Pakistan vs Rushdie

The Islamists are furious that Salman Rushdie has been made a knight by the Queen. I think all knighthoods are preposterous baubles, but I'd defend any preposterous bauble against the murderous rage of violent Islam. This really got my goat:

Today, Pakistan's religious affairs minister suggested that the knighthood was so grave an offence that any Muslim anywhere in the world would be justified in taking violent action.

"If somebody has to attack by strapping bombs to his body to protect the honour of the Prophet then it is justified," Mr ul-Haq told the National Assembly.

The minister, the son of Zia ul-Haq, the military dictator who died in a plane crash in 1988, later retracted his statement in parliament, then told the AFP news agency that he meant to say that knighting Rushdie would foster extremism.

"If someone blows himself up he will consider himself justified. How can we fight terrorism when those who commit blasphemy are rewarded by the West?" he said.

He said Pakistan should sever diplomatic ties with Britain if it did not withdraw the award, adding:"We demand an apology by the British government. Their action has hurt the sentiments of 1.5 billion Muslims... If Muslims do not unite, the situation will get worse and Salman Rushdie may get a seat in the British parliament."

Now that would be pleasant, wouldn't it? There's an online petition in favor of Rushdie here.