I have not read satanic verses, maybe one day i might. Being a muslim i dont understand what all the fuss is about, so what if he is knighted or not, so what if he insulted the Prophet, so what if any one does! The prophet (SAW) was a beautiful man, and he never got angry at insults towards him, he was beaten, insulted, boycotted, but he never got mad, he never got even.. he forgave and forgave until all became Muslims... so why are we showing anger. Are all the muslims so uneducated in their own religion? As to the jibs about Isalm religion of Peace, yes it is a religion of peace for those who understand its teachings. Yes we are taught to fight for what is right, but only for what is right and in the right way.. not sucide bombs, not killing the innocent, not desytroying crops or livestock, not killing someone for what they have just said!
Muslims wake up and learn your religion before you act. People who are not muslim judge Islam by the Quran and the teachings of Muhammad (SAW)

umm zayd, London,

It's has been deeply insensitive of the Iranian and other governments to honour a man - the late Ayatollah Khomeini - show caused such distress to countless millions of thinking people all over the world for his support of the shameful fatwah against a harmless writer.

I don't enjoy Rushdie's writing, but he cerainly deserves a knighthood for his courageous response to Islamic intimidadtion

Juan, Pucallpa,

Whats the fuss. This knighthood is nothing but his key to hell, if he does not repent and come to right path.

Ahmed, Worcestershire, uk

Islam is a relgion of Peace. Don't forget the moon is made out of cheese.

When is the worls going to stop dropping on their knees for these uneducated thugs? Islam has never promoted peace in this world and has only created violence on their intolerance of other relgions.

Only thing they respect is strength and kissing there rears so they don't get upset doesn't help anything.

The Queen can knight whoever she pleases. If Islam doesn't like it so what. They can go protest and create viloence like they usually do. Here's an idea strap a bomb on yourselves and blow up some innocent women and children. That will solve everything you cowards!

God save the Queen!

Proud American and friend of England

CT, Boston, MA

Were other readers as dumbfounded as I was when the British recently awarded the author, Salman Rusdie, a knighthood for culture?
The backlash against Britain as printed in “UK envoys told Rusdie is vile’ article (Reuters, Press, Thursday 21 June) comes as no surprise to most of us.
As a 3rd and 4th generation New Zealander with ancestors from Britain, I am appalled at Britain making this award. To isolate the political impact from whatever literary or cultural genius Rusdie has from the political impact, and award him a knighthood, almost defies my every ounce of hope that human common sense will prevail. It is naive in every sense.
We can only hope the backlash from extremist Muslims will not result in loss of lives.
As a Christian, I urge Moslems to realize the knighthood to Rusdie was not a Christian act but rather a completely antichristian one and possibly equally offensive to true Christians.
David Moore, Christchurch, New Zealand

David, Christchurch, New Zealand

Yep Salman Rushdie should thank all demonstrating Muslims for the publicity they are generating. for him & his book.
SATANIC VERSES is back up there in sales & I for one am about to buy
it too.
I wonder how many Muslims have in fact READ it. ?

Maggie, Brittany , France

Muslims all over the world now have the chance to show that they have learned from the appeal by Pope Benedict XVI for growth in their faith by disowning inappropriate violence. Even though it does not seem appropriate to give such an honor to Rushdie, who has indeed insulted Mohammed, Muslim response should be moderated.

Richard, dubuque, USA/Iowa

Let's let Britain do their knighting as the government feels free. Be not swayed by 7th Century Islamic barbarians. If they had half a brain and could think for themselves, they might learn some truths about the world around them. Kudos for Sir Rushdie!

MARIO ALEXAY, GREEN VALLEY, Arizona USA

Let Rushdie become Sir Salman Rushdie for his entire output--and forget the one book that got him into the bad graces of a bad enemy . His entire oeuvre is off-the-charts amazing. He is a great thinker, a fascinating raconteur, a terrific teacher, witty withal--and the man's got guts. A lesser man would have crawled into an obscure hole, and maybe emerged...maybe. Not the soon-to-be-Sir-S--he hunkered down below anyone's radar for awhile, but HE KEPT WRITING, periodically surfaced, didn't shrink from risk, came out, spoke, wrote more--lots more--one act of courage after another. The Muslim world should be proud of him. Like the Irish, he took a language not his own, a language imposed by conquerors on the conquered, and wrote it BETTER. That takes some doing. In so doing, he has enriched the West, and set a standard presently unmatched in English prose. I hope the Queen also awards him a sword, a dagger, a suit of armor, a horse, manor with moat, a drawbridge, and men-at-arms

Anne, Beverly, MA USA

this will be seen by 1m British Moslems as an unneccessary provocation. Any Moslem who has read Satanic verses know sthat it is a slander on Islam.

Samin Ahmad, Karachi, Pakistan

I'm glad the Conservatives show the British still have some backbone.

