Queen knights controversial author Rushdie

The controversial author Salman Rushdie was knighted by the Queen yesterday.

Muslims around the world condemned the award when it was announced last year in the Monarch’s Birthday Honours list.

The author, who has written a number of acclaimed books, received his knighthood for services to literature.

The decision was strongly criticised by a number of countries, including Pakistan whose politicians passed a Government-backed resolution demanding that Britain withdraw the knighthood.

Rushdie’s life changed forever on February 14, 1989, when Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini issued a fatwa against him over his book, The Satanic Verses.

The novel had already caused a storm in Britain, with copies publicly burnt on the streets of Bradford, West Yorkshire.

Khomeini called the book a blasphemy against Islam and sentenced Rushdie to death.

The writer was forced into hiding, guarded by Special Branch around the clock and moved 30 times in a bid to keep his whereabouts secret.

Finally, in 1998, the Iranian Government withdrew its support for the death sentence and Rushdie gradually returned to public life, even appearing as himself in the 2001 hit film, Bridget Jones’s Diary.

Rushdie, who was smartly dressed in a morning suit and posed for pictures with the knighthood medal, said he was happy to have his writing career recognised.

Speaking after the ceremony, he said: “It’s been a long time – my first novel was published 33 years ago but I think the thing you hope to do as a writer is leave behind a shelf of interesting books and it’s great just to have that work recognised.”

Veteran actor Sir Ian McKellen was another recipient at the investiture ceremony and was made a Companion of Honour for services to drama and equality.

The Order of the Companions of Honour consists of the Queen and 65 other members — all outstanding talents in their fields from painters Lucian Freud and Sir David Hockney to actress Dame Judi Dench.