Written question asked by Lord Hague of Richmond (Conservative) on Thursday, 21 June 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 25 June 2007. It was answered by Kim Howells (Labour) on Monday, 25 June 2007 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Salman Rushdie

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Government of Pakistan on action by the Pakistani national assembly in response to the awarding of a knighthood to Salman Rushdie; and if she will make a statement.

Answer: Our high commissioner in Islamabad discussed the resolution passed by Pakistan’s National Assembly, demanding that we withdraw Sir Salman Rushdie’s knighthood, with the Government of Pakistan on 19 June. He stressed that Sir Salman’s knighthood is a reflection of his contribution to literature throughout a long and distinguished career which has seen him receive international recognition for a substantial body of work, and stressed that the knighthood was not intended as an insult to Islam or the Prophet Muhammad.

Secondary information