The latest Islamic conspiracy theory

According to the Iranian newspaper Jomhuri-ye Eslami (The Islamic Republic), Salman Rushdie wrote The Satanic Verses at the request of the Queen, who paid him £500,000 for doing so.

Rather amusingly, the Persian nutters also claim that the knighting of Rushdie

...can be seen as a cover-up to distract the public’s attention from the sexual scandals of royal princes and princesses who are infamous and detested even among the English population, a population who cannot wait for the end of this hated monarch regime which stinks of the Middle Ages.

There's something of the pot casting aspersions on the paleness of the kettle in this, it appears to me. After all, if a popularly-supported and constitutional monarchy "stinks of the Middle Ages" what is the smell of an undemocratic Sharia theocracy?

Beyond Belief

In 1998 Nazir Ahmed was raised to the peerage as Lord Ahmed of Rotherham, becoming the first Muslim to enter the House of Lords. As such, one might hope that he would prove a model of Islamic integration into British society. However, the very opposite has proved true.

Lord Ahmed has most recently been demonstrating his extremist credentials in the row over the Rushdie knighthood. He had already accused Sir Salman of "having blood on his hands", as a result of his criticism of Islam, but today he really went over-the-top, saying:

This honour is given in recognition of services rendered to Great Britain. Salman Rushdie lives in New York. He is controversial man who has insulted Muslim people, Christians and the British. He does not deserve the honour.

Two weeks ago Tony Blair spoke about constructing bridges with Muslims. What hypocrisy.

What would one say if the Saudi or Afghan governments honoured the martyrs of the September 11 attacks on the United States?

There you have it: a Muslim member of the House of Lords lets the guard slip, and describes the 9/11 terrorists as "martyrs". How much closer to being an open enemy of the country can you get? Such a man really is unfit to have a peerage and should, I believe, be stripped of it forthwith. And preferably deported.

Hat-tip: LGF

Update: It has been pointed out to me that the original transcript of the interview, in the French newspaper Le Figaro appears to have Lord Ahmed describing the 9/11 terrorists as "des hommes morts", which would apparently translate as 'dead men' rather than 'martyrs'. In this case, I'm unsure why the Telegraph has translated it as 'martyrs', but if anyone with a reasonable command of French can offer an explanation, I would be much obliged.

In any event, I still consider Lord Ahmed a highly dubious character, and utterly unworthy of a peerage.

Quote of the Day

"Islam does not allow suicide attacks but it would be justified in the case of a blasphemer, who is worthy of death."

Chaudhry Mohammed Afzal Sahi, Speaker of the Punjab Provincial Assembly, on Sir Salman Rushdie.

Remember, it's the Religion of Peace.

Update: A picture of my "Angry Muslims of the Day", busily burning a Cross of St George outside Regents Park Mosque, can be found at ATW.