This week saw the knighthood of a controversial writer, loathe by Muslims world over for his sacrilegious writing. The Knighthood of Salman Rushdi, author af THE SATANIC VERSES was condemned by Muslims world over. Tehran send official protest, followed by Pakistan, where thousands of protestors burned effigies and The Union Jack.
18 years ago Ayatollah Khomeni the spiritual and polical leader of Iran issued a fatwa against Rushdi. Iran also offered a reward of several million dollars for the assassination of Salman Rushdi . Since then Rushdie has been accorded round the clock protection by British Government, the same level of protection as Britain’s PM Margret Thatcher or some royal ( so far ) to the amount of around 10 million of pound sterling equivalent to RM67.84 millions..
A Quote from one (Britain)security source ( as reported by NST 19/6/07):” It beggars belief that he’s been given this knighthood at this current time. It’s a finger up the nose of those after him and as ever the taxpayers will be left to foot the bill.” Also reported in the NST: Rusdie was described by a senior Iran officer as” ONE OF THE ISLAMIC WORLD MOST WANTED FIGURES.”
The honors, though a displeasure to Muslims, would commercially position Sir Salman Rudie and his writings to a greater level. There would be more reprints of The SATANIC VERSES and his other writings in the pipeline. I perceived there would be a great demand on his works, and his thought sought after for its academic fertility.
In the local scene an article in Utusan Malaysia highlighted, Kementerian Dalam Negeri recently outlawed 37 publication on Islam in English & Malay Languages of which 21 titles published in USA, UK and Jordan, and 16 titles in Bahasa Malaysia published locally and in Indonesia. According to KDN records, more titles were banned in recent years, though not all of the banned titles are blasphemous in content.. Some of the titles are immoral while others political.
I like to recount a controversy during my college days in 1961, I know of a friend, a scholar with a flair for creative writings and an ardent follower of a radical and renown Indonesian poet then- Khairul Anuar. He was a popular literary figure on the campus, until one day he ( initial NO ) pen a poetry entitled ‘Akulah Tuhan’. It was published in one of the National Newspaper. It created an uproar for sometimes, although the paper that published it was not banned. NO The Poet became the focus of the nation. Overnight he became an icon among his peer. Sadly though, certain quarters accused NO of blasphemy. Although there was no action taken against him. I reckoned he learned his lesson and shunt away (mogok seni) for good from creative writings. The last I heard of him as a frustrated individual suffering from Tuberculosis back in his home town in Pahang. That was 45 years ago. (Who knows if NO focus on his creative writings (dan tidak mogok seni) by now (like some of his peer) he could be honoured by his Sultan as Dato’NO.) for his literary contributions.
NB: for those in doubt on NO’s published poetry AKULAH TUHAN his peers: novel laureate Datuk ASS, poet Dato’KA or Prof.Dr AWA will vouch for me on the AKULAH TUHAN hullabaloo. I hope they remember.
18 years ago Ayatollah Khomeni the spiritual and polical leader of Iran issued a fatwa against Rushdi. Iran also offered a reward of several million dollars for the assassination of Salman Rushdi . Since then Rushdie has been accorded round the clock protection by British Government, the same level of protection as Britain’s PM Margret Thatcher or some royal ( so far ) to the amount of around 10 million of pound sterling equivalent to RM67.84 millions..
A Quote from one (Britain)security source ( as reported by NST 19/6/07):” It beggars belief that he’s been given this knighthood at this current time. It’s a finger up the nose of those after him and as ever the taxpayers will be left to foot the bill.” Also reported in the NST: Rusdie was described by a senior Iran officer as” ONE OF THE ISLAMIC WORLD MOST WANTED FIGURES.”
The honors, though a displeasure to Muslims, would commercially position Sir Salman Rudie and his writings to a greater level. There would be more reprints of The SATANIC VERSES and his other writings in the pipeline. I perceived there would be a great demand on his works, and his thought sought after for its academic fertility.
In the local scene an article in Utusan Malaysia highlighted, Kementerian Dalam Negeri recently outlawed 37 publication on Islam in English & Malay Languages of which 21 titles published in USA, UK and Jordan, and 16 titles in Bahasa Malaysia published locally and in Indonesia. According to KDN records, more titles were banned in recent years, though not all of the banned titles are blasphemous in content.. Some of the titles are immoral while others political.
I like to recount a controversy during my college days in 1961, I know of a friend, a scholar with a flair for creative writings and an ardent follower of a radical and renown Indonesian poet then- Khairul Anuar. He was a popular literary figure on the campus, until one day he ( initial NO ) pen a poetry entitled ‘Akulah Tuhan’. It was published in one of the National Newspaper. It created an uproar for sometimes, although the paper that published it was not banned. NO The Poet became the focus of the nation. Overnight he became an icon among his peer. Sadly though, certain quarters accused NO of blasphemy. Although there was no action taken against him. I reckoned he learned his lesson and shunt away (mogok seni) for good from creative writings. The last I heard of him as a frustrated individual suffering from Tuberculosis back in his home town in Pahang. That was 45 years ago. (Who knows if NO focus on his creative writings (dan tidak mogok seni) by now (like some of his peer) he could be honoured by his Sultan as Dato’NO.) for his literary contributions.
NB: for those in doubt on NO’s published poetry AKULAH TUHAN his peers: novel laureate Datuk ASS, poet Dato’KA or Prof.Dr AWA will vouch for me on the AKULAH TUHAN hullabaloo. I hope they remember.
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment