A CONVERSATION

A CONVERSATION Q. Do you think that it was right for Muslims to take issue with Mr. Rushdie’s appearance, even via video conference? A. Islamic law does not recognize violent protest; the word itself does not exist. In terms of democracy, the protesters may have been right, but not in terms of Islam. I do think Salman Rushdie abused his right to expression in the book, but Islam recognizes the right to disseminate your ideas if one expresses one’s ideas in an entirely peaceful manner. Islam does not require that the author should take into consideration the sentiments of his audience, but Salman Rushdie has misquoted history, which he has no right to do. Muslims could protest peacefully and counter an argument with an argument. Q. How did the government handle the issue? Do you think the Muslim community has been given a fair hearing in all this? A. I do not blame the government of India. Those who say that there was discrimination against how Muslim protests are dealt with and how protests by other communities are dealt with are wrong. There is no discrimination against Muslims.