Garrett, virginia, usa

I bought the book to see for myself what all the fuss was about. I did make an attempt to read it but left it on a train somewhere between Waterloo and Putney. I don't recommend it.
However, we really don't need people in other countries telling us who we should or should not reward in our country ,it simply isn't on!

ken, London, UK

The attacks on Salman Rushdie are shameful and absurd. This man has done nothing more than write a fine work of fiction; those who say he has brought this violence upon himself are doing nothing more than engaging in an appalling act of victimisation. Rushdie is entirely blameless here, and as a British citizen acted within his rights both when he published "The Satanic Verses" and (as if it needs to be said) when he accepted the honour of a Knighthood. It is the violent Islamists, of course, who are solely to blame for the violent anger directed at Mr Rushdie and the U.K.

George M, Melbourne, Australia

Methinks they do protest too much.

Are these "radical protesters" so unsure of their faith that they have to make such fuss over an insignificant author and a foreign ceremony they don't believe in? Mature people would just express their disagreement and get on with life.

There's no hope of western people getting on with people who behave this way, given their repeated proof that the veneer of civilisation is thinnest on them.

Stuart, Chester,

That matter appears to be clouded with a number of issues which are central to the outcry in Pakistan and Iran.
Rusdie per se is being commended for his works; the Queen has not said "well done for the book for which a death warrant was issued". They must be separated.

The Queen has the right to Knight any individual (s) she so wishes. The fact remains that in this instance, questions are being asked why Rushdie. Is it that the Queen will "take counsel" with all countries in the World before citing her nominees for a Knighthood? I think not. Perhaps it is time that those individuals who raise objections should give consideration to more presing matters in their own country such as extremism/poverty etc and leave such matters that have no bearing on them to the Queen.

Gurpal Singh, Cambridgeshire.

Gurpal Singh, Cambridge, UK

One of the commentors on this subject has suggested that Pakistan could knight Dan Brown, the author of the DaVinci code as a provocation to the West. However, if that were done, I am sure that although some people might protest verbally and in writing, no one would put a price on Mr. Brown's head or threaten the people of Pakistan.

That's the point

Jim, Oak Park, Illinois

who, and I mean who gives a hoot what anybody from Pakistan say's. They should take care of their own internal problems in that fourth world country.

GMO, Glasgow, UK

Every writer who wrote comments has same tone of writing does anyone of them analyze or verify what they read/learn/hear/watch from any writer or historian or channel?
Doesn't whole world's either educational system or any merit system only top-grade a person based on genius, have you heard any point about or for honesty/sincerity/truthness? or is there any guarantee that genius is also honest and won't misuse the awarded/given position.
Is there any doubt on leaders and nations fooling each other or others only in the name of religion or God?
Does it sound realistic to believe anyone follows any religion in 21st century? (Sin: anything/action that harms you or anyone else.)
I am confident the guy who said whatever for Rushdie never knew what Rushdie wrote or Islam is about.
I wish there would not be any religion or Satan or mistake what generations should suffer for.

umayconsiderpsycho, Village,

"British Government objectives to bring about harmony between the faiths" and now this.... here we see the typical double standards traits of her Majesty England... YET AGAIN

Ashamed Brit, London, UK

This situation is bordering on farce. Just because the claim of "religous intolerance" is used, the civilised world is expected to sit idly by or worse, cow to extreme demands. Who we award our titles to should be of no concern to anyone else. To put it simply, if Richard Dawkins was to be awarded a similar honour, i do not think that the reaction would be the same, and even if it were, it would be treated as risible.

Patrick Watts, Twickenham, England

I don't know if Salman Rushdie deserved the knighthood in the first place as I haven't read any of his book or know much about him. However, it would be a disaster if his knighthood was taken off him because of the words and actions of a group of people who have such views that mean they don't belong in the modern world.

Eleanor, London, England

We are all missing the point. Salman Rushdie is a very good writer and hence he was knighted. Period.

Kara Swart, London,

frankly the anti-muslim comments in this letters page shocked me. Are we headed for another you know what?

Ranjan Tekle, delhi, india

We've reached yet another that will test our self-belief in the values of western civilisation, for all its faults.

Have we got leaders - political and otherwise - with the courage to stand up for our cultural beliefs, or are they, like an amazing number of the commentators here, all to willing to roll-over and beg forgiveness for expressing these values?

Where these same people stand on church burnings in Pakistan or the refusal of Malaysia to recognise the faith of Lina Joy?

In the corner, quietly, least they offend someone, is my guess.

Dom in Oxford, Oxford, England

Let those people in power come who have actually decided that Mr. Rushdie is worthy of such an honour come forth and stand in front of those people who object, and explain to them (and the British people!) WHY they think he is worthy of such an honour - and leave the British people out of it, who, after all, are not party to the decision making, and thus have no say in the matter at all.

T. Bishop, London, UK

@Vinay Mehra : About giving knighthood to someone who denied the Holocaste .. the fact tht he wud b behind bars would never allow him to be considered for a knighthood..

