Jamaat i Islami Kashmir join others from the Muslim Right to whip up sentiment against Salman Rushdie's vist to Literary Festival

From: The Indian Express

Jamaat-e-Islami criticises Omar comments on Rushdie

Agencies : Srinagar, Thu Jan 12 2012, 15:53 hrs

Jamaat-e-Islami's Jammu and Kashmir unit today criticised Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's remarks that visa for controversial author Salman Rushdie was a non-issue for Muslims.

Spokesman of the organisation Zahid Ali said Omar's statement depicts his ignorance of the history of Muslims, who have sacrificed everything for safeguarding the honour of the most beloved Prophet of Allah.

"Rushdie is a great enemy of Islam and will remain so forever and any concession in his favour means disregard to the sentiments of Muslim Ummah," the spokesman said.

"Jamaat-e-Islami strongly criticises the statement of Omar Abdullah describing the issuance of visa in favour of Salman Rushdie a non-issue for the Muslim community, thereby playing with their religious sentiments," he said.

Omar had said yesterday issuing visa to Rushdie is not an election issue for Muslims as they are more concerned with their day-to-day affairs.

Iranian spiritual leader Ayotallah Khomenei issued a death edict against Rushdie for his book 'Satanic Verses'.

The book had infuriated Muslims across the world and forced the author to live in hiding under tight security for many years.