Protesters in Indian Kashmir march against Rushdie knighthood

Nearly 200 supporters of an Islamic separatist group in Indian-controlled Kashmir burned effigies of Salman Rushdie today, and marched to protest against Britain’s knighthood award to the Indian-born novelist.

Supporters of Jammu-Kashmir People’s Freedom League chanted “Hang Salman Rushdie” and “Down with Britain” as they marched through Srinagar, the capital of India’s Jammu-Kashmir state.

“Rushdie is an enemy of Muslims, and we wonder how Britain awarded him knighthood,” said one protester, Imtiyaz Ahmed.

In 1989, Iran’s then-spiritual leader, the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, issued a fatwa or religious edict ordering Muslims to kill Rushdie because his book, The Satanic Verses, allegedly insulted Islam.

The threat forced Rushdie, who lives in Britain, to live in hiding for a decade.

Islamic rebel group Jamiat-ul-Mujahedeen, one of several operating in Kashmir, earlier this week called for a shutdown and other protests tomorrow against Britain and Rushdie.

The decision to award Rushdie a knighthood has sparked a harsh reaction throughout much of the Muslim world, including India’s neighbour Pakistan, where the religious affairs minister said the honour provided a justification for suicide attacks.

Britain has defended its decision to honour Rushdie, one of the most prominent novelists of the late 20th century. His 13 books have won numerous awards, including the Booker Prize for Midnight’s Children in 1981.

Muslim-majority Kashmir is split between Pakistan and India, but claimed in its entirety by both. More than 68,000 people, most of them civilians, have died in the conflict.