'coz yeah .. when it come to "the Holocaste" .. there is no freedom of speech ... (or whteva)

Talha Aziz, Karachi, Pakistan

Whilst I don't believe that Salman Rusdie's writing is deserving of a knighthood, I do believe that our government has the undisputed right to make the recommendation to our monarch, and she has the right to comply with or reject such recommendation. The government and people of Pakistan have no rights on this matter. Perhaps they would like to return the billions of pounds received from us in aid, in exchange for which, I am sure, they would be happy to accept the return to their native soil of all the Pakistani passport holders presently resident in UK. They cannot be happy living in a free and liberal country!

Tony, Kobe, Japan

Where did our common sense go?
We all know that the Satanic Verses was a book that many muslims objected to, So why did we put oil to the fire?
It was completely insensitive to give Salman Rushdie the knighthood. We made a blunder giving him the nighthood, and now we should expect all of the protests to come.

Abdullah, UK,

Ahhh, Islam; sweet religion of peace...

Newton, Decatur, USA

Is it not slightly unbelievable that these protests have spontaneously appeared on the streets across the islamic world? In my view this, like the Danish cartoons incident, has all the hallmarks of states rabble-rousing and inciting protests.
Do none of these people have jobs, are they simply hanging around waiting for the next protest?
Perhaps if these leaders actually concentrated on the leadership of their countries they would not have to distract their people with these insidious calls for fatwas and suicide bombers.
And one last thing for Pakistan - When last I checked, your country did not have a veto over UK honours decisions.

David Swetman, Exeter, UK

I think the Islamic world wants us to punish Salman Rushdie for them and we have just said 'no'.

Karen, London, UK

You don't do something and then when it becomes nasty you look for scapegoats. Britain knows very well Salman Rushdie is a condemned man by the muslim faith, why knight him? Then out of their failed judgement start blaming Pakistani Religious Affairs Minister. Queen's action was provocative by all standards and Rushdie deserves just that.

William W.George, Rumbek, Sudan

Are there any non-Muslims left in this world? I read little but what they think and what they wish to do to us. Stop it, Western media, they certainly have their rights in the same way as do we others, but because somebody in a far-off country says something inane or dances in the street is not reason enough to publish it. A little maturity all round?

Freddy Salop, Perth, Australia

Once again the non violent religion shows its true face.

Alan Lewis, Bangkok, Thailand

i haven't read Rushdie's book; however, his ''recognition'' by the British Queen is clearly a huge mistake that is aimed at sowing more discord and hatred towards Britain. What a shame!

The Muslim brothers should not dignify this man or the actions that involve him in any way. It just contributes for this individual's "fame".

As an adequate response, Iran and Pakistan might wish to consider knighthood for the author of The Da Vinci Code who had been criticised by the Papa!

Sodiq, Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Religion is not a threat to our world, misguided people are!

Steve, Folkestone, England

To Jane from Horsham: a little book called Midnight's Children. You've really never heard of it?

mollie, washington, dc, usa

Apparently Muslims are more sensible when it comes to faith than people of other religions. I wonder if there is any scientific explanation of that?

Gregory, SP, Russian Federation

I think that hard-liners look for any excuse to incite and stir up the people into a frenzy as seen in the case of the knighthood of Mr Rushdi. Mr ul-Haq’s “misunderstood” remarks seemed perfectly clear to me as I am sure to many, many others too. In a world that is supposed to be tolerant of other peoples views, I sometimes wonder how different the East and West really are in terms of education, human rights, state corruption, accountability, freedom of speech and in the propaganda of the masses, to name but a few! To me the actions demonstrated by the Pakistan Government and Muslim clergy is one of unjustifiable intolerance, and an attempt to incite the masses in the Muslim world.

Paul Thomas, Limassol, Cyprus

Don't you all think that we are at the edge of WARS between the cultures and religions.
I know many of you will not agree with me, but knighting this person might be the "trigger" to new rifts and anger.
Have any of you tried to search why this man has been lightened?, why old stored stuff is re-opened?, Did high officials in U.K. not know that it may raise flames of enemity in Islamic groups and countires.
Come on, it is not about pride of British Sovereignty or liberty vastly enjoyed by individuals there. Will you people not agree with me that Britain being a country has bundle of gentlemen with services that make them deserving more than Mr. "Rushdi"
Ask these questions to yourself and try to find answers as well.
I beleive we should go for the solutions not for the problems
To avoid rifts, we msut respect the beliefs, faiths, cultures and leaders of fellow nations.
It is the easiest way.
BELIEVE ME

Faraz Ather, Karachi,

Can someone tell me what the Knighthood id for?

