S. Arabia summons Czech envoy over ‘Satanic Verses’
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RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has summoned the Czech ambassador over a translation of British writer Salman Rushdie’s controversial book “Satanic Verses”, official media said on Friday.
The kingdom wanted to express its “condemnation and disapproval of translating the book”, and hopes the Czech government will stop publication of the work which is offensive to Islam and Muslims, the Saudi Press Agency quoted an unnamed foreign ministry official as saying.
“The kingdom urged that religion and cultures not be insulted in any way or form,” the report said.
In 1989, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini of Iran issued a ‘fatwa’ that called for the killing of Rushdie.
Khomeini and many others in the Muslim world said he had depicted Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) irreverently.
On Wednesday, Iran said it will boycott next week’s Frankfurt Book Fair after organisers invited Rushdie, an atheist born to non-practising Muslims.
Rushdie has lived since 2000 in the United States and was knighted in Britain in 2007.
Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2015
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Comments (32) Closed
Oct 10, 2015 11:58am
Czech republic is a open society and modern nation.
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Oct 10, 2015 12:28pm
When the book was released in 2000, Saudi Arabia remained very quite at that time, when almost all the Muslim countries objected.,
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Oct 10, 2015 12:47pm
A good step to show their concerns and respect of our beloved Prophet.
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Oct 10, 2015 12:52pm
Not even one of these people have read this book. It's a book not a religious book.
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Oct 10, 2015 01:46pm
This is fine, but beef ban is not fine.
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Oct 10, 2015 02:22pm
saudi about bombing of yemenis ?
what about haj disaster & later dont care attitude of saudis
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Oct 10, 2015 03:09pm
@Padmakar Open and modern society or nation does not mean you will heart any way to other nation, race, religion or history. Every person, society, religion and language has his own pride. Don't denounce. All have minimal right. Respect them.
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Oct 10, 2015 03:30pm
@Shakir Ansari Charity begins at home first. Don't preach it to the world. First try to do it yourself in your country. Then it would be look beautiful to preach it.
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Oct 10, 2015 03:53pm
I wonder how many have actually read the book. First it is a very tough read, and by paying attention to it we only made more popular than it should be.
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Oct 10, 2015 04:18pm
@Shakir Ansari . Your argument is valid. But it depends upon what ears it falls. The brutal lynching of an innocent farmer in India on suspicion that he had stored beef speaks volumes about the double values of this secular society.
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Oct 10, 2015 05:04pm
@Padmakar, Open society like India? Yes, eating beef is legal there.
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Oct 10, 2015 05:31pm
They want and need a reason to distract attention badly from the Mina tragedy. I went to Hajj last year and it was extremely smooth since all doors were open for a very smooth movement of the Hujjaj.
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Oct 10, 2015 08:06pm
@Mian Amir Hakim
Every vibrant society has different opinions ranging from extreme religiosity to extreme atheism. We have to learn to deal with each of these extremes so that they don't disturb the fabric of the society. For a population of 1.3 billion these incidents can always be expected. But the pulse of the society is in the way they respond to the event. So, don't paint the entire country with one brush.
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Oct 10, 2015 11:06pm
@akshay - "Charity begins at home first. Don't preach it to the world."
I agree and therefore, you should not preach it to us and look at your own society that you have been calling secular.
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Oct 10, 2015 11:19pm
@Josh well said.
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Oct 10, 2015 11:20pm
Well said.
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Oct 10, 2015 11:39pm
Much ado about nothing.
All countries that have lost people in the Hajj stampede should be calling in the Saudie ambassadors in their country for explanation.
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Oct 10, 2015 11:39pm
Saudi did this to save their face. Don't forget Iran made it clear that the country would boycott the Frankfurt Book fair.
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Oct 10, 2015 11:49pm
A move to divert attention from the Hajj incompetence!!!
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Oct 11, 2015 01:22am
@Kamal Pasha "Quiet" not "quite".
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Oct 11, 2015 02:41am
The Czechs are open, tolerant, and value freedom of speech. They are the antithesis of Saudi Arabia. For the Saudis to try to impose their own beliefs on the Czechs is sad, but predictable. The Saudis have no respect for intellect and liberty.
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Oct 11, 2015 02:43am
Memo to Saudi authorities. How about summon the US, British and Indian envoys. Rushdie is living in the US, has been knighted by Britain and frequently visits India. Czech republic is small potatoes. Who cares.
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Oct 11, 2015 02:44am
@Sid
The Saudis don't try to pretend to be a progressive and secular nation as India claims to be. Saudi Arabia's bans are consistent with it's ideology. India's bans are not. Both sorts of bans are wrong, but at least the Saudis are true to their radical foundations.
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Oct 11, 2015 03:15am
We must respect people's right to free speech and expression of thought. Oppression of thought should not be done through fear. Saudi Arabia is our of line in this regard.
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Oct 11, 2015 06:24am
@Lalit they came to your home for tea to tell u they haven't read it?
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Oct 11, 2015 06:53am
Can't understand why Saudi Arabia is making an issue out of this Czech translation. Most of the Europeans are atheists and don't care much about religions or their founders.
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Oct 11, 2015 08:55am
@Lalit .... Never bothered to read it.
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Oct 11, 2015 10:57am
This outcry from Saudis can at best be termed as face saving effort, nothing more than that. The Satanic verses issue is in public since over 25 years but Aley Saud showed total indifference as if it was not related to our religion. Now this sudden notice and show of displeasure ? A futile attempt to get included in good books and cool down the tempers of Mina crush heirs and their related countries. Nothing more than that.
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Oct 11, 2015 11:06am
@khusboo How dare you / we question Saudis about massacres in Yemen and / or Mina crush ? when all vested interests and anti-islam forces are siding with Aley Saud. And it is not difficult at all to understand that this support is not just for nothing. Vested interests see a great / golden opportunity to cement their anti-Islam moves / designs with due support from Aley Saud. The Ummah needs to understand this simple fact and thus needs to wake up from deep slumber...sooner the better.
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Oct 11, 2015 11:44am
“The kingdom urged that religion and cultures not be insulted in any way or form,” must criticized for human development
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Oct 12, 2015 02:14am
It appears that Prophet Mohammad (PUBH) would not approve killing of those who insult him, He would certainly disapprove muslims involved in killing those who insult him.
Intolerance of dissidence and blasphemy in Islam with capital punishment has given abundant ammunition to the critics and haters of Islam. That is why Muslims in the West are demanding reform in this religion to make it compatible with contemporaneous human freedoms and values to enable more people to accept it.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan can play a leading role in reformation.
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Oct 12, 2015 06:15am
@Shakir Ansari It is hurt not heart
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