Clash between freedom of expression and enemies of truth continues

The controversial literary personality Salman Rushdie is once again the subject of death threats across the Islamic world but this time for receiving the prestigious honor of 'knighthood' by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. The knighthood has yet again brought back the memories of a deeply sensitive issue in much of the Muslim world that has inflamed anti-British sentiment.

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The world is again forced to ponder, what is actually instigating the Muslim community to call for fatwas, rewards and condemning Rushdie's recent knighthood as justification for suicide bombings. Yesterday it was Iran; today it is Pakistan condemning the knighthood for sanctimonious Salman Rushdie, why?

While some suggest this is simply a late acknowledgement of his brilliance, others see the knighthood as being yet another stick shoved into the ant's nest of unrest in the Middle East.

I speculate whether to agree with Gerald Butt, editor of the authoritative Middle East Economic Survey, who told The Times:

It will be interpreted as an action calculated to goad Muslims at a time when the atmosphere is already very tense and Britain's standing in the region is very low because of its involvement in Iraq and its lack of action in tackling the Palestine issue.

Or to agree with Muhammad Ali Hosseini, Iran's foreign affairs spokesman, who said that the knighthood

will definitely put the British officials in confrontation with Islamic societies. This act shows that insulting Islamic sacred values is not accidental. It is planned, organised, guided and supported by some Western countries.

Or to agree with a spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office who said, Sir Salman's honor had been 'richly deserved' and the reasons for it were self-explanatory.

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Now the question rises that is it really the west's Islamophobia behind the whole setting. However, if it is the case we should better understand on the whole, the actions of fundamentalist Muslims such as issuing reckless fatwas, death threats, praise for terrorism, and ignorant and ineffectual remarks by the governments of Islamic countries is at least partially responsible for this spread of Islamophobia.

But it goes both ways. Rushdie expressed his freedom of expression in some of his literary works that are just fictions. Certainly, the Islamic community is free to disagree and boycott his works. But they have no right to pressure the British government and peoples with violence to have their say. There are numerous ways, such as peaceful protests, letters of condemnation, articles or commercials denouncing the decision, by which they can express their disagreement. Threats of violence, from a minister of the government are almost a type of permission or verdict.

Of course this incident does give rise to the question - which is the greater honor - to have received a Fatwa or a Knighthood? Certainly in the case of Sir Salman both are badges of distinction, former denouncing his commitment to freedom of speech and freedom of expression and the latter acknowledging his contribution to literature.