When I reached the statement that “it is just a novel,” I almost stopped reading the article remembering the same superficial “argument” being used in a debate around the “Da Vinci Code”. Fortunately, I fought the impulse and kept reading on to find out that the second part of the text offered genuine insights into the negative reception of “The Satanic Verses”. A few random comments: Ayatollah Khomeini’s fatwa had been actually rejected by virtually every other Muslim jurist in the world - a fact which often goes unmentioned.

Second: the attitude towards blasphemy in Islam and Christianity has been always somewhat different due to the differences in their theological focal points; in our time, when Christianity is practically toothless and Islam has grown new teeth, this comparison is quite meaningless.

Third: as much as I am ready to admit that Mr. Rushdie is a skillful writer, his arrogance and other personal traits do not endear him to me. Fourth: the British knighthood is by now as debased as almost every other traditional high honour in the world.

Thank you for your analysis; however, I’m afraid, I differ. A knighthood is conferred for some great benefit to mankind, or upon the United Kingdom, or something of the sort.
Rushdie’s writing scarcely counts according to this standard. Had he not scandalized the mohammedans, he would never have left the ranks of the quickly-remaindered. There are far better contemporary writers around at the moment;’ Rushdie is certainly not in the first class.
The fact is that Rushdie is the darling of the secularist ascendancy because of the fatwa that was served upon him. It is because of this that he has been honoured and for no other reason. Let’s get real!

Ms. Hunt makes some very good points in this piece as does Mr. Wesolowski in his comments. The fact that no one has heard of the “moderate” Muslim jurists’ rejection of the Khomeini fatwah may be because they did not shout it from their minarets. Their silence, for example, after 9/11 is deafening. As for blasphemy, I thing God can take care of himself, he doesn’t need me to be a policeman with or without teeth. Believers are supposed to exhibit self-discipline. For an extreme example: a Jew is supposed to die before committing blasphemy, adultery or murder. The idea is to not sin to begin with.

Seán Finnegan said:

“Thank you for your analysis; however, I’m afraid, I differ. A knighthood is conferred for some great benefit to mankind, or upon the United Kingdom, or something of the sort.”

You’re very welcome, Seán, and we do not differ at all! That’s exactly what I had in mind when I wrote about the debasement of the knightood.

Michael said:

“The fact that no one has heard of the “moderate” Muslim jurists’ rejection of the Khomeini fatwah may be because they did not shout it from their minarets.”

It is first of all because our sensationalist and biased media did not care to report it.

Mariusz Wesolowski said:
“It is first of all because our sensationalist and biased media did not care to report it.”
You may be correct. The media did report the Muslim riots that followed the well reasoned words of Benedict XVI at Ragensburg. They further did report, although not universally, the murder of a missionary nun. Maybe the two or three “moderate” Muslim jurists don’t own a minaret. If so I stand corrected.
Also, I am shocked, shocked to learn that Sir Salman has profited from his fatwah.

Michael said:

“You may be correct. The media did report the Muslim riots that followed the well reasoned words of Benedict XVI at Ragensburg.”

In fact, the riots had been caused by the selective and irresponsible reporting of the Regensburg address by the Western liberal-biased media. We have enemies within, not only without.

Just as Sir Salman’s book Satanic Verses caused controversy without being read; likewise, certain passages were taken out of context from Pope’s academic address, which caused the outraged in the Muslim world.

Just as well we have free speech in this country even if it’s distorted at times

Ted de Koke said:

“Just as well we have free speech in this country even if it’s distorted at times.”

Could you, please, explain what the biased reporting by the media has to do with freedom of speech?

There is nothing uncommon if an outrage from Muslims is seen against any writing touching their orthodoxy. Tasleema Nasrin talked about some amendment in Islamic laws for benefit to mankind, but a fatwa was also issued to kill her and an outrage from, Muslims in Bangladesh even at the university level was seen. The basic questions now arises is that- whst measures should be taken by sane persons so that the coming generation should grow with reasonable ideas and changed attitudes?

Krishna Kant Jha siad:

“The basic questions now arises is that- what measures should be taken by sane persons so that the coming generation should grow with reasonable ideas and changed attitudes?”

Bravo, Krishna. The problem is that insanity is loosed upon the world and the sane are rightly afraid to make their voices heard. It takes courage to, “Let them persevere...in promoting on every occasion the discovery of solutions inspired by faith and right reason; let them strive to arouse this conviction and this respect in their associates.” (Humanae Vitae). With or without the media this must begin in the local community in order to succeed.