david james, gosport, uk

I suppose Rushdie did not get the award for his other works:- Grimus, Shame, Jaguar Smile, Moor's Last Sigh, Ground Beneath her Feet, Shalimar the Clown, Haroun and the Sea of Stories, Fury, East, West and his non-fiction Step Across the Line. He is also the winner of nineteen awards across Europe, however i do not see him condemend for these reasons. Rather it is one book that he wrote that is not liked and that is what's targeted. It shows that what is needed is a move beyond tradition, nothing less than a reform movement to bring the core concepts of Islam into the modern age, a Muslim Reformation to combat not only the jihadist ideologues but also the dusty, stifling seminaries of the traditionalists, throwing open the windows to let in much-needed fresh air. It is high time, for starters, that Muslims were able to study the revelation of their religion as an event inside history, not supernaturally above it. Broad-mindedness is related to tolerance; open-mindedness to peace.

scott, Wales,

jane - the danish "mishap"? yes, we learned that entirely too many publications are utterly spineless.

if you are ready to take fashion instruction from people in pakistan and iran les you offend them by exiting your house sans the appropriate headwear, then by all means continue thinking the way you do.

D.B. Woodham, Winchester,

I certainly do not wish to add my support to Salman Rushdie as I find the award of a knighthood completely incomprehensible and quite uncalled for. The £10 million spent on protecting him, despite the fact that he neither particularly likes us or spends much time here, could be used towards helping British soldiers who are already at risk and will be more so because of this award. It could be used to protect them now and to look after them and their families in the future. The only gesture he could make if he had any common decency, would be to renounce the knighthood.

Michael Arnold, Cromer, Norfolk/UK

Jane from Horsham,

In response to your question Salman Rushdie has also written Grimus, Midnight's Children, Shame, The Jaguar Smile, The Moor's Last Sigh, Shalimar the Clown and The Ground beneath her Feet. In addition to those he has written four works of non-fiction.

Nicola, London,

Many of you are falling into the hands of the radicals by questioning the validity of the Rushdie honour.

The real point here is that we have Pakistan (which has sent millions of its citizens into the open arms (& taxpayer paid benefits) of the European countries---particularly Great Britain. Now some Pakistanis, with the apparent backing of the Parliament, are burning our Queen in effigy & disrespectfully calling her an "old crone" along with other names, burning our flag & threatening violence. This is totally unacceptable.

Great Britain should not have to get permission from Pakistan nor should the Queen have to second guess or be afraid of her actions in HER OWN COUNTRY. To the panderers who feels otherwise - no wonder the UK has troubles!

M. Szary, Florida, USA

The irony of Muslims attacking the queen is that she is, according to geneologists, most likely a direct descendant of Mohammed.

Scott , Syracuse, NY, USA

This award has nothing to do with anybody in Pakistan. I'm quite sure that the British could criticise many decision made by those in power there, but would not threaten to kill Pakistani's or burn the Pakistani flag in protest. I suppose that is what distinguishes the civilised and civil from the rest.

David Leslie, Perth, Scotland

Too bad that a faith is so weak that its adherents have to resort to violence and childish antics to promote its values and bolster their own beliefs.
Perhaps it is time for non-Muslims to stand up for their faiths?

cavlosnap, toronto,

Well done Britain!
The Rushdie knighthood puts a line in the sand once again when I feared Britain's super liberalism was destined to kowtow forever to Islam.
Where was the Pakistan Minister for Religeous Affairs when would be UK bombers were identified as Islamists who had entered Britain as refugees?
Surely that is the geatest act of treachery imaginable?
Western Europe (excepting Germany) is retreating from soft liberalism when dealing with these migrant groups and I applaud a first step by Britain along these lines.

R Harris, Wellington, New Zealand

My comment is more about the language used in this article than the actual incident. The author refers to "radical" groups and "hardliners", while the hateful comments are being made in the Pakistani parliament, not in some underground secret meeting of crazed fundamentalists. It is becoming clearer and clearer that the distinction between "moderate" and "radical" is a moot point. Religion is a grave threat to our world.

Rational, Vancouver, BC, Canada

When poeple tell you what they are going to do,
you better listen. Whether you are a christian or not
the war is on. Both Politically and Phsically.
Only good hearted souls can ignore the gathering clouds
of a larger War.
The World is on fire
The common man on the street is going to go nuts.
And Great Nations shall clash.
Maybe.....we will see
Everything on this Earth has been turned into
Propaganda
in the end that is what I resent
People are just brain washed and selfish
you do not deserve this earth

Joe, Aurora, Indiana

I feel it is hilarious that all these Harabi Islamists act in the satanic manner that Rushdi writes about, thereby proving the author correct in all his accusations of fundamentalist Islam. It is a shame that the majority of Muslims are letting their beliefs be hi-jacked by those only filled with hate, ignorance and death-wishes. Their actions make me proud to be an agnostic.

JJ, Freeport , Texas

As usual, the rent-a-mob tendency in the Muslim world grab all the headlines with their tediously predictable "anger", giving a bunch of bigots in the West another opportunity to condemn all 1.5billion muslims in the world as backward savages.

