Ijaz ul-Haq may make visit to UK

[Saddle Bronc 124]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6225428.stm

'Suicide' minister may go to UK

The Pakistani minister who said that the knighthood given to British author Salman Rushdie could justify suicide attacks has said he may visit the UK.

Religious Affairs Minister Ijaz-ul Haq said his visit may happen next month.

He said that extremists could justify suicide attacks because the knighthood insulted the Prophet Muhammad.

An official in the British embassy in Islamabad said that the minister was a regular visitor to Britain, and no steps would be taken to stop him.

'Misunderstandings'

A British Foreign Office spokesman in London said that no invitation had been issued on its behalf to Mr Huq, and there were no plans to invite him.

Mr Haq told the AFP news agency that he may travel to the UK as part of a delegation invited to discuss the most effective ways of engaging khateebs and imams (sermon deliverers and prayer leaders) in "constructive dialogue".

"The visit would also help clear many things and misunderstandings about my remarks about the knighting of Salman Rushdie by Britain," the minister said.

The minister - who is the son of Pakistan's former military ruler Zia-ul-Haq - said that the itinerary of his visit has not yet been finalised.

Correspondents say that Mr Haq met a delegation from Britain on Monday to discuss ways in which the UK could establish better contacts with the Islamic world and combat extremism.

"We are committed to curbing terrorism and extremism in society but the Western world should also play its due role to eradicate these problems," Mr Haq said.

'Blasphemous'

Earlier this week, the British High Commissioner in Pakistan, Robert Brinkley, expressed "deep concern" over Mr Haq's comments about suicide attacks.

Mr Brinkley was summoned to the Pakistani foreign ministry to explain the UK's decision to give the knighthood to the British author, which entitles him to be called Sir Salman.

Pakistan's parliament passed a resolution on Monday condemning the award.

Sir Salman's book, The Satanic Verses, was published in 1988, and a fatwa against him was issued the following year by Iran's spiritual late leader Ayatollah Khomeini, calling for his execution.

The book describes a cosmic battle between good and evil and combines fantasy, philosophy and farce.

It was condemned by the Islamic world because of its perceived blasphemous depiction of the Prophet Muhammad.

The fatwa forced the author to go into hiding for several years.

Sir Salman, 60, was one of almost 950 people to appear on the Queen's Birthday Honours list, which is aimed at recognising outstanding achievement.

Notes:

• The only misunderstanding seems to be with chopfracks like Ejaz (who can't even follow his own religion's laws--his dad pulled him out of being prosecuted on an impaired-driving charge after he had wrapped a Benz around a tree in 1983)--as the matter is really between UK and one of its citizens, other countries (not even India, of which Rushdie is erstwhile citizen) have any valid input
  
• By making the "homicide/suicide bombing could be justified in retaliation", he already proved that he cannot engage in any "constructive" dialog, and doesn't intend to
  
• I'm somewhat ashamed at the UK High Commission not standing up for its country, but that's neither here nor there; the UK certainly has a right to ban his visit, anywhere from one-time refusal to lifetime ban (as he made a veiled threat against UK)
  

[mawilson 2,133]

LOL @ "Suicide Minister"

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Oops, found a typo in my note:

...as the matter is really between UK and one of its citizens, other countries (not even India, of which Rushdie is erstwhile citizen) have any valid input

should have read "...other countries (even India, of which Rushdie is erstwhile citizen) have NO valid input"

Edited June 21, 2007 by CherryXS