Print Print edition: 2007-06-22

'Islamophobia'

Published June 22, 2007 Updated June 22, 2007 12:00am

This refers to the news report in various newspapers concerning the knighthood bestowed upon Salman Rushdie.
Salman Rushdie is one of the most controversial figures in the world. His novel "The Satanic Verses" harmed the sentiments of Muslims to a great extent. The decision of Queen Elizabeth II to knight Rushdie is shocking indeed. It shows the Islamophobia of the West.
Although, everyone has a right of freedom of speech and expression, it should be kept in mind that there's a difference between freedom of speech and the telling of lies. The first defends human rights, the second negates these.
West must change its policies at once, because it seems to be the Western think tanks are not learning from their mistake. It's rightly said that "The only thing people have learned from history is that no one really learns from history".
The queen's decision has already invited by a hue and cry from the Muslim world. The anger, ignited many years ago when Iran issued a Fatwa to kill Rushdie, has once again been inflamed.