Well Done Tony!

Mohammad Ali Hosseini, a spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry, said the decision to honour the novelist was an orchestrated act of aggression directed against Islamic societies.

He said Rushdie was “one of the most hated figures” in the Islamic world.

“Honouring and commending an apostate and hated figure will definitely put the British officials [in a position] of confrontation with Islamic societies,” Mr Hosseini said.

“This act shows that insulting Islamic sacred [values] is not accidental. It is planned, organised, guided and supported by some western countries.”

“Giving a badge to one of the most hated figures in Islamic society is … an obvious example of fighting against Islam by high-ranking British officials.” the guardian

For Midnight’s Children alone Rushdie deserved the gong. However, for standing up to the thugs purporting to be Muslim holy men he really should have got the OM.

Too bad his actual politics are mildly to the left of Harold Pinter but Blair certainly deserves great credit for honouring one of England (and India)’s finest writers. The fact it coincidentally cocked a snoot at the ever sensitive Muslim world is just icing on a well deserved cake.

Written by jay on June 19th, 2007 with no comments.
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