Malaysian Muslim activists in Rushdie protest

About 300 Islamic opposition party activists staged peaceful protests outside the British and US embassies in Malaysia today, denouncing Salman Rushdie’s knighthood and Washington’s policies in the Middle East.

Dozens of riot police backed by a water cannon-equipped truck guarded Kuala Lumpur’s diplomatic enclave, as members of the fundamentalist Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, or PAS, the country’s main opposition group, marched to the British High Commission following afternoon prayers at a nearby mosque.

Protesters spent 15 minutes outside the building, chanting slogans and waving posters that read “Unite for Islam,” “Death penalty for Salman” and “Salman Rushdie Get Lost From This World”.

One poster bore a caricature of Rushdie with horns on his head.

Rushdie’s knighthood was announced earlier this month on the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, decided on by independent committees that vet nominations from the public and the government.

Rushdie went into hiding after Iran’s late spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, issued a 1989 fatwa, or religious edict, ordering Muslims to kill the author because his novel The Satanic Verses allegedly insulted Islam.

It was the second time that PAS has protested outside the British mission over the knighthood decision. Muslims also have demonstrated over the issue in London, Pakistan and Iran.

PAS members also rallied for 20 minutes outside the US Embassy, shouting “Down with Bush!” and “Crush America!”

PAS official Salbiah Abdul Wahab said the US was trying to dominate Muslim countries and was interfering “all over the world”.