I despair for the future of of the human race if this is the level of understanding we have of each other after a century of dazzling technological achievement that allows knowledge to traverse the world instantly at the push of a button. One crowd burns effigies and another on the other side of the world dismisses a quarter of humanity as inferior beings. Well done, people.

Sohail, London, UK

Lay offf our 'Sir Adorabubble'

Bill Bird, Wallasey, Wirral

An irresponsible & slightly strange & antagonistic move in my opinion. The man is a hated figure in the Islamic world with a fatwa on his head for almost 20 years. The safety & security of UK citizens should be paramount & by bestowing the Queens honour on this man in these delicate times, it has made the general British public, likely targets of more Muslim hatred & revenge. Rushdie has plenty of security, bodyguards & an extremely safe, unknown place to live. The general British public & its citizens abroad are not afforded this same luxury.

James, London,

Rushdie was knighted for no other reason than to spark a controversy, and now some Muslims are rattling their sabres. What did the British government expect to have happen?

The "playground games" (Paul Owen's comment below) started with the British this time. How childish it is to claim that a country's internal award structure is no one else's business!

Rob, Madison, WI

It's sad when we live in a world where people get inflamed over writings of an individual to the point that suicide bombings is the answer.

What a sad world we live in. The 21st century was supose to show how advanced the human race has become. I'm still waiting to see it.

Keith Ainsley, Portsmouth, VA, United States

Where are the Muslims who condemn such acts of violence? Their voice is but a whisper.

Pam, Washington, D.C.

It saddens me deeply to see British people apparently argue that Rushdie should not have been honoured because of the risk of offending moslems (as opposed to objecting on grounds of literary merit). The overwhelming and outstanding offence is to us, Britain, that one of our citizens should have been so disgracefully sentenced to death for writing a novel. The fatwa as I understand it still stands to this day and even if Iran has pledged not to directly carry it out, it must still endanger his life. In the 21st century this is an utterly unacceptable way for a nation to behave.

Steven , Oxford, UK

Afaq Ali of Karachi, Pakistan states "May I suggest for the knighthood someone who denies the Holocaust. Your commitment to the freedom of expression will be tested." I think you have not understood the issue. Salman was awarded knighthood for his contribution to literature and not because he has annoyed muslims. In case you are not aware, he has written many books besides 'Satanic Verses,' including children's books. If there was a worthy author, who might have denied holocaust, but had made a contribution to literature, I am sure he would be considered for a knighthood.

Vinay Mehra, Purley, Surrey

Klaus, I quite agree. Do any Pakistanis notice us in the streets parading about in horror because one of their newspapers has called the Queen a 'crone'? A preposterous fuss, as usual, about very little.

Victoria, London,

Why was Rushdie knighted, it's got nothing to do with anyone but the British, but I'd still like to know why.

ColinC, Billingham, Teeside

John in Edinburgh should never disbelieve in God because of the actions of misled people in Pakistan or the faith based arguments in Dawkins books. To be led astray is no excuse for going astray as the people in the muslim and jewish worlds are finding to their costs today. Both of these peoples practice an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth and look where it has gotten them, we should never allow ourselves to be hauled down to their level. Sadly the fiasco of Iraq shows that all to many "Christians" such as Bush and Blair are not Christians at all. A false prophet was talked of in Revelations, ....... at least have the patience, and good manners, to wait until God unmasks him in his own way, ..... who knows it might even be me, or you, or the leader of any of the religions. I have faith in technology providing the answers and who gave us technology to better this place I wonder? A father's sacred duty is to teach, ..... without being seen to teach. Our free will depends on it.

John, Dundee, UK

@Afaq Ali
It seems to me that you forgot the Talibans blowing up the Bhudda statue when they still were in power. As far as I know the Taliban are well Muslims. I still wonder who blows up Mosques in Iraq. Not a very intelectual debate among scholars I'd say.

Unless the majority of Muslims won't recognize the extremism and intolerance in its midth and stand up against it, unless the Muslim world does not take to an intelectual debate about Rushdi insteat of issuing fatwas they shouldn't lecture others about tolerance and freedom of speech.

Ingo, Brasil,

I think that another holy war is inevitable.

If every Muslim wants a war with the British I think we should show the world what a great nation we are.

Any insult towards to the Queen should be treated as an insult to every British man, woman and child!!

Trev, Nottingham, UK

The controversy just makes we want to read the novel to find out what all the fuss is about. There is something to be said for Anjum Hammed's astute observation.

David I, New York, USA

Britain's failure to put an end to such threats, to stop providing a forum for fanatics through its polite politics and media and its failure to take dramatic action, put Britain and the G8 at risk. Clearly British officials do not understand the long-term fanatical goals of using generations of immigration to erode and modify countries such as Britain. It is not multi-culturalism. I think Britain has something precious and should take care not to give it away to persons who are not democracy-ready by any strech.

