It seems as though the Pakistan and Iran governments are upset over the award of a knighthood to Salman Rushdie. Iran claims the knighthood reveals an Islamophobia among British officials. A Pakistani governmental minister said that “if someone commits suicide bombing to protect the honour of the Prophet Mohammad, his act is justified.” Now, that’s the sort of statement that really could lead to “Islamophobia,” but I don’t envisage the Iranian Government condemning it any time soon.
However, Laila Lalami no doubt speaks for the majority of Muslims. At least, I hope so.
This might be a good time for the Governments of Pakistan and Iran to consider giving their minority Christian populations full equal rights. I mean, if these governments demand consideration for their own feelings, they should show a similar consideration for those groups they currently oppress and, every so often, persecute. That makes sense, doesn’t it?
