LONDON, June 17 (UPI) -- Officials in Iran have criticized Britain's decision to allow author Salman Rushdie to be knighted by the queen in London.
Rushdie is despised in Iran because of his book "The Satanic Verses," which is found to be offensive to Muslims worldwide, the BBC reported Sunday. Iran even unsuccessfully ordered Rushdie's execution in 1989.
Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said Britain's decision to give honor to the "apostate" was a way of fighting Islam.
"Giving a medal to someone who is among the most detested figures in the Islamic community is ... a blatant example of the anti-Islamism of senior British officials," said Hosseini.
"The measure that has taken place for paying tribute to this apostate and detested figure will definitely put British statesmen and officials at odds with Islamic societies, the emotions and sentiments of which have again been provoked."
The Indian-born author wrote "The Satanic Verses," his fourth novel, in 1988. The book relates a cosmic battle between good and evil, combining fantasy, philosophy and charades.