Emma H. , Ottawa, Canada

The arguments against any religion are made in an intellectual and scholarly debate not in novels and stories. Anyone who tries to hurt the feelings of others is a criminal of humanity. Such people should never be honored. Muslims have great respect for all the religious figures of the world so they expect it from others too.

May I suggest for the knighthood someone who denies the Holocaust. Your commitment to the freedom of expression will be tested.

Afaq Ali, Karachi, Pakistan

What's funny is how quietly the fact that an Austalian cross dresser has slipped through the cracks! Nice one.

Paul, London, UK

Why is the Times capitalizing "Prophet" when talking about a controversial religious figure?

WillyRob, Georgia , USA

How could we have committed this injustice to our fellow Muslim citizens? Now we will have to live in increased fear of Islamic retribution for our callous insult. It is never justified to taunt a tiger and as the bite we receive in return may end our lives. If there is a retribution attack we have brought this upon ourselves and deserve it.

Samual Bongdigger, Horsham, West Sussex

For the last so many years, I have been bewildered as to who has read the 'Satanic Verses.' I know it is a best seller but anyone I now, even those who possess the book, have found it diffilcult to read. Then suddenly, this weekend, I was enlightened. Of course, all the muslims around the world have read this book and disliked it so much that they are now protesting against it.

Vinay Mehra, Purley, Surrey

This is ridiculous. That effigy looks nothing like Salman Rushdie.

Anthony Charlton, Swindon,

The Satanic Verses was not 'fiction' as some commentators have said above. Salman Rushdie delibirately quoted from Islamic texts and twisted it. Very clever yes, but very disrespectful. If the Queen thinks its commendable that a man who insults 1 billion should be honoured, I think it says a lot about the manners of the average English person.

Financial Analyst, Cape Town, South Africa

Why is it always Pakistan which feels the need to lead the protests against anything which is perceived to be anti-Islamic? There are more than 40 Muslim countries in the world and so far the only other complaint has been from Iran.
A government of any country which incites violence by mass hysteria deserves universal condemnation and the world should take steps to isolate those governments which incite such gruesome violence on innocent civilians without any hesitation.

rizvi, Wembley, UK

"if somebody has to attack by strapping a bomb to his body to protect the honour of the Prophet, then it is justified."

.....what's to misunderstand

Surely the act of strapping a bomb to ones body in order to attack something or someone is a suicide bombing?

I hate it when people use the get out phrase " I have been misunderstood" when it's blatantly obvious it's exactly what they meant.

Fred, London,

How are things over there in Londonistan?

mike, houston, USA

I can't speak for the rest of the readership, but I am sick and tired of aggrieved Muslims over-reacting to every perceived slight. Can you imagine what would have happened if Rushdie's work had been serialized in the Danish press? No wonder that the billion and a half Muslims world wide have the same economic output as Germany.

Klaus, New York, USA

We should never appease the extremists whether government or individual. Unless we confront them strongly they will exploit our weakness. The role of the government is to advocate the fundamental values of British society and take a tough stance if necessary.

Geesang, Singapore,

I suggest we all ignore this childish and ignorant name calling which is more to do with the problems of an unpopular and illegitimate government than a 20 year old book. Even if our choice of who we honour was any of their damned business, their jibes reveal an ignorance of who actually awards knighthoods in the first place. Playground stuff which should be treated with the contempt it deserves.

Paul Owen, Birmingham, UK

The essence of Islam is contained in the following Koranic verse (Surah 9, Verse 5):

"As for the unbelievers, thou shalt slay them and beleaguer them in every strategem of war"

How can we have reconciliation with an ideology that basically seeks our destruction?

Mike Kayson, London, UK

I'd hope that Britain responds by not doing anything, expect state that the Queen has the right to honour anyone she pleases! With islamic appreciation or not!

Jamie, Halifax, West Yorkshire

fanatics what the world needs are peacemakers. i do not believe that the almighty would to happy with these leaders

bill, valley stream, ny

Ah yes! The religion of peace (islam) rears its ugly head again.

A. Johnston, Grand Junction, CO, USA

I think David Irving should be knighted Sir David for his book - 'The Holocaust on trial'.

David Duke, Texas, US

We can't Knight Mr. Rushdie here in Texas but we have decided to have a Beer Party Friday after work and make him an "Honorary Good Ole Boy"!!!

PS. I believe that when Jesus talked to his disciples and warned them of False Prophets he was no doubt talking about Mohammed!!! How else could you explain the evil deeds that were perpetrated by this individual to the point he even stole his brothers wife.

Larry Carmichael, Houston, Texas

"In Lahore, [they] burned the Union Jack for the second day running and their leader, Shahid Gilani, said the group had decided "that we will from now on call every dog ’Sir’". "

This is -priceless-.

Compared to these medieval lunatics, dogs deserve to be treated as superior. I'm glad they finally recognize it.

Ethan, Tampa, FL, USA

Salman Rushdie is not the most admirable of men, but if his knighthood can inflame excitable Moslems around the world it can hardly be lacking in merit.

