Anti-Rushdie demo a washout

When Salman Rushdie's knighthood was announced, many people anticipated a re-run of 1989, with protests by angry Muslims taking place across the country. So far, though, there have only been a few small demonstrations and nothing on the scale of the protests against The Satanic Verses eighteen years ago.

Blackburn must hold the record for the smallest protest. Last weekend, no-one turned up for an anti-Rushdie demonstration which had been publicised in the local paper. All of the town's 26,000 Muslims, including the protest organiser, found better things to do on a Saturday afternoon.

Could it be that most British Muslims don't give a toss about Salman Rushdie's knighthood?

However, there are protests taking place in other countries and Muslim states have put pressure on the British government to withdraw the award. I doubt that Gordon Brown would do anything so cowardly but, just to remind him that others feel strongly about this too, there is a petition in support of Salman Rushdie's knighthood. It is open for signatures until 25 August.

Comments

[fidothedog]

Maybe there was something really good on tv that day?

[Wolfie]

... I'd still like to oppose his knighthood, on the grounds that he's a shit author.

[Monty]

Duly signed. Thanks for the link.

I don't need to enjoy or approve of a writer's work to defend his right to publish, the public right to read his work, or the literary establishment's right to award honours.

Wolfie, how many other authors would you put in the same category? How many would you like to challenge?

Monty