines Comment on Knighthood". Associated Press. 25 June 2007. Archived from the original on 21 December 2007. Retrieved 26 June 2007.
  6. ^ "Al-Qaeda Rushdie warning condemned". Herald Sun. 12 July 2007. Archived from the original on 14 July 2007.
  7. ^ "Salman Rushdie Knighted". HuffPost. 25 June 2008.