Gervas Douglas, Andorra la Vella,

Good to see Islam with the mask off.
Research Muslim sources on the life of Mohammed - the apples don't fall far from the tree.

Adam Bradford, London,

What ever posessed any one to nominate Rushdie for a knighthood is just beyond belief. This man has done nothing for this country only cost us a lot of time and money. our Police force risked their lives to keep this man secure 24 hours of the day, these were fathers, mothers, sons, daughters,brother,sisters. I was born and bred inthis country my father fought in the 2nd wiorld war, my grand father in the 1st, this just proves that their lives were a waste. The one person that should have been knighted and justly deserves it , as he is the best ambassador England could and will ever have is Simon Weston, not some jumped up little author, who lets face it is niot ever English.

Linda Willmott, London, England

Otherwise, Pakistan and Iran sound like very nice places.

Centre, London, UK

The Rushdie affair can have some paralels with the death of the comedian Bernard Manning. He told jokes about jews, blacks, and almost everything else, and as tasteless as they were, nonetheless they were all fiction. Its the same as Rushdies book - it is fictionalised but despite this people around the world especially in Muslim countries believe it to be true. Unfortunately people will want to believe what they want to believe, and there is very little that we can do as a society or as a nation about it. In time those who perpatrate violence against Rushdie will realise the error of their ways, and we can only hope and pray that in so doing then and only then will a map of peace in out time be drawn.

Donald Knox-Richards, Liverpool, Merseyside.

Why can't they respect the British people as well? They treat women differently than we treat women, yet you don't see us passing resolutions forcing them to change. If the British people want to honor Mr. Rushdie, then I say do it!

What's next, are going to force women to walk behind a guy when they leave their house just because they do?

You respect a culture while you're there, you don't change your culture at home!

Sarah, Newton,

Britain doesn't owe anyone an apology or an explanation for Rushdie's knighhood. Even if it did, I wouldn't give it up until Pakistan and Iran apologize to every woman on the planet for the way Pakistan recently mistreated its Travel Minister and for the way both countries mistreat women across the board. I want an apology for the way some Muslims in the Middle East celebrated September 11. When is the last time anyone in the Middle East saw Western citizens burning Islamic flags or effigies? If the Middle East spent HALF as much time, energy and resources feeding and educating its people, it would probably leave the rest of the world behind in a cloud of dust, but I guess the masses are a lot easier to manipulate when they're kept hungry and in ignorance. I don't know why the government and press continue to dignify this with responses.

Tiffany, St. Louis, USA

It's time that British people including the government took a definitive stand against insulting, ignorant and downright ridiculous comments such as these. You could laugh if you didn't know the idiots spouting this type of rhetoric weren't also barbarians and murderers. I know the government wants to keep Pakistan 'sweet' for the 'war against terror' but we musn't be bullied and dictated to. The governemnt's weak response is dangerous in its weakness. Islam is not the only religion in the world and not all people on earth must abide by the rules of its all rules. The quicker all muslims understand this the better.

Nicola Gordon-Thaxter, Leeds, UK

How low can you sink?

Did this man perform any meritorious service to Britain that would deserve recognition? NO!

His award is pure propaganda.

The Queen should renounce the "honours" list, for it dishonors her to be associated with this sort of thing.

Arik Silverman, Milwaukee, USA/WI

The folks that are upset about this will go about ranting and raving about it in their usual child like manner. I find it pathetic that leaders in these societies all too often use language that speaks so much of death. I can understand condemning this action as it seems unnecessary, but to get into such an uproar about it is somewhat akin to a child mad at his parents that is having a temper tantrum. I have no problems with the Muslim faith, from what I understand it is loving of all creatures and a beautiful religion, but just as there are Christian radicals, there are Muslim radicals, it just seems that there are more Muslim radicals in positions of power. How sad. Instead of death and hatred, why don't they preach peace and love? Because you cannot control people with peace and love and that is the game they are playing. Control. This incident is nothing more than an attempt at controlling the minds of the Muslims so that they will carry out the actions of the government.

Josh, Dayton, United States/ Ohio

What ever posessed any one to nominate Rushdie for a knighthood is just beyond belief. This man has done nothing for this country only cost us a lot of time and money. our Police force risked their lives to keep this man secure 24 hours of the day, these were fathers, mothers, sons, daughters,brother,sisters. I was born and bred in this country my father fought in the 2nd world war, my grand father in the 1st, this just proves that their lives were a waste. The one person that should have been knighted and justly deserves it , as he is the best ambassador England could and will ever have is Simon Weston, not some jumped up author, who lets face it is not even English.

Linda Willmott, London, England

It is to be hoped that all over the world, people of good will have the passion for human rights to continue to condemn the calls for Mr. Rushdie's murder.

The irony of Iran instigating such savage behavior, in light of their revolution to overthrow the former Shah, based on his terrible abuses of Iranians, is quite cutting.

