South Asia News

'Sir' title sought for bin Laden to avenge Rushdie knighthood

Jun 20, 2007, 11:22 GMT

Islamabad - A hard-line Pakistani parliamentarian and head of a religious political party on Wednesday demanded a 'sir' title for Osama bin Laden, the lead of the al-Qaeda terrorist network, in retaliation for Britain knighting author Salman Rushdie. 'Muslims should confer the 'sir' title and all other awards on bin Laden and Mullah Omar in reply to Britain's shameful decision to knight Rushdie,' Sami ul Haq, leader of the pro-Taliban Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, said in a statement, referring also to the leader of the Taliban. Such a move would not only go against the political grain of Britain, who joined in the international effort to drive the Taliban from power and al-Qaeda from their Afghan safe haven in 2001, but it would also break knighthood rules, under which foreigners may not be addressed as sir. Rushdie, 60, was given the recognition at birthday honours for Britain's Queen Elizabeth II on Saturday, about two decades after his book The Satanic Verses sparked protests in Muslim countries, including Pakistan, in 1989. The novel also became the subject in the same year of a fatwa, a religious edict, by late Iranian spiritual leader Ayatollah Khomenei, who demanded Rushdie's death. 'Europe and Western nations are intentionally pushing Muslims towards extremism by awarding a nefarious person,' Haq said. The hard-line leader, who is also a parliament member, called upon the Pakistani government to withdraw its support for the US-led war on terrorism. The honour for Rushdie triggered diplomatic tensions between Islamabad and London Tuesday as the Pakistani Foreign Office summoned Britain's high commissioner to Islamabad, Robert Brinkley, to protest the award. Britain in return expressed deep concern over comments by a Pakistani minister that the honour could provoke radical Muslims to carry out suicide attacks. Brinkley had conveyed the 'clear message' that, in Britain's view, 'nothing can justify suicide bomb attacks,' the Foreign Office in London said. Earlier, thousands of Pakistanis held protest rallies in various cities and burned British flags and effigies of Queen Elizabeth II. The supporters of a radical Islamic group in the eastern city of Lahore were planning Wednesday to stage a public hanging of an effigy of Rushdie, an Indian-born author who is under constant British police surveillance and has moved house more than 30 times in two decades of hiding. According to some press reports, British police are reviewing his security after threats from Islamic extremists since his knighthood. © 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

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go for itJun 20th, 2007 - 15:47:31

Sounds agreeable to me. Let them confer 'knighthoods' upon bin Laden and Mullah Omar. When they show up to accept the honours ..... AIRSTRIKE !!!!

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CONFERRED ALREADY, MOST SIRS..EVILJun 20th, 2007 - 21:53:45

SIR OSAMA BIN LADEN
As much as I hate this person as terrorist, same as much, or may be a bit more I hate UK, worse evil on the face of this plannet, than satan himself.

I THINK IT WILL EQUATE THEIR EVILHOOD IF I BESTOW THE TITLE OF BRITTISH KNIGHTHOOD TO SIR OSAMA BIN LADEN.

REAL BEAUTIFUL TITLE FOR SIR OSAMA BIN LADEN..

It will explain to all the readers, that there are four essential evils on this plannet,

UK...top most

RUSHDIE....next in line

OSAMA BIN LADEN...after them two

SATAN/ LUCIFER...least of all four.

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Psst...Jun 20th, 2007 - 23:14:17

No one cares. Make him the grand holy Imam if it makes you feel better. Only we won't make death-threats and burn effigies in the street like you lunatics.

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Why not?Jun 21st, 2007 - 08:05:35

When you have a right to express your feelings regardless how hurting its for others, then why don't you people accept the right of expression of suicide bombers? If you or someone else get hurt by those suicide bombers then thats make us all equal.
If you don't want to be hurt then don't hurt others.

You can't justify suicide bombers same as we can't justify actions of throwing bombs on civilian in Iraq and Afghanistan and giving such title to such filthy insect.

Personally, I expected much sensible decision from Queen, but, may be its not her fault, at such age, people lose their senses.

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Sir fartalotJun 21st, 2007 - 15:07:49

How about Sir David Irving?

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SIR OSAMA BINLADINJun 21st, 2007 - 16:13:59

I SWEAR DOWN.. WEN I C DAT RUSHDIE GUY IM GONNA SUICIDE BOMB HIM... U ALLL GONNA C SOOOON

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PGtipsJun 22nd, 2007 - 07:36:39

Rushdie hurts feelings, Osama kills. I guess Rushdie is worse since with Osama you won't feel a thing if you're lucky.

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