Effigies of Salman Rushdie and the Queen have been burned by Muslim students in Pakistan

An update on this story. Not just Iran is angry, but at least some in our Friend and Ally Pakistan. And they're calling for blood.

Salman Rushdie faced fresh threats of suicide attacks this afternoon following his knighthood.

A senior minister in the Pakistani government insisted he be stripped of the honour which was described as an affront to Muslims and a justification to kill the author.

In 1989 Rushdie's book Satanic Verses caused outrage in the Muslim world and led to the issuing of a fatwa calling for his death. Sir Salman went into hiding with round the clock protection but was slowly able to return to public life by 1999.
The inflammatory remarks by religious affairs minister Mohammed Ijaz ul-Haq could reignite the threats to his life.

Mr ul-Haq told the Pakistani parliament that the writer's knighthood announced in the Queen's Birthday Honours "was an occasion for the (world's) 1.5billion Muslims to look at the seriousness of this decision".

He added: "The West is accusing Muslims of extremism and terrorism. If someone exploded a bomb on his body he would be right to do so unless the British government apologises and withdraws the 'sir' title." [lol islamic logic]

Activists of Jamat Ahle Sunnat chant slogans against knighthood given to Salman Rushdie as they burn a British flag during a protest in Lahore. (Reuters)

In the city of Multan, hardline Muslim students burned effigies of the Queen and Rushdie. About 100 students carrying banners condemning the author chanted, "kill him, kill him".

Pakistan's lower house of parliament passed a resolution proposed by minister for parliamentary affairs Sher Afgan Khan Niazi, who branded Rushdie a "blasphemer".

Mr Niazi said: "The title from Britain for blasphemer Salman Rushdie has hurt the sentiments of the Muslims across the world. Every religion should be respected. I demand the British government immediately withdraw the title as it is creating religious hatred."

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam said Islamabad would protest to London, adding: "We deplore the decision of the British government to knight him. This we feel is insensitive."

Downing Street declined to comment on the row today, with Prime Minister Tony Blair's official spokesman saying he would not get drawn into it.

The British High Commission in Islamabad defended the decision to honour Rushdie who won the Booker Prize for Midnight's Children in 1981.

Jo Glanville, editor of Index on Censorship, said: "The idea that Muslim sensibilities or any religious sensibilities are somehow beyond offence is something that we have to vigorously challenge and resist.

"It's anathema to free speech and anathema to freedom of expression. This [the knighthood] isn't about Islam, it's a celebration of one of Britain's, and one of the world's, finest writers."

The Satanic Verses explained