Those of us who condemned the Shah, condemn the actions of the Ayatollah who betrayed the Iranian revolution, and those in the Islamic world today who continue to focus not on bettering their own societies, but using false religious pronouncements to bamboozle credulous followers.

President Bush and PM Tony Blairs' role in spreading war and hatred should not be forgotten either

But as Afghanistan and Iraq continue to dissolve into tribal civil wars, Israel and Palestine are locked in conflict, Lebannon and Pakistan skitter on the brink of chaos, the best the Arab world can do to address their woes is pick on a novelist?!

Look to thy mote in thine own eye!

Mark Kuestner, Portland, OR USA

The more I read about such intolerance, the more I am inclined to agree with the views of Messrs Dawkins (The God Delusion) and Hitchens (God is not Great). The government should take a firm line, condemn the reaction and demand an apology. Our internal honours system and to whom we award honours, is no business whatsoever of other countries. If we cave in to this today, we will regret it tomorrow.

John Riddick, Edinburgh, UK

when it comes to ineptitude this government takes the biscuit, they sow the wind & the british people reap the whirlwind .

ews, leicester, england

Once the dust has settled, I'm sure that even the most extreme hardliners will be able to look back on this and chuckle--just as they did with the Danish cartoons. The young princes, after all, are fallible humans, just like the various Ayatollahs. I'm all for burning effigies of public figures, don't get me wrong, but only within reason, and only if it can be done tastefully without offending anyone.

David, Scarborough, Canada

Why oh why do people protest to give Salman Rushdie more publicity? Here he is again in the news. So he was knighted, big deal, he cant take it with him can he? Dont people realise that the worst thing for someone like that is to be out of the public eye, it would probably shatter him, so lets ignore the fellow and maybe he will go away!

Anjum Hameed, Dubai, UAE

excellent britain..well done !...surprising why we don't hear a word of protest from other islamic countries such as morocco, indonesia, UAE etc...If Pakistan has a problem they need to live with it...its not their business anyway...

Aslam, Bradford, UK

The western world has to wake up. There is nothing that will appease these islamists. There goal is to dominate the world with the muslim religion. At least their version of it. They are not the least bit sensitive to other religions.

peter popichak, lady lake, florida

Leave the strange man alone, maybe he will go away.....people of the world, you do realise that a man like that needs publicity to exist, ignore him and, pouf, out in a puff of smoke......havent you figured that out yet?

Anjum Hameed, Dubai, UAE

Islam is a religion of intolerance. They claim to be peaceful but they show thier true colors on a daily basis all you have to do is open your eyes.

name, somewhere, usa

Inflamatory thing to do.
We have troops in two dangerous Islamic countries and she does that. Very unthinking.

Aside from the knight hood. What has Rushdie done to desrve it? His book was pretty average. It wasnt really all that good. So all you have to do now is write some fiction and you are a knight?

As a nation we need to build friendships and integration and trade. This kind of thing is very disingenious to the plot...

Audi Driver, Kelso, Borders

While I have no sympathy with the mindless Islamists who bay for blood at the slightest provocation, the cretins who run everything in this country have once again made us a laughing stock. The people who decide these matters have little forethought or commonsense. What has Rushdie done to deserve a knighthood anyway? Lets start rewarding the true heroes not the establishment cronies, with a few deserving recipients thrown in to placate the masses.

G Cousin, Mirfield,

Why was Salman Rushdie knighted in the first place? For services to controversial book writing?

The decision to knight him was always going to cause inflammed feelings amongst hardline muslem activists. So why do it - especially as I and many see no reason for it?!?

This is a political decision - made by a government devoid of sensitivity. We should be building bridges not burning them!!!

Paul Wilcox, Southampton, England

How interesting that this Muslim country wants to control what happens in the UK as well as in their own country and if we don't meet their criteria there is always the threat of terrorist violence. So much for Islam being a religion of peace.

Jill Downey, Nantwich,

These Muslims who want to advocate suicide bombing and murder then wonder why there is such a thing as Islamaphobia.
The British Government must stand up and denounce in the strongest possible way these Pakistani and Iranian advocates of murder.

Nick, Lucca, Italy

I'm disgusted by the actions and words of a) the Pakistani MP's and b) the so called Muslims who seem to find it necessary to burn our flag at the slighest drop of a hat. These people seem to think it's ok to insult our culture and our Queen, but are unable to take criticism themselves. It is arrogance of the highest order and on this issue we (Britain) should stand firm and not back down.

C Bailey, Derby, UK

I have difficulty with the concept of Majesty and its trimmings - one of which is the Honours system. Like it or hate it however, I am stoic enough to accept its existence. In today's climate of a two-way mistrust between the Islamic community and Western culture generally, I believe this knighthood to be wholy questionable. One simply has to ask what it's for, and is it being done deliberately to exacerbate an already tense situation?

Anthony James Davies, Stockbridge, England